RALLY FOR ROBIN -- SHE IS STANDING WHERE EACH OF US COULD BE NEXT

Robin Wyatt was 38 years old on July 6, 2011. She is a devoted wife and mother, and a conscientious employee. Robin is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and was born at Doctor’s Hospital, now Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She grew up in the northwest Valley, and attended Sunrise Elementary School, Desert Sky Middle School, and Goldwater High School.

 Robin has been married to husband, Pat Wyatt, 38, for 17 years. Also a native of Phoenix, Pat has a background in welding, and is a project manager for Magnum Companies.

 Robin and Pat are the parents of two children. Son, Payson Wyatt, 16, will be a sophomore at North Canyon High School, and daughter, Payge, 14, will be in the 8^thgrade at Norterra Charter School. The entire family (but especially Robin) dotes on the dog, a Chihuahua named “Nike”. Everybody loves spending time together, and exploring Arizona.

Happy days of Robin and Payge wandering a mall while Pat and Payson go hunting came to an abrupt halt a few weeks ago with Robin’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Robin had an initial surgery to remove her affected ovary, and the football size tumor that was attached to it. The first of August, her oncologist is going to perform another surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital to remove Robin’s other ovary, lymph nodes, and uterus. Biopsies also will be performed to stage Robin’s cancer, and to plan what course of treatment will be most effective for her. However, the anesthesiologist requires payment up front before the surgery to fight for Robin’s life can be performed.

 Like many hard-working Arizonans, the Wyatts have no medical insurance because they cannot afford the premiums. They had made the hard decision to pay rent and utilities instead, and discovered that they make too much income to qualify for any kind of state assistance, but too little to pay for medical coverage. Robin works for a small business, so she is also without any kind of disability benefits, and she used up her accrued vacation time with her first surgery. In the meantime, as she faces the second surgery without an income and an unknown prognosis for her cancer, the hospital bills are beginning to roll in like a tidal wave. Regardless, life continues to go on with its demands, and school will be starting soon for two kids who have many other things to lose sleep about besides paying for school supplies.

This is the face of true hardship in Arizona. The Wyatts are responsible, long-married, two-income, and a dedicated family. They have been hit by a perfect storm of circumstances that they did not create, nor can they tackle alone.

 A series of fundraising events and community efforts under the banner “Rally for Robin” are being planned to try to meet some of the family’s immediate needs. Not surprisingly, Robin’s healing has been impacted by the level of stress she is enduring, and the intense worry she has about her children and husband. It seems ironic that while her very long-term survival is at stake, she is also battling the short-term demons of funding rent, utility payments, and food.

 An account has been established at Midfirst Bank in the family’s name, and a website will soon be launched. Until then, if you would like to help “Rally for Robin,” please contact her sister, Wendy Terrell, at 602-989-2990, or email MoxieHairStudio@cox.net.  Please check back frequently to see how Robin is doing. If you can make a donation of even a few dollars, they will do an immense amount of good to a family who is rich in every way except money.