Roberts Hope

Update from Robert: GOFUNDME  I wanted to take a moment to give a quick update. I underwent surgery (double organ transplant) on 6.17, I was walking with assistance by 6.18, and by 6.22 I was discharged to go home! Since then I have begun the long, testing, and very painful recovery process. Mentally I have been acclimating to new routines. While giving my best effort to maintain positivity I am adjusting to what feels like an entirely new body. My “cocktail” of prescription medication has grown considerably. Also I have labs and clinic visits with the nephrology team twice a week for the next 3 months. Lastly I thought it was worth mentioning I will be counting down the days to July 10th, when I get my 40 staples removed!!! Thank you to everyone for your support, it has been a game changer! DISCLOSURE: this post is a bit lengthy but please give me a minute of your time Greetings to all of my FB family and friends both near and far, whether or not we communicate daily or just with an occasional "social media" interaction, I am asking for a favor. As all of you should know, Robbie is my 1st born and only son. But he's more than that...he's a God loving, hard working, honest man who has a passion for so many things. Anything outdoors... surfing, hiking, disc golf, softball. Music, art, his family and his only "child" Biggie Smalls (his english bulldog) just to name a few. But first and foremost...he is a warrior. What many of you probably don't know is that at age13, Robbie was diagnosed with T1d. Type 1 juvenile diabetes. Since then he has had to monitor his blood sugar and give himself injections before every meal along with other lifestyle changes. He had no other choice but to take on this battle with a vengeance. I'm so proud of him and give him so much credit for learning about his disease and persevering, though not an easy task to have to live with. Now at 31 Robert is facing a life threatening condition. This past January he was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease and in stage 4 kidney failure...this week he was downgraded to stage 5 and will require a double organ transplant for both kidney and pancreas. On Aug. 10th he will get his port and prepare to start diyallasis. Robbie has been knocking out the long list of requirements per the transplant team at OHSU like a champ, all while continuing to work full time even though most days just getting out of bed is a challenge. God willing he will be placed on the list sooner than later. This is where the favor part comes in! If each of you could offer a prayer, a well wish or send positive vibes throughout the following months we would be so grateful. ALSO...if you are interested in following his journey, he has started a YouTube channel. Not only to document his progress and keep family and friends apprised of his progress but also for support. As you will hear in his videos, he's a very private person. Never one to air his personal life and Never one to ask for much of anything from anyone! That being said, this is a personal challenge for him to be so raw, so open and vulnerable. However, he knows that he cannot, should not and Will Not go this alone. It is also his hopes that maybe he will help others by doing this, by becoming a voice. This has been incredibly difficult watching my son's health decline so rapidly and at times I feel helpless but I try to stay positive and not let him see the constant worry or fear. Sometimes I even feel like he may think I am insensitive or don't have/make time for him. I'm just trying to keep it together. I have a good feeling and am confident that everything is going to fall into place and before we know it, he will be on his way to a new lease on life and get back to enjoying all that he loves as a Non diabetic! Thank you all for your time, prayer and well wishes. I really encourage you all to subscribe to his YouTube channel below and be inspired by his courage and strength and wit. Or some days maybe be that little bit of extra strength and encouragement he will need along the way! ~much love#letsgo #teamrobbie#robbiestrong"Hello, I have created a YouTube Channel in hopes to keep my loved ones up to date. Please subscribe and check in at your convenience. Thank you and love to all!Feel free to make comments, give feedback, and yes PLEASE SHARE. I would love to make it through this and be able to be a light for someone in my shoes in the future." https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh3UmW86t83sdeH501hBf2Q