Hi everyone,

My name is Natalie, and Rodney and I have been best friends for nearly almost 22 years. For those who know us, you know how inseparable we are—but for anyone who doesn’t, I just want you to know I’m the one putting this together for him. We’ve been through everything side by side, and he’s the one person I can always count on. He would never ask for help himself, so I felt it was important to step in and do it for him.

I’m writing this as someone who loves and cares deeply about one of the strongest people I know—Rodney Dobson

He’s incredibly hardworking, headstrong, and the kind of person who pushes through no matter what. But after everything he’s been through over the past several months, the financial weight of his medical journey has become overwhelming on top of the physical and emotional toll it’s already taken.

Since August, he has been in and out of the hospital for serious and ongoing medical issues. On August 30th, 2025, he was admitted to Upstate for an obstructing kidney stone with hydronephrosis, a UTI, and diverticulitis. After being home for just one day, he suffered a pulmonary embolism on September 2nd and was taken by ambulance to St. Joe’s, where he was admitted for three days. In October, he had multiple admissions at Samaritan due to heart rate instability and chest pain related to the pulmonary embolism. Most recently, on February 2nd, 2026, he underwent a cystoscopy with lithotripsy and stent placement at Upstate. Just days later, on February 5th, he was admitted again to Samaritan, where they found worsening hydronephrosis of his left kidney which lead to an invasive surgery. Along with that, doctors discovered a newly formed DVT that may have developed into another pulmonary embolism. Because he has already undergone extensive CT imaging over the past few months, doctors chose to treat him for a blood clot without repeating imaging. While still hospitalized, on February 9th, he required placement of a nephrostomy tube, which allows urine to drain externally so his kidney and ureter can heal properly.

Throughout all of this, he has required ongoing follow-up care with cardiology, pulmonology, urology, nephrology, hematology, and gastroenterology, leading to frequent appointments and additional time missed from work. Even so, he continues to work whenever he is physically able and plans to return again as soon as he is discharged.

Despite having insurance, the medical costs have added up quickly. His February 2nd surgery alone resulted in $3,700 out-of-pocket, not including repeated hospital admissions, specialist visits, or the very expensive medications he relies on—such as Eliquis and Ivabradine, which he has been actively fighting with insurance to have covered.

I also want to give a heartfelt shoutout to his work family. Knowing that my best friend has found a second family in the people he works with means more to me than I can put into words. Their understanding, compassion, and willingness to show up for him during such a difficult time has been incredible, and I am so deeply thankful for each and every one of them. Back in September, they came together to donate $1,700 to help cover time he missed from work and keep him caught up on bills following his hospitalization. They continue to support him and are even working to donate hours to help cover the additional time he has recently missed and will likely continue to miss. That support has meant more than words can express.

This fundraiser is simply meant to help ease some of the financial stress he is carrying so he can focus on healing instead of worrying about mounting medical bills. If you’re able to donate, share, or keep him in your thoughts, it would truly mean the world. Every bit of support helps more than you know.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for supporting someone who gives everything he has, even when he has very little left to give.

From the bottom of my heart,

Natalie