A DOWNEND dad and his family have had their world “turned upside down” after he was suddenly diagnosed with advanced cancer.
Rob Hegarty, who is 42, is in Southmead Hospital being treated for complications from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which has spread to his liver.
He and his wife Martine have had to step aside from running family business Junk Monsters, which Martine is trying to keep going with the help of a close family friend as she divides her time between the hospital with Rob and looking after their two sons, aged 12 and 17.
Friends and the community have rallied round, donating to an online fundraiser to support the family and business, and to pay for anything Rob might need that can’t be funded by the NHS.
Rob first started suffering shoulder pain at Christmas but assumed it was a repetitive strain injury from working in their house and rubbish clearance business.
When the pain didn’t clear and spread along his abdomen he booked a GP appointment in late February but before he could be seen, he went to A&E in early March with severe shoulder and chest pains and shortness of breath.
Rob was discharged after being given blood tests, which found mild abnormalities with his liver and pancreas. When he attended the GP appointment a week later, he was told the findings and prescribed antibiotics for a possible chest infection.
After a second visit to A&E, when he was recommended to try yoga to address the pain, Rob and his wife booked a private blood test and ultrasound scan.
The ultrasound found a mark on his liver, but he was told it didn’t appear to be anything to worry about.
However the blood test found a large rise in liver function markers, and three days later Rob began turning yellow.
After calling 111 and seeing a GP he was sent to Southmead for more tests.
Shortly before Easter, Rob was called back to Southmead and spent a day undergoing more tests, before he and Martine were given the shocking news that he had Stage 4 cancer – the most advanced stage of the disease.
The following day they were called back to the hospital and, after a ten-hour wait, Rob was admitted to bed on a ward.
Martine said: “Our world has suddenly been turned upside down.
“Other than the shoulder and chest pain, until the point Rob turned yellow there was no indication anything was seriously wrong – no one seemed worried.
“This has come out of nowhere. He’s young, fit, doesn’t drink and doesn’t smoke.
“At the moment we’re in limbo, because he’s still very unwell and unable to start chemotherapy.
“He’s had to stay in hospital because his liver still isn’t working properly.
“We are very lucky to have some wonderful family and friends who are running around and supporting us in the background while Rob is beginning his fight in hospital.”
Rob, who grew up in Downend, has been running Junk Monsters with Martine for more than ten years.
He urged other people to trust their instincts when they think something is wrong, saying: “You know when something’s not quite right – if you feel you’re not being taken seriously, please keep asking them to check.”
As the Voice went to print, more than 130 people had made donations totalling more than £4,600 to support the family.
Martine said: “The support, love and compassion we have felt so far is amazing.
“Our focus is on getting him to treatment, and keeping life as stable as possible for our children.
“At the same time, we are facing mounting financial pressure and loss of income as he is no longer able to work and it’s unlikely he will again.”
The appeal can be found online at tinyurl.com/4yvbcnc2.