Please help Rhonda Pollero, a.k.a Kelsey Roberts

Hi, I'm Victoria and I'm fundraising for Rhonda Pollero and her husband, Bob Pollero. They were both diagnosed with Stage IV cancer months apart.

Many of you know Rhonda by her pen-name, Kelsey Roberts. Rhonda/Kelsey wrote terrific books for years that kept readers turning the page. Her books, The Rose Tattoo Series, are widely read and loved to this day. This series was followed by her wonderful The Landry Brothers series.

Rhonda and her husband, Bob, had just settled into a new home and were enjoying retirement when Bob's Parkinson's advanced. So, in 2019, Rhonda retired to become his full-time caregiver.

Then, less than two years later in 2021, they were hit with a double whammy. Bob was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2021 and again in June of 2021. Rhonda took on the more difficult task of taking care of her husband who now had cancer added to his advanced Parkinson's. But, a mere month later in July of 2021, Rhonda was not feeling well. Tests were run and she was diagnosed with both Stage IV esophageal cancer and small cell lung cancer.

Being so new to the community, Rhonda had no one to reach out to for help. She routinely drove herself to chemotherapy and radiation treatments. They were physically brutal and exhausting, as well as emotionally draining. Taking care of her ill husband only compounded her stress and did not help her therapy.

No matter how carefully you plan for retirement, how much you save, no one plans for both spouses getting Stage IV cancer at the same time. The physical costs are astronomical; the emotional costs are unimaginable and incalculable.

Cancer for one person is incredibly expensive. It is a daunting a task for loved ones to take care of their family member. When two people have it and they are the only two in the home, care is beyond difficult - it's almost impossible.

I am asking for funds to help with increasing medical payments, food, medication, travel to and from hospitals and doctor appointments, near round the clock nursing care for Bob, and whatever help Rhonda may need, cleaning, cooking, every day home tasks. Their home may need to be outfitted for a decrease in mobility as well.