Father Crespo Provides Update on Bob Nose

 

Bob and Anna on the boat Alcyone in May of last year. St. John Tradewinds News Photo Courtesy of Father Charles Crespo

Editor,

Many St. John residents know Bob Nose. He was visiting his family in Cleveland two weeks ago when he started feeling a numbness in his feet. Over the next three days, it grew worse until he found he could no longer walk.

He is at Veterans Hospital in Cleveland where doctors are trying to find out what is causing a paralysis from the waist down. The doctors did an MRI on July 31 and found a mass pressing against his spine. Bob was moved to the municipal hospital across the street where a procedure was going to be done, and then he will be brought back to the Veterans Hospital.

Bob’s condition has not worsened since July 30. The “numbness” seems to have stopped spreading up his body.

On Wednesday, August 1, the doctors at the municipal hospital were reluctant to operate on Bob because he had no movement at all in his lower body. Therapists worked on him and finally he was able to wiggle his toes and slide his feet a bit across the bed.

The doctors then operated and removed the mass. Bob’s daughter Valerie, the daughter he went to Cleveland to visit, said the doctors suspect it was a cancer because earlier tests revealed Bob had elevated protein levels, but they have to run some tests before they can say authoritatively.

If it is cancer, the doctors also need to find out what kind of cancer it is (hopefully a treatable lymphoma rather than a lung cancer, for instance) and if this was the primary source of the cancer.

Bob said he suspects he will be back at the Veterans Medical Center soon. He continues to have a positive attitude.

He and Anna have postponed their return to St. John last week and are asking for prayers. Please spread the word.

Bob does not want telephone calls, but cards can be sent to the Veterans Hospital, 10701 East Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44106.

Father Charles Crespo