Rob's Cancer Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Thank you to friends for encouraging us to ask for help. This is very hard for us. This news may come as a shock to some. Thank you for taking the time to read our story in detail and share and support our journey . As you all know the 3 of us are a tight family unit and are quite SCRAPPY and will fight till the very end to beat this! Your messages and good vibes are appreciated. Much Love Leeds Family!
Hello Friends, Family and Fans of Rob
During the last months of 2016 Rob Leeds was exhausted and not feeling well. He was sleeping more than normal and having a hard time working; he also experienced substantial weight loss. Initial blood tests revealed only anemia. Rob believed he was tired from diabetes and anemia.
When Rob's condition did not improve, doctors recommended a colonoscopy. The waiting time at all nearby hospitals for a colonoscopy was six to seven weeks. A family friend helped Rob to get an urgent colonoscopy appointment in Valdivia, Chile.
The colonoscopy, and many other tests and scans, revealed a 5 cm tumor. The tumor was completely blocking his intestines and Rob was at a very high risk for becoming septic. The tumor needed to be removed urgently... but all of the surgeons in Southern Chile who were trained to do this delicate surgery were on vacation or going on vacation during the high summer season in Chile.
A frantic search lead by doctors and friends alike, found the team of specialists lead by Dr. Urrejola at Universidad Catolica in Santiago, Chile.
Within 24 hours of finding Dr. Urrejola, Rob, Monika and Dublin traveled to Santiago. Seven days after the discovery of the tumor, Rob had a difficult seven-hour surgery to remove the tumor from his colon, lymph nodes and a cancerous mass on his aorta. Post-surgical pathology reports indicate Stage III-IVm colon cancer. This diagnosis indicates that the cancer spread beyond the intestinal wall to lymph nodes or other organs.
Rob's positivity and daily efforts have allowed him to recover from surgery. He has regained his appetite and is walking daily.
The next steps in Rob’s treatment are eight cycles of chemotherapy to be administered in Santiago, and surgery to reconnect the colon. Rob will have chemotherapy treatments in Santiago every three weeks until May. In May he will take a break from chemo and have surgery. After healing from the surgery, Rob will start chemo again.
The family is choosing to continue treatment in Santiago because they are comfortable with the team of specialists and because insurance coverage was initiated in Santiago -- changing to another location would mean initiating and opening a new insurance file that may not be approved, and time is of the essence.
Insurance will cover some portion of the major medical expenses, but Rob and Monika need help with funding for accommodation, travel and unexpected or uncovered medical expenses.
The family thanks you for your love, prayers and any donations you can make or help you can give. Rob is staying positive and healthy so he can “end this pain in the a@*” and get back to work."
Hello Friends, Family and Fans of Rob
During the last months of 2016 Rob Leeds was exhausted and not feeling well. He was sleeping more than normal and having a hard time working; he also experienced substantial weight loss. Initial blood tests revealed only anemia. Rob believed he was tired from diabetes and anemia.
When Rob's condition did not improve, doctors recommended a colonoscopy. The waiting time at all nearby hospitals for a colonoscopy was six to seven weeks. A family friend helped Rob to get an urgent colonoscopy appointment in Valdivia, Chile.
The colonoscopy, and many other tests and scans, revealed a 5 cm tumor. The tumor was completely blocking his intestines and Rob was at a very high risk for becoming septic. The tumor needed to be removed urgently... but all of the surgeons in Southern Chile who were trained to do this delicate surgery were on vacation or going on vacation during the high summer season in Chile.
A frantic search lead by doctors and friends alike, found the team of specialists lead by Dr. Urrejola at Universidad Catolica in Santiago, Chile.
Within 24 hours of finding Dr. Urrejola, Rob, Monika and Dublin traveled to Santiago. Seven days after the discovery of the tumor, Rob had a difficult seven-hour surgery to remove the tumor from his colon, lymph nodes and a cancerous mass on his aorta. Post-surgical pathology reports indicate Stage III-IVm colon cancer. This diagnosis indicates that the cancer spread beyond the intestinal wall to lymph nodes or other organs.
Rob's positivity and daily efforts have allowed him to recover from surgery. He has regained his appetite and is walking daily.
The next steps in Rob’s treatment are eight cycles of chemotherapy to be administered in Santiago, and surgery to reconnect the colon. Rob will have chemotherapy treatments in Santiago every three weeks until May. In May he will take a break from chemo and have surgery. After healing from the surgery, Rob will start chemo again.
The family is choosing to continue treatment in Santiago because they are comfortable with the team of specialists and because insurance coverage was initiated in Santiago -- changing to another location would mean initiating and opening a new insurance file that may not be approved, and time is of the essence.
Insurance will cover some portion of the major medical expenses, but Rob and Monika need help with funding for accommodation, travel and unexpected or uncovered medical expenses.
The family thanks you for your love, prayers and any donations you can make or help you can give. Rob is staying positive and healthy so he can “end this pain in the a@*” and get back to work."
Organizer and beneficiary
Robonika Leeds
Organizer
Santee, CA
Robert Leeds
Beneficiary