about

This site is all about embracing joy. Finding ways to be all that you can be, even if you are facing limits. Discovering the joy of everyday life. Nurturing yourself with healthy relationships with family and friends. Choosing to be happy no matter what happens that is out of your control.

I will be posting blogs one or two times a week. They will include updates about how I am becoming and staying happier with practical suggestions for you. I will also be posting updates about the book I am writing, tentatively titled “Embrace Joy”, on the same subject. If you wo

biography

Rob was born in 1962, wandered around the northeast and Illinois with his migrant finance executive father, mother, and three siblings. When he was 12, he fell in love with computer programming. Years later, he happily discovered people would pay him well to do just that. He has been programming for fifty years. He met Rachel (who is disabled and uses a wheelchair) at a SCUBA class in 1991. They married in 1992 and have two children: Spencer, 25, and Jacob, 21.

In late 2023, Rob found out by chance that he had two brain tumors. One was a meningioma, which most people who have die without ever knowing it was there, so just watch and wait with annual MRI scans. The other was a slow growing Vestibular Schwannoma, which was destroying the hearing in his right ear and could impact his balance. Rob opted for a surgery to remove the tumor, preserve equilibrium (much needed to be caregiver for his wife), and leave him deaf in his right ear. The surgery and rehab went well. Everything was going like gangbusters.

Unfortunately, on January 7, 2024, Rob had a stroke. Then he had another. And another. He eventually had at least ten strokes . Two months later, he was finally diagnosed with a rare (seventh case ever) infection of the curvularia fungus. Treatment eventually stopped the strokes. Rob was unable to eat, speak, or move any limb except his left arm.

Rehabilitation sessions involved two therapists transferring him to a chair where he would sit until the pain was too much. He began having hallucinations: that time traveling assassins were coming to kill him and his family or that he was overthrowing a devious troll as king of the amusement park in which they lived.

In late March, he transferred to inpatient rehab and the real work began. Physical rehab trying to stand and eventually walk with assistance, Occupational rehab getting function back in his right arm, stretching his left, try to grip light objects with his left hand, memory exercises, cognitive tasks, multitasking, balance. Cognitive therapy telling stories, sorting objects, remembering items, scheduling. Speech and swallow therapy so he could eat and be heard. Recreational therapy to teach him what he could still go out and do.

At Thanksgiving of 2024, Rob transferred home and, after some low blood pressure events, stabilized with at-home rehab. Now Rob can stand up all by himself with a railing for balance and a knee immobilize for 15 minutes while doing various exercises. He can walk 88 feet with immobilizer and a walker. He can cook, slowly. He regularly attends Austin FC Home matches.

Stories don’t end and we do not know where this one will go. In future months, Rob has plans. He has scheduled a trip, with son Spencer for support, to attend his 25 year high school reunion in June. He is working on plans with his wife Rachel to attend his niece”s (also Rachel) wedding in July. He is signed up to do the Livestrong Challenge 5k walk, possibly in his wheelchair, but maybe with a walker. Follow here to keep up.