Robert Thompson

Get Rob Moving again!

Rob is a 57-year-old landscaper for Ohio State University. On September 18th he received a flu vaccine and 8 days later was quadriplegic and on life support. The protective covering around his spinal column suffered severe damage. While some recover with minimal disabilities, many face permanent life altering disabilities, and all face a new normal. Recovery is possible, but every specialist stressed it may be a multiple year journey with numerous out-of-pocket costs, many expenses limited or not covered by insurance. Rob is a fighter, and has already regained the ability to open and close his eyes, swallow, and move his head. He is able to breathe on his own a few hours a day. He is communicative, and stresses to his family his determination to recover.

Outside of this, Rob is an avid outdoorsman and looks forward to every minute he can spend with his wife, daughters, and son-in-law. He is a mechanic, motorcyclist, music enthusiast, and a generous family provider. He knows no stranger, can talk to anyone and is quick to smile. He volunteers his time and skills to help anyone who needs it.

Since his injury, Rob struggles to breathe on his own and move his limbs. When necessary to move, he relies on a lift to ambulate from a bed to a chair. He relies on ambulance transportation to attend doctor’s appointments and requires around the clock nursing.
Rob’s family is raising funds to cover COBRA premiums that cover hospital, rehabilitation, doctor, or medication needs, roughly $700/mo. Insurance covers 60 days of skilled nursing rehabilitation. After that it becomes private pay. Nursing home costs for ventilator dependent patients run between $10,000/mo. to $17,000/mo. Recovery will take years. In the absence of a skilled nursing facility, his needs at home would require skilled nursing and transportation to physical therapy in addition to other specialized equipment. A used modified vehicle is estimated between $50,000 and $80,000.

Rob hopes skilled nursing rehabilitation will liberate him from mechanical breathing assistance, and physical therapy will improve the strength and range of motion in his limbs allowing him to hold future grandchildren, and walk his youngest daughter down the aisle when the time comes. He hopes he can return to helping others with his gifts and to be able to spend quality time with his friends and family.

Please donate to Help, Hope, Live in Rob’s honor today and ask your friends and family to give too. Donations are tax deductible and are 100% managed by Help, Hope, Live. In addition, we would love to plan some fund raisers in Rob’s honor so please consider a donation of your time if you’re able to help with that. For more information, please email his wife at [email protected].