One Tough Man. One Brutal Diagnosis. One Chance to Help.

Bob Heath has always been the kind of person who makes a lasting impression — sharp, social, full of opinions, and fiercely loyal to the people he loves. He’s also incredibly proud. The kind of man who would never ask for help, no matter how hard things got. That’s why we’re here, asking on his behalf — because he and his wife, Patti, never would.

We’re Mary James and Jessica Hayes — Bob’s sister and niece. Starting this GoFundMe wasn’t easy, but we knew we had to do something. If you know Bob, you know he’d do anything for the people he loves — and now, we want to do the same for him.

In October 2024, Bob’s life changed in an instant. What started with symptoms that didn’t quite make sense soon led to a diagnosis that flipped everything upside down: metastatic prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of treatments, ER visits, rehab stays, specialist appointments, and long nights filled with worry. Bob began hormone therapy (ADT), which caused him to lose 30 pounds in just three months. He’s been fighting dizziness, weakness, and debilitating side effects — including a recent fall that landed him in the hospital. Patti, who’s been by his side since their first date at 15 and 16 years old, has become his biggest advocate — researching treatments, filing medication appeals, and asking the hard questions to make sure they’re leaving no stone unturned.

They’ve been exploring newer FDA-approved therapies, but the path forward is complicated and expensive. One especially critical medication — Xtandi — is still tied up in the insurance approval process, turning what should be a lifeline into yet another uphill fight. In addition to the mounting medical bills, Bob now requires full-time support at home. He needs help with nearly all daily activities due to severe weakness, a recent history of falls, and ongoing confusion caused by the cancer and its treatments. He can no longer be left alone safely, which means Patti — who is already juggling so much — will need to reduce her work hours to care for him. As you can imagine, this only adds to the financial pressure they’re facing.

Through it all, Patti and their two sons have been holding it together — but the truth is, this journey is overwhelming. Physically. Emotionally. Financially.

Bob is only in his mid-60s. He should be enjoying retirement, family dinners, hockey games that fire him up, and long talks on the patio with people he loves. Instead, every day is focused on getting through — treatment by treatment, bill by bill, prayer by prayer.

This GoFundMe was created to help ease the financial burden of medical bills, ongoing care, and travel for treatment. We want to give Bob and Patti the space to focus on what matters most: staying strong, staying together, and continuing to fight.

Please consider donating, sharing, or simply sending up a prayer. If you've experienced something similar, feel free to share your journey with us too. The power of connection is real, and your support — in any form — means more than you know.

With love and gratitude,

Mary James & Jessica Hayes

(Bob’s sister & niece)