Help Robert Access Life-Saving Long COVID Treatment
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Help Robert Access Life-Saving Long COVID Treatment
5.5 Years of Suffering, One Final Hope for Recovery
After 5.5 relentless years battling severe Long COVID, I'm out of options in Canada. I desperately need your help to access a potentially life-saving treatment, cover essential care, and begin to reclaim the future this devastating condition has stolen from me.
Who I Am
Hi, I’m Robert, a 42-year-old former international school teacher. For 14 years, I dedicated myself to educating students across Canada, Singapore, and Japan. In 2017, I pursued a two-year graduate degree in public policy, then moved to Atlanta in 2019, ready to start a new career in advocacy and public service.
But in February 2020, my life took an unforeseen turn. I got COVID – and I never recovered.
With my last group of students (grade 2) and last time I was able to work - Canada - June before moving to US in September 2019
⚠️ My Life with Long COVID: Stripped of Everything
For the past five and a half years, I’ve been profoundly ill. I suffer from:
- severe cognitive dysfunction (memory, focus, executive function)
- extreme fatigue
- persistent muscle and joint pain
- shortness of breath
- elevated heart rate
- dizziness & lightheadedness
- chronic sleep problems.
These mirror two complex conditions:
- POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
- ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Long COVID has left me mostly housebound at my best and bedridden during periods when I am at my worst. I’ve lost my health, my independence, and my ability to earn any income. This isn't just an illness; it's a complete erasure of the life I built.
I used to love long distance running before getting sick.
♥️ Your Impact So Far: Thank You So Much
Last October, your incredible generosity raised $2,800 through this campaign. That support was desperately vital, covering critical medications and giving me much-needed hope. I’m so grateful for your past support. This illness has been relentless with many obstacles, and my battle continues. I need your help to keep fighting.
From Yahoo News article: Living with long COVID from March 2024
My Reality Now: A Daily Struggle for Survival
After a very long and difficult battle, I was finally approved for some disability benefits as of May 2025; however, my financial situation remains incredibly desperate.
- I receive $1,259 CAD (≈ $920 USD) per month from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
This amount is meant to cover all my living expenses—food, shelter, transportation, and healthcare. But it doesn't even come close.
- My out-of-pocket monthly medication costs are around $638–$770 CAD (≈ $463–$559 USD).
Because Long COVID is a new and poorly understood condition, most of my essential prescriptions for symptom management are considered “off-label” and thus have been denied coverage by Ontario Drug Benefit.
After paying for medications, I am left with approximately:
- $489–$621 CAD per month
- (≈ $355–$450 USD per month)
With this, I am left to cover food, shelter, transportation, clothing, personal hygiene, phone/internet, care for my dog GG, emergencies, and more — which is clearly not sustainable. Every month is a fight just to survive. It is incredibly stressful.
I recently shared my story with the Hamilton Spectator and The Sick Times about the critical lack of supports and housing insecurity for people living with Long COVID.
Hamilton man's life hijacked by long COVID - The Hamilton Spectator - June 2
Why I Must Continue to Fundraise: My Last, Best, & Only Hope
I’ve exhausted every treatment option available to me in Canada, both public and private. Now, one incredibly promising option remains:
Pemgarda (pemivibart) — a monoclonal antibody therapy developed by Invivyd, Inc. — is designed to target spike protein persistence, one of the leading theories behind Long COVID.
In July 2025, Invivyd announced the formation of the SPEAR Study Group, a formal research initiative investigating Pemgarda’s potential to treat Long COVID and Post-Vaccination Syndrome (PVS). This study builds on growing patient reports of substantial symptom relief, particularly among individuals with persistent SARS-CoV-2 spike protein believed to be driving ongoing illness.
This therapy offers a genuine ray of hope for people like me. But it’s only available in the US, and accessing it means choosing between:
Option A: Paying out-of-pocket through a private U.S. physician and infusion center
Estimated Cost: US$7,200 (≈ C$9,936)
Option B: Reinstating U.S. health insurance and paying the plan deductible
Estimated Cost: US$3,770 (≈ C$5,199)
I am desperate to try this treatment — not only because of the growing anecdotal evidence, but because I have truly run out of options in Canada. My doctors here have no further answers. I’ve already tried antivirals, low-dose naltrexone, pacing, rehab, and dozens of supplements — all with limited or no lasting effect.
I’m also actively supporting this petition to bring monoclonal antibody treatments like Pemgarda to Canada. But until change comes, I’m left with only one route forward — and I need your help to pursue it.
That said, this fundraiser isn’t just about Pemgarda. It’s about survival. It’s about maintaining a fragile level of functionality so I can continue to live—and continue to fight.
What I Need: A Breakdown of Critical Expenses (6 months)
Essential Medications & Supplements
Daily prescriptions not covered by disability
US$2,778–3,354 (≈ C$3,828–4,620)
Pemgarda Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
Option A: Private Physician & Infusion
US$7,200 (≈ C$9,936)
Option B: Insurance Route (Premiums + Deductible)
US$3,770 (≈ C$5,199)
Paxlovid (Supportive Antiviral, 30–60 Days)
Used alongside monoclonals to suppress viral activity
US$750 (≈ C$1,035)
Veterinary Care for GG
Vaccinations, flea/tick prevention, and basic care
US$255 (≈ C$351)
Legal Fees (Bankruptcy Filings – Canada & U.S.)
US$2,805 (≈ C$3,869)
Basic Survival Costs
Transportation, food, gasoline, and emergency buffer
US$1,805 (≈ C$2,490)
Estimated Total Fundraising Goal
- If pursuing Option A (Private Infusion): US$15,648–16,949 (C$21,509–22,921)
- If pursuing Option B (Insurance Route): US$12,218–13,019 (C$17,069–18,184)
Me laying down with GG.
⏳ Why This Is Urgent & Why Your Support Matters
Exhausted All Canadian Options:
I’ve tried antivirals, low-dose naltrexone, pacing, rehab, dozens of supplements, and consulted countless doctors in Canada and the U.S.—with no lasting relief. My Canadian doctors have no further treatment options for me here.
Long COVID Advocate:
I'm a dedicated advocate, serving as a US NIH RECOVER Patient Representative (co-authoring research papers), on the Canadian Covid Society's Long COVID Committee (fighting for policy change), an advisor to Sunnybrook Hospital's Long COVID care navigation team, and a Community Advisory Group (CAG) member for Simon Fraser University and the Museum of Vancouver's "A Day in the Life of a Longhauler" project, all to fight not just for myself, but for everyone suffering from this condition.
My Last, Best Shot: Pemgarda, a U.S. monoclonal antibody targeting viral persistence, represents my final, most promising hope for a significant improvement or even recovery.
Some of my students in Singapore
I can't do this alone. My battle with Long COVID has been relentless. With your help, I have a chance to access the treatment I desperately need, cover my basic necessities, and fight to reclaim some semblance of my life and rebuild a future for myself.
Every share, every donation, no matter how small, makes a profound difference. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping me hold on to a future.
Follow me on X at @Rob_DeRosa for updates on my journey.
Thank you,
Robert
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LINKS: My Story in the News
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/long-covid-hamilton-teacher-robert-derosa/article_6f26ac46-1c42-5596-8c1b-e0782b55dd93.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hamilton man’s life hijacked by long COVID FULL
LINKS: Featured Podcasts
Organizer
Robert DeRosa
Organizer
Atlanta, GA