Hi, this is Jane, Charlie’s wife. No doubt if you are a regular subscriber to this website you will have noticed Charlie has been relatively quiet lately with his posts and also at answering emails and comments.
You will know that he has been dealing quite successfully with prostate cancer for the last 22 years but late last year he was also diagnosed with bladder cancer. Since then he has had a round of chemotherapy and some immunotherapy, however this has proved unsuccessful.
Now he has been presented with an option of a cystectomy operation – removal of the bladder (and the cancer) and replacing it with an artificial external one. Charles and the doctors agree this is his best chance to stop the cancer spreading. This is booked in for next week and is a serious operation that takes 6 hours plus. It is tribute to Charles’ 73 year old general health that the surgeon thinks that he is up to the ordeal.
The surgery has hit us like a thunderbolt. After 23 years of keeping ahead of the medical bills, we now are facing these new surgery bills. Even though we have private health insurance our finances have been drained over the years and with this operation we will be out of pocket about Australian $13,850 or US$8,960 Money we do not have.
I have set up a “Go-Fund-Me” page where Charles’ many friends and relatives can contribute to this amount if they want, no matter how small:
Obviously there is no pressure to do this, and I appreciate you taking the time to read my message. Any help you can offer will be so very appreciated, and every dollar will go towards the medical costs . We are hopeful Charles will come through this as he has many times before, and continue on with his family , friends and website!
All the best and good health to all,
Jane Robinson