Help Ruby and Rob Beat Cancer

My cousin Rob, 37 and his wife Ruby, 32 years of age recently celebrated their wedding in April this year (2021). They fell pregnant shortly after and are expecting a baby girl, Ava, in February next year.

Rob and Ruby have faced a series of hardships since they fell pregnant. Their Harmony test result indicated their baby girl, Ava, had a 95% chance of having down syndrome. After months of tests and waiting for results (delays due to Covid demands), it was confirmed they had a false positive result - a very uncommon outcome. We all had thought the stress was over until what followed after Ruby’s first Covid vaccination. Ruby was experiencing shortness of breath that was initially thought to be a side effect of the vaccination. Rob drove her to the hospital immediately where they kept her for a few days to undergo some tests.

The devastating news

Devastatingly, the cause of Ruby’s shortness of breath has been diagnosed as Intimal Sarcoma, a very rare and aggressive type of cancer found in the soft tissues around her heart and in the artery from her heart to her lungs. This is made even more rare and harder to treat because she is pregnant. Ruby is to start with her Chemotherapy treatment immediately (for her best chance at survival), give birth to baby Ava early at 32 weeks (for baby’s best chance at survival), then continue her treatment afterwards.

Their life right now

Ruby is required to undergo chemotherapy every three weeks and attend the hospital every two days to undergo further testing. Because this is such a rare disease, they want to do as much testing to collect as much data as possible to inform future cases (if this ever occurs again). Ruby has no family here at all, as they are all in their home country trying to request to enter Australia to care for her. Rob on the other hand is self-employed, which means he does not get carers leave, sick leave or any leave at all. If he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid. If he’s not out quoting his next job, he doesn’t get the next job.

Doctors have recommended that Ruby should not be left alone as she is currently very sick and frail; unable to eat properly, walk without assistance or even talk. Because Rob travels far for work, Ruby has been going to work with Rob, sleeping in the van while he goes to check in on her in between.

Rob is trying his best to support his wife while she fights this cancer; be a first time dad with a premature baby; and be the provider for his family. I cannot comprehend what they are going through and can’t imagine how he is going to be able to juggle everything between the different specialist doctors (oncologists and obstetricians) appointments.

How we can help

Those that know Rob know that he has got a heart of gold and is always willing to do anything to help others; he has however been too proud to ask for anyone’s help even in these tough times.

We thought to set up this page to help share his story with hopes that we can rally together and collectively help to take some pressure away and allow Rob and Ruby to not have to worry about work for just a little while - so he can be there to support his wife and unborn baby to fight this disease. Sharing this page, and kindly donating (no matter how big or small) will truly help make a difference to this young family’s life during this trying time.

Thank you for your help and wishes.