Help our friend Rob get funds for his surgery

(I'd like to thank Francisco Laurito and Brett Hargett for creating this page for me)

Our loved friend Rob needs help to go under a new surgery.

Everyone who has surfed Playa Hermosa knows how important Rob is for our town and how passionate and giving he is with our surfing community.

Rob has always take care of Playa Hermosa being by sending his amazing surf report every morning, shooting pictures of every single surfer who crosses his lens and by taking care of our nature and wild animals.

Well our friend needs us now in what has been a terrible year for his health.

---Francisco---

Rob's Fund Raiser

Hermosa's Beloved Friend desperately needs our help in his time of great medical need. He is to undergo his 5th surgery, in a few short weeks. These were life saving operations, as he experienced a very different set of symptoms that caused his internal cavity to become septic with leakage from his intestinal zone. TOXIC to say the least.

The first 4 operations and extended hospital stays, has cut so very deep into the finances that he had from the sale of his home-- GUTTING THAT-- after the insurance was tapped out. Now still nearly $150,000 in arrears from the last 2 surgeries, he can not have the final procedure unless he has the funds to PAID IN FULL for this procedure, before entering the hospital.

I have known Rob for over 14 years and going to a site for financial help is the last avenue he would seek. Not in his wheel house People. You who know him == I do not need to explain that to you, as you know this as well. BUT these are Dire Times. He is asking for Any and All people who could see it in there hearts to Give just as bit, to help this operation go forward. This will complete his cycle of these procedures that will be doing the reconnecting of his intestinal system and sealing the body for 1 last time. Thus ending this 8 months of physical pain and near death experience.

(Below is the timeline to explain how dire this nightmare has been for Rob.)

Please HELP TODAY WITH WHAT YOU CAN. Asking for a mere $20 donation of support. (More is always a BLESSING)

Thank You for taking the time to read this and helping our beloved friend recover from this nightmare of a medical issue. God Bless you for your help.

---Brett---

BRIEF HISTORY OF EVENTS

May 2022

I started having moderate stomach pains and very low energy around the middle of May. At the time it was intermittent, two or three days a week. Otherwise was ok.

June 2022

Very similar to May 2022 but toward the end of the month my symptoms worsened at times. I filmed / worked through June 20th regularly but then things turned a bit worse. I kept working but barely had the energy to post the sale photos but never even reviewed the video work.

July 2022

The same as the end of June but after July 7th I could no longer work. As the month progressed my symptoms became more and more severe. I went to a couple different clinics and pharmacies and was prescribed different medications each time. Some parasite meds and antibiotics. The medicines helped the symptoms on and off but I still got worse and worse into August. However, because I was getting some relief at times from the medicines, I thought I was going to get better. The last weekend of the month, I slept for two full days and nights. This was very scary for me to lose that time in such a deep sleep.

August 2022

First week of the month I was up and down but that weekend I went to bed and again slept two days and nights. The following Monday, August 7th, a friend drove me to MMI clinic. They did a bunch of tests, bloodwork etc., put me on an IV. Once my results came back, the doctor instructed me to get into the ambulance to go to the hospital in SJ. I said I had a ride there no problem, he said NO - YOU MUST GO IN THE AMBULANCE - YOU ARE VERY SICK. A bit surprised by that, I got in and went to SJ. Upon arrival and moved to a room, the tests etc. began. Early the next morning the doctor came in and explained the I had sepsis and it was already septic in my blood stream, and I was in total kidney failure. It was made perfectly clear to me that my life was in big danger and this would not be easy. I had total bowel surgery that morning. My stomach and intestines stayed exposed and covered with medical plastic and I was closed up two days later on Thursday the 10th of August. I was released about ten days later. Through the end of the month and into September I was recuperating at home.

September and October 2022

By the end of the first week of September I was starting to feel sick again, but only on and off. Shortly after I woke up in the middle of the night covered in blood and feces and other bodily fluids. There was a new infection where the sutures came out where my appendix was removed. The pressure built and it blew out through the surgical incision on my stomach. I called for an ambulance, told the driver Hospital UNIBE in SJ but was taken to Quepos.

I had a total of three more surgeries in Quepos, essentially more of the same. They couldn’t seem to find the problem. The final surgery was exploratory in nature and the problem was discovered and all was repaired. This should have been the end, but it is not.

Somehow, my colon got damaged during that 4th surgery. So they had no option but to repair the colon which required a colostomy for me. The surgery next month is to remove the colostomy and reattach my healed colon putting everything back to normal.

Financial

Between the sale proceeds of my house and my insurance, Hospital UNIBE was paid in full. The other portion of money I had left after that, went to Quepos Hospital. I have outstanding medical bills at Quepos with a balance of close to $150,000 US. Due to the fact that I cannot pay my balance, they are now forcing me to pay up front for the final necessary surgery next month (February 2023). They are estimating the cost to be paid up front by me before surgery to be around $20,000 US. (1,000,000 colones daily for ten days plus minor incidental hospital expenses). If I’m out of the hospital earlier than ten days, they will not refund, however will apply toward my balance in arrears.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR - Doing a GoFundMe or any other fundraiser goes completely against what I believe. This is not something I’d ever consider, or thought I’d ever consider. However, I am in dire need to get this done and am so grateful to everyone regardless.