Help Robert Afford Life-Changing Eye Removal Surgery for Advanced Ocular Melanoma While Caring for My 90-Year-Old Mom – $25,000

Hi, I’m Robert C. Baker, 61 years old, self-employed, and the primary caregiver for my 90-year-old mom. She lives at home, gets around on a walker, and doesn’t drive. Every week I handle her doctor’s visits, file her insurance claims, correspond with service providers, pay bills, and make sure she has the support she needs to stay independent in her own home. It’s a role I’m honored to have—but right now, my own health crisis is threatening my ability to be there for her and to keep our household stable.

On April 30 I learned I have advanced ocular melanoma in my left eye. This is a rare and aggressive cancer—only about 3,000 people are diagnosed with it each year in the U.S., so it’s not well-known, but it can be devastating. My tumor is large (16 mm × 16 mm × 11 mm), which unfortunately comes with a tough prognosis. There’s about a 4% chance the cancer has already metastasized and detectable now, and roughly 50-60% of patients with tumors this size will have detectable metastasis within 5 years.

We caught it as early as we could, but the recommended treatment is enucleation—complete surgical removal of my left eye—to give me the best possible chance at controlling the disease. On Tuesday, May 5 I meet with the ocular plastic surgeon to finalize plans. The surgery is expected to happen very quickly after that. Recovery will mean I cannot drive for at least two weeks and will likely be unable to work for two months or longer. As a self-employed person, if I don’t work, I don’t get paid.

My low-level insurance plan costs about $500 per month and I can’t let it lapse, but it still leaves significant gaps for the surgery, prosthetic eye, travel to specialists, follow-up scans to watch for metastasis, and all the everyday bills that don’t stop.I have very few living relatives, and those I do have are not in a position to help with these medical expenses.

That’s why I’m reaching out—humbly and transparently—for support.

Here is exactly what the $25,000 will cover (these are realistic estimates based on typical U.S. costs; I will update this page with precise quotes right after my May 5 appointment):

--Enucleation surgery, hospital stay, anesthesia, and immediate post-op care – approximately $6,000–$8,000 in insurance copays, deductibles, and uncovered gaps

--Custom prosthetic eye (ocular prosthesis) plus multiple fittings and adjustments – approximately $5,000–$7,000 (I am applying for assistance grants to help offset this)

--Travel, lodging, and meals for specialist appointments before and after surgery – approximately $2,000–$3,000

--Lost self-employed income during recovery (unable to work for 2+ months) – approximately $8,000 (covers basic living expenses while I heal and adapt to vision changes)

--Extra short-term help caring for my mom (transportation to her appointments, temporary assistance with her needs while I can’t drive or be as mobile) – approximately $2,000–$3,000

--Ongoing insurance premiums, metastasis monitoring scans, and unexpected costs – approximately $2,000 buffer

Every dollar will go directly toward keeping me healthy, keeping my mom supported, and preventing us from falling behind on bills during this scary time. I plan to apply immediately for need-based grants from the Ocular Melanoma Foundation (travel assistance and up to $4,000 toward the prosthetic eye) and any other available programs so your generosity stretches as far as possible.I promise to keep this page updated with honest progress reports—surgery date, how the funds are being used, recovery photos (if appropriate), and any new information from my doctors.

Your support means I can focus on healing instead of worrying about how I’ll pay for treatment or how my mom will manage without my usual help.If you can donate anything—even $5 or $10—it will make a real difference. If you can’t give right now, please share this campaign with your friends and family. Sharing costs nothing but can reach someone who can help.Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering my story. Your kindness right now could literally help save my future and let me continue being the caregiver my mom needs.

With gratitude,

Robert C. Baker