Robert Fruth - Cancer Roadblock
Donation protected
We are Bob Fruth and Tina McGee. Our story started earlier this year when we rented out our house and decided to move into an RV and travel, which is something we've always wanted to do. After we spent the winter in the Arizona desert, we came back to our hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Bob was not feeling well towards the end of the trip and we needed to see our family physician in Columbus.
Thinking it was acid reflux or something similar, the doctor suggested taking over the counter antacids for a few months. Finally, the doctor referred him to a specialist to perform a scope that sadly showed that it was aggressive stage 3 esophageal cancer. Additional testing showed a large amount of blood loss and required immediate treatment and hospitalization, involving 10 units of blood. The original treatment plan was to remove the stomach and to connect the esophagus to the small intestine. During surgery, it was discovered that the tumor was wrapped around and attached to the aorta and could not be removed. They closed, knowing that they would have to come up with a new plan. The new treatment plan included radical chemotherapy and radiation simultaneously.
Right now, Bob is receiving weekly chemo treatments and radiation daily which will end with another attempt at removing the stomach and the tumor. This has left Bob incapable of continuing his work as a contractor during treatment and the pending surgery and recovery time.
This has placed a great financial burden on us as Tina, who has a medical condition, now has become a full time caregiver. We have already used all our life savings, as well as other resources available to us. In addition to having to move out of the RV as it is not an appropriate environment to withstand the long road ahead, we have had to impose on family as our home is already under a leased agreement.
The hardest thing for us to do is to ask for help with our daily financial commitments. But after cutting down to just necessities, we are struggling to make it through daily needs. Our goal is $4000, which will help us get through the next 2 months and give us a chance to check into other resources that may be available. The stress of our financial situation is taking away from Bob's ability to focus on his treatments and causing additional undue stress. Any support, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.
Thinking it was acid reflux or something similar, the doctor suggested taking over the counter antacids for a few months. Finally, the doctor referred him to a specialist to perform a scope that sadly showed that it was aggressive stage 3 esophageal cancer. Additional testing showed a large amount of blood loss and required immediate treatment and hospitalization, involving 10 units of blood. The original treatment plan was to remove the stomach and to connect the esophagus to the small intestine. During surgery, it was discovered that the tumor was wrapped around and attached to the aorta and could not be removed. They closed, knowing that they would have to come up with a new plan. The new treatment plan included radical chemotherapy and radiation simultaneously.
Right now, Bob is receiving weekly chemo treatments and radiation daily which will end with another attempt at removing the stomach and the tumor. This has left Bob incapable of continuing his work as a contractor during treatment and the pending surgery and recovery time.
This has placed a great financial burden on us as Tina, who has a medical condition, now has become a full time caregiver. We have already used all our life savings, as well as other resources available to us. In addition to having to move out of the RV as it is not an appropriate environment to withstand the long road ahead, we have had to impose on family as our home is already under a leased agreement.
The hardest thing for us to do is to ask for help with our daily financial commitments. But after cutting down to just necessities, we are struggling to make it through daily needs. Our goal is $4000, which will help us get through the next 2 months and give us a chance to check into other resources that may be available. The stress of our financial situation is taking away from Bob's ability to focus on his treatments and causing additional undue stress. Any support, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated.
Organizer
Robert Fruth
Organizer
Columbus, OH