Help Fight Rob's Cancer

Rob West has very recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma Cancer. He is in for the fight of his life Here is his story:

On January 8 Rob had an episode of what can best be described as "word salad" (a confused or unintelligible mixture of seemingly random words and phrases). Heather immediately took him to the ER fearing he was having a stroke. After a few CT scans of his head and upper body it was discovered that he had a large mass growing in his brain that was causing bleeding as well as an enlarged asymmetrical thyroid, and a few spots visible on his lungs. At that point he was transferred to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. After several more CT and MRI scans they learned he also had spots on his abdominal wall and in his back near his kidneys.

While in the hospital the brain tumor was removed and they took biopsies of his abdominal wall and thyroid. With the biopsies Rob has been given the diagnosis of Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma. He will need additional treatment of the area the tumor in his brain was with Gamma Knife Radiation. He will also have frequent MRIs to check for new melanoma growths in his brain which are common in this type of cancer. In addition Rob will undergo treatment for the other various places the melanoma is growing and while they do not know everything that entails yet, have been told it will be long term and extensive. There will be many trips to various doctors, treatments, scans etc. most of which will happen in Seattle and Spokane.

Rob and Heather's family and friends are asking for help in supporting them in whatever way possible, no matter how large or small. The funds raised here will help to pay their medical bills (co-pays and non covered costs), travel for Rob to treatments, and help with cost of living while Rob is going through treatment when his and Heather's paid leave is exhausted. Thank you for any support you can provide.