Rob Biagi

As my marathon training continues, I am hit with yet another reason to run. My friend Rob Biagi, a singer/songwriter/performer of Christian Family Worship - was diagnosed with Leukemia over the 4th of July weekend. Here's details pulled from his website...
www.robbiagi.com

7.1.2008 - ROB BIAGI'S LEUKEMIA
In a freaky, "one-in-a-million" case, Rob Biagi has been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. We say "freaky, one-in-a-million case" because it was exactly 9 months ago (to the day) that Rob's youngest daughter Natalie was diagnosed with another type of Leukemia: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. That makes two Leukemia patients in one family with very different versions of the disease (extremely rare). And if you add in Rob's son Matt (who has had nearly 65 potentially cancerous moles removed from his body in the last 18 months), that's a large burden for any family. The Biagis need prayer, encouragement, and help from you.

THE DETAILS ON ROB:
Rob had just finished a week-long VBS in Carrollton, Texas when he discovered a large lump below his ribcage. He visited his doctor first thing Monday, and tests were begun. His doctor instructed him to go to the Emergency Room at Hoag Hospital. The results showed that Rob's spleen was extremely swollen, and that his white blood cell count was extremely high.

Rob was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit overnight, then to the Oncology (Cancer) Floor. More tests were run (CT scans, a bone marrow biopsy, 2 blood transfusions and several rounds of antibiotics). The tests revealed that Rob (like his daughter Natalie) has Leukemia. Rob's Leukemia is very different from Natalie's, however, in that Rob will NOT go through aggressive chemotherapy and steroid treatment (which has resulted in hair loss, LOTS of pain, swelling, and a LONG recovery period for little Natalie).

Rob's type of Leukemia is a life-long condition that will be treated by regulating his white blood cell count with medication. His daughter Natalie's Leukemia has been aggressively treated, and will most likely go away, never to reappear.