Help needed for Robert Rozzen. Rob is recovering from a sudden, massive heart attack.
California born and raised, Rob Rozzen discovered his love for pastry and candy back in junior high in the mid-80s. While other kids were trading baseball cards, Rob was dreaming up cakes, candies, and creations that made people smile. That passion would become the heartbeat of his life - but the road ahead was anything but easy. A Childhood Turned Upside Down For his 13th birthday, Rob received a bicycle - freedom on two wheels. He rode everywhere, full of energy and excitement. But just a week later, everything changed. After riding home one afternoon, Rob stepped off his bike and suddenly could not walk. His mother, who worked at a hospital, rushed him to a doctor that same evening. Rob was immediately hospitalized. After 34 days of tests, fear, and uncertainty, doctors finally diagnosed him with bilateral slipped epiphysis, a serious hip condition. The surgery was grueling - far less refined than what exists today - and at just 13 years old, Rob was confined to a wheelchair for an entire year. Pain, Perseverance, and an Unbreakable Spirit Even after recovering, the surgery that saved him also created a lifetime of pain. Specialist after specialist, surgery after surgery - seven in total - the discomfort never fully went away. Yet through it all, Rob stayed joyful, creative, and determined. He kept baking. He kept dreaming. He kept smiling. By 1994, Rob was finally living independently, working, creating, and building a life he loved. Then Disaster Struck - Again
On January 17, 1994, the Northridge Earthquake hit. Rob lost everything. His home, his belongings, his stability - all gone in seconds. With nowhere to go, he headed to Las Vegas to visit a friend, sofa-surfed for a month, and began rebuilding from scratch. He worked in hotels, sharpened his culinary skills, and eventually took a leap of faith: he opened Just a Bite Cheesecakes on a shoestring budget. That little dream grew into Just a Bite Las Vegas, where Rob created celebrity show cakes, catered events, and brought his signature magic to productions across the city. Business was good. Life was steady. The pain was still there - worsening slowly - but Rob pushed through it, as he always had. Then Came 2020 When COVID hit, Rob's business stopped overnight. Staff gone. Bookings gone. Revenue gone. He fought to keep things alive, but when the world reopened, there was nothing left to rebuild. A New Chapter in North Carolina Rob had visited Wilmington, NC many times and always felt drawn to it. In 2021, he made a brave decision: start over once again. He packed up his life, moved across the country, and began rebuilding for the second - really, the third - time.
But shortly after settling in, the pain worsened again. Rob was forced to stop working and undergo a knee replacement. A year later, the other knee failed, requiring another major surgery. Two long recoveries, two more setbacks, and still he pushed forward. Then came the hip pain - deeper, sharper, and impossible to ignore. Doctors discovered that his hip had completely deteriorated and required a full replacement. On November 20, 2025, Rob underwent a complex surgery navigating old pins, scar tissue, and abnormal bone growth. Once again, he found himself slowing down, taking steps backward, and trying to stay hopeful. He rang in 2026 recovering from that surgery, determined to heal and return to the kitchen he loved. January 2nd - The Day Everything Changed Rob was at work frosting confections when he suddenly became light-headed. He stepped away to rest, returned after twenty minutes, and tried to push through - because that's who he is. But then came the crushing chest pain, like a bundt cake ring snapping tight around his ribs. His arm and shoulder began to burn. He was sweating. Something was terribly wrong. It was time to call 911. Paramedics arrived, ran tests, and made the decision to transport him 30 miles to the region's main hospital. Within minutes of arriving, Rob was surrounded by a team of specialists. Twenty minutes later, he was in emergency surgery. A clot had formed, blocking almost 100% of the blood flow through his left artery. Rob had suffered what doctors call a Widow Maker - one of the most deadly types of heart attacks. Three stents. Two days in Cardiac ICU. Two more days in advanced care. And then, finally, he was allowed to go home. Life Changed Overnight Rob is now recovering from:
- A recent hip replacement
- A massive heart attack
- A new regimen of 26 medications
- The inability to drive
- The inability to work
- The inability to produce the candies and creations that have always been his livelihood He had planned for a slow, steady recovery from his hip surgery
- learning to walk without a crutch or walker again.
He never expected this. Rob Is Financially Devastated
Medical bills are pouring in. Income has stopped. Recovery is long. And Rob is at a crossroads. This is a man who has rebuilt his life more times than most people can imagine. A man who has endured pain, loss, disaster, and setback after setback - and still found a way to smile, create, and bring joy to others. Now, he needs help. How You Can Help Rob Right Now Anything truly helps. If you're able to donate, please do - every contribution makes a real difference in Rob's recovery, stability, and ability to rebuild his life yet again.
If donating isn't possible, you can still support him by visiting his Etsy page justabitewilmington.etsy.com to help keep his passion alive.
Even sharing this fundraiser with others goes a long way. We're all hoping for the best - that Rob's health stabilizes, that his strength returns, and that he can get back to a comfortable, steady rhythm of work and home life.
He has fought through more than most people will ever face, and he's still fighting. Thank you for taking the time to read his story, for caring, and for helping in any way you can. Your support means more than you know.