Help Bob, Veteran and Retired ACPD, Fight Cancer

My dad, Bob Cooper, veteran and retired police officer, is undergoing aggressive treatment for a rare blood cancer that does not allow him to continue working. Please help to financially support him and our family during this fight.

This past January my dad broke his arm. A trip to the emergency room unveiled that an osteolytic lesion was the aggravating cause of the break. Upon further imaging, doctors discovered lesions throughout his body, including on his spine and ribs. A couple of weeks later my dad was diagnosed with IgG lambda light chain multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Healthy plasma cells help fight infections by making antibodies that recognize and attack germs. In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow, crowding out healthy blood cells. Rather than produce helpful antibodies, the cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that can cause complications. Genetic testing revealed my dad’s specific type of myeloma is about 75% aggressive. He was also newly diagnosed with diabetes during testing. His doctors are hoping that the cancer medications are the cause of this and that it may go away with time. He is currently taking insulin four times a day.

We have come to find out that while there is advanced treatment for multiple myeloma, it is incurable and my dad will battle it for the rest of his life. This is not his first fight, as he is also a prostate cancer survivor. So far, his multiple myeloma treatment has included extensive radiation, chemotherapy pills, and injections. On July 6, he will start the process for an autologous bone marrow transplant at Jacksonville’s Mayo Clinic. This means that his own stem cells will be collected and frozen for a few weeks. He will then receive an incredibly high dose of intravenous chemotherapy that will destroy cancer cells, along with blood-producing stem cells in his bone marrow. The frozen stem cells, treated outside of his body, will then be reinfused to start producing healthy blood cells. Transplant day, August 17, is called “Day Zero”, as my dad’s immune system will be nonexistent post-transplant. Then, we begin the minimum 6-month recovery process after being discharged from inpatient care for hopefully only one month.

While recovering from surgery to fix his broken arm my dad received donated paid time off. As he did not have enough PTO to cover all of the time he would miss, his co-workers came together and donated the PTO that they didn’t need. We cannot even begin to explain how appreciative we are of this gesture, but that donated time has unfortunately run out. Once my dad undergoes his bone marrow transplant he will not be able to receive pay until his immune system is rebuilt and it is safe for him to return to work. After discharge from inpatient care, my mom will be his full-time caregiver and will not be able to earn income from her part-time jobs. She has already been going above and beyond to make sure my dad can get the treatment he needs. I will also be serving as his secondary caretaker and stepping in to relieve my mom at times.

Luckily, my dad has health insurance, but we are still anticipating a large number of costs in addition to the regular cost of living. In addition to medical deductibles not covered by insurance, especially for insulin, everyday expenses such as gas, groceries, vehicle upkeep, and more become difficult to manage. We also have to keep in mind that one of the drugs that treat myeloma, Revlimid, costs $25,000 per month. The unanswered question of how long my dad will receive coverage for Revlimid, and other medications, is also something we worry about.

My dad has worked so hard throughout his entire life. After graduating from Manasquan high school he enlisted in the US Army, serving as a paratrooper and medic in the 82nd Airborne until 1977. After honorably discharging from the military he joined the police force in Atlantic City, NJ, where he instructed in the academy and served on the SWAT team, until retiring as a Detective Sergeant in 2012. Since retiring, my dad has worked multiple jobs, including working for the state of New Jersey and as an adjunct professor at Cumberland Community College. He now works for the state of Florida and is loved at his job. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, my dad never missed a day of work while undergoing treatment. This speaks volumes to his character. He also made it to every single one of my rowing races at the time with unwavering support. I could always count on hearing his voice, louder than everyone else's, cheering for me and my teammates from the crowd. Everybody who knows my dad knows that he is incredibly kind, hardworking, brave, and always willing to help others. Always one of the friendliest faces to see. If I have learned two things from my dad, they would be to never let the circumstances you are handed hold you back from being successful, and to not accept any result other than accomplishing your goals.

This is not a story any family wants to share and it has taken us a while to gather the courage to ask for help. My parents deserve to know everything is going to be alright while we fight this fight together. If there is any contribution you’re able to make we appreciate it more than you’ll ever know. If you’re unable to donate, we ask that you consider sharing this fundraiser with friends or family. Thank you so much, and we will continue to keep you updated!