Hello all,

As you know, 8 years ago, Robb was fortunate enough to get a heart transplant. During those 8 years, Robb has lived life to his fullest as a father, brother, husband, and son. He built a wonderful family with two young children - Ford (12) and Arden (4), and his amazing wife Carah. Unfortunately, life has presented Robb with another impossible challenge.

The last two months, Robb has gotten progressively sicker. He spent weeks in and out of the hospitals in Cincinnati trying to understand what is going on with him and seeing several specialists. Currently, he is at the Cleveland Clinic after being flown there in an emergency as he needed critical care. Through the doctors at the clinic, Robb has been diagnosed with dermatomyositis. Dermatomyositis is an extremely rare autoimmune disorder that is characterized by chronic muscle inflammation and weakness, often accompanied by skin rashes. This condition has no cure; it can only be managed through infusions, medications, and physical therapy. This has left him with a feeding tube for nutrition, robbed him of his ability to speak normally, and has wasted away his muscles to the point where walking or sitting up is extremely challenging. Robb will have to get a hospital bed in his house to help with treatment. He will receive infusions every 4 weeks for the foreseeable future. This is coupled with extra care he now needs with transportation, medication, and several types of therapy. If life had not been challenging enough to this point for him, this will be Robb's new norm.

Robb will have to fight this condition for the rest of his life. This condition will be very limiting for his ability to live any type of normal life and will require long treatment and management. This will require time away from his wife and kids and possibly rob him of the ability to provide for his family. Coupled with treatments and medications his insurance won't cover, Robb and his family need help.

At this point, we are hopeful he will get back his ability to swallow and no longer need a feeding tube. His recovery and to what extent will be a few months long question.

I love my brother and his family with all my heart. Robb is now facing a second, life-threatening and life-changing disease. To our many family and personal friends who we have known over the years, from our Dublin Coffman Alum to Robb's Ohio University Alum and Beta Theta Pi brothers, to my Ohio State University Alum and teammates and countless coaches that supported me along the way - if you can help in any way it would be greatly appreciated. Robb would not have the life he had to this point without a community of love and support around him. If you know me, my family, or Robb, please consider supporting him. Even words of encouragement to let him know he is still on your minds and in your hearts would be helpful at this point.

If anyone in my family's sphere of influence, from close friends to acquaintances, could please help or share this, I know Robb, his family, and the rest of our family would be eternally grateful. Please help Robb live a long life so he can watch his kids grow up and grow old with his wife and the rest of us. We love you all.

The Olds' family - Robb, Carah, Ford, Arden, Adam, Ashlee, Jack, Bob, and Pam.