Coach Rob Vs. Cancer

Six months into his battle with a disease he was told he might not survive, Rob Bradford made the decision to fight so that others could have a better chance.

Unexpected Time-Out

In late 2005, Rob was often sick, which was uncommon for him. After weeks of uncertainty, a blood test revealed that his kidneys were failing. Two days before Christmas 2005, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a plasma cell cancer that occurs in the bone marrow. By January 2006, Rob was going into congestive heart failure.

Rob received care at Florida Hospital Altamonte, one of the client hospitals he manages for Crothall, and he stayed in the ICU for over a month. In June, he visited Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, where he began a state-of-the-art treatment using his own stem cells to regrow healthy plasma cells.

Come-from-Behind Victory

Upon completing this procedure, with no indication that he would recover, Rob's strength of will convinced him to fight this disease. Even if he failed, his efforts might help others. He conceived of a golf tournament to raise funds to benefit research and treatment. In September, the first annual "Coach Rob's Benefit Bash" was held, raising $42,000 for the International Myeloma Foundation, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Florida Hospital Cancer Institute.

A month later, Rob's cancer was in remission. Tests now indicate his bones are hardening, he is regaining weight, and according to Kim, he looks like he was never sick.

Game Changer

Now in its second year, the Benefit Bash has raised a total of $96,000. In recognition of his contributions, on Friday, January 18, in a dedication ceremony at the new cancer wing of Florida Hospital Altamonte, Rob was honored with a commemorative name plate.

Today, Rob is a changed man. Kim says, "Rob always needed to have order in all he did. He has learned he can't control everything, and everything can't be perfect. He has a new outlook on life and spends more time with his family and coaching." Rob's good friend, Crothall Regional Manager Mark Giuliani, believes Rob's ordeal has a silver lining: "He has always been intense, but he now has a calmness that reflects his new perspective on life."