Get Bob Robillard Rehabbed, Rolling & Rocking!
Donation protected
Get “Bargain Bob” Robillard Rehabilitated, Rolling, and Rocking!
On July 23, 2020, our dear friend Bob Robillard’s life changed forever. Doing what he loved most, bike riding, he crashed on one of his long rides in Roanoke, VA, where he, his wife Melissa, and their 2 children live. Bob severed his spine at the T-4 area and will never use his legs again. He is now paralyzed from his chest down. It has taken a month for Bob’s condition to stabilize. He has been unable to breathe and doctors performed a tracheotomy to help him. Imagine waking up in a hospital room not knowing how you got there, not knowing why you can’t move, and not being able to breathe. For those of us who love dear Bob, it has been a month spent imagining how we can make his life better while we wipe away our tears.
Bob has spent the past 30 days in the ICU in Roanoke but has finally been approved to be transported to Atlanta’s Shepherd Rehabilitation Center, where he will continue to learn to breathe on his own and begin getting acquainted with his new normal. This is VERY good news as Sheperd Center is one of the best rehab facilities in the US.
The Shepherd Center staff will soon experience the Mr. Robillard his loyal students know so well. He will have nurses laughing and physical therapists blasting 80’s punk and new wave. He’ll request olive-colored gowns to accent his eyes and decorate his room with free items from Craig’s list. The Sheperd Center newsletter will get a new editor and their rehabilitation protocol will soon include memorizing the bill of rights. Bob simply can’t help himself; enthusiasm is what he does!
Wherever Bob goes, his attitude and work ethic make a difference. He not only teaches history and government in high school but also coaches tennis, edits the yearbook, and leads the Model United Nations team. He also taught high school in Shanghai and housed Ocean, an exchange student from China for a year. (For parents… Ocean had daily violin practice i.e. Bob has the patience of a saint) For the past two years, Bob and Melissa have been foster parents to two beautiful children.
Bob is an inspiration and a FIGHTER, yet even Bob’s optimism cannot surmount the challenges and costs his family will face in the future. Bob has been in the hospital ICU for a month. He will spend 6-8 months living in a renowned rehabilitation center and Melissa will need to fly from Roanoke and find childcare while she is away. Their current house will never be ADA ready so they will need a bigger, more open, layout. Bob will also need a van to lift him in and out of the car. There will also be countless other technologies needed to increase his quality of life. Sadly, the list seems endless.
As some of Bob’s oldest and closest friends we are asking for your help. Please be as generous and caring as we know Bob would for anyone of us. The emotional and financial toll of Bob’s journey is daunting but not insurmountable. We will do everything possible to minimize the effects of his paralysis and bring Bob back to the classroom.
Bob’s love for life, love of the unknown, love of music, love of humor, love for the color green (because it matches his kind eyes), and a love for finding a bargain describe him. However, his love for his family, friends, and students define him. It is time for us to return that love. Please support him and his family on their long journey to discovering a new normal. We would be deeply humbled and grateful if you will help us HELP our friend. Your support matters to Bob, Melissa, and their family. Whatever their new normal looks like, it will include a new type of “bike therapy.” but retain Bob’s sense of hope and optimism. PLEASE HIT READ MORE AT END OF THIS MESSAGE TO SEE BOB'S SPIRIT IN ACTION
With Gratitude and Hope,
Liz, Mark, Ray and Dear Friends of Bob (too numerous to name)
Read Bob’s blog to learn about his great love of family, teaching, and cycling! (its inspiring)
https://midlifecyclist.weebly.com/bicycling-blog/four-years-later
"When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways--either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.”
-Dalai Lama
On July 23, 2020, our dear friend Bob Robillard’s life changed forever. Doing what he loved most, bike riding, he crashed on one of his long rides in Roanoke, VA, where he, his wife Melissa, and their 2 children live. Bob severed his spine at the T-4 area and will never use his legs again. He is now paralyzed from his chest down. It has taken a month for Bob’s condition to stabilize. He has been unable to breathe and doctors performed a tracheotomy to help him. Imagine waking up in a hospital room not knowing how you got there, not knowing why you can’t move, and not being able to breathe. For those of us who love dear Bob, it has been a month spent imagining how we can make his life better while we wipe away our tears.
Bob has spent the past 30 days in the ICU in Roanoke but has finally been approved to be transported to Atlanta’s Shepherd Rehabilitation Center, where he will continue to learn to breathe on his own and begin getting acquainted with his new normal. This is VERY good news as Sheperd Center is one of the best rehab facilities in the US.
The Shepherd Center staff will soon experience the Mr. Robillard his loyal students know so well. He will have nurses laughing and physical therapists blasting 80’s punk and new wave. He’ll request olive-colored gowns to accent his eyes and decorate his room with free items from Craig’s list. The Sheperd Center newsletter will get a new editor and their rehabilitation protocol will soon include memorizing the bill of rights. Bob simply can’t help himself; enthusiasm is what he does!
Wherever Bob goes, his attitude and work ethic make a difference. He not only teaches history and government in high school but also coaches tennis, edits the yearbook, and leads the Model United Nations team. He also taught high school in Shanghai and housed Ocean, an exchange student from China for a year. (For parents… Ocean had daily violin practice i.e. Bob has the patience of a saint) For the past two years, Bob and Melissa have been foster parents to two beautiful children.
Bob is an inspiration and a FIGHTER, yet even Bob’s optimism cannot surmount the challenges and costs his family will face in the future. Bob has been in the hospital ICU for a month. He will spend 6-8 months living in a renowned rehabilitation center and Melissa will need to fly from Roanoke and find childcare while she is away. Their current house will never be ADA ready so they will need a bigger, more open, layout. Bob will also need a van to lift him in and out of the car. There will also be countless other technologies needed to increase his quality of life. Sadly, the list seems endless.
As some of Bob’s oldest and closest friends we are asking for your help. Please be as generous and caring as we know Bob would for anyone of us. The emotional and financial toll of Bob’s journey is daunting but not insurmountable. We will do everything possible to minimize the effects of his paralysis and bring Bob back to the classroom.
Bob’s love for life, love of the unknown, love of music, love of humor, love for the color green (because it matches his kind eyes), and a love for finding a bargain describe him. However, his love for his family, friends, and students define him. It is time for us to return that love. Please support him and his family on their long journey to discovering a new normal. We would be deeply humbled and grateful if you will help us HELP our friend. Your support matters to Bob, Melissa, and their family. Whatever their new normal looks like, it will include a new type of “bike therapy.” but retain Bob’s sense of hope and optimism. PLEASE HIT READ MORE AT END OF THIS MESSAGE TO SEE BOB'S SPIRIT IN ACTION
With Gratitude and Hope,
Liz, Mark, Ray and Dear Friends of Bob (too numerous to name)
Read Bob’s blog to learn about his great love of family, teaching, and cycling! (its inspiring)
https://midlifecyclist.weebly.com/bicycling-blog/four-years-later
"When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways--either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.”
-Dalai Lama
Co-organizers (5)
Judith Powell
Organizer
Napa, CA
Melissa Coburn
Beneficiary
Mark Shintani
Co-organizer
Ray Bakowski
Co-organizer
Liz King
Co-organizer
Robert Robillard
Co-organizer