Robert inspires
Updated: October 11, 2012
CHAMPAIGN -- Something Robert made public, was his battle with cancer. You'd never hear him complain about how much pain he was in. Instead, he used all of his energy to motivate people around him.
People used one word to describe Robert today, inspirational. He put his struggle to the side to motivate others to get through their own.
Ron O'Hearn wasn't sure where to turn when he was diagnosed with cancer. Then he met Robert.
"His son Matthew was playing t-ball and I coached Matthew's t-ball team. Since then our families have become close."
Quickly Robert became more then a friend, but a role model.
"Robert was very inspiring, really through his actions. He was really carefree. He lived his life like nothing ever happened. If you were a passerby you would've never known Robert was fighting cancer. Instead of complaints you'd hear him talk about cars and bands. He loved to talk about his kids and his wife," O'Hearn said.
Robert hosted countless events for the American Cancer Society. He helped to raise nearly $20,000 through his Robert's Red Ribbons Fund.
"He was right there no matter how he felt. I know good days and bad days that he was there to inspire people to keep fighting and always have a sense of humor," American Cancer Society Director Shayne Squires said.
"I was visiting him while he was having a chemo session the session can be anywhere from 5-8 hours long. Tedious and boring. His medicine bag needed changing. The nurse was coming over to hook up a new medicine bag. Robert got a twinkle in his eye. As soon as she hooked up his bag to the IV he quick jerked and froze. She screamed and he just started rolling laughing. There's not too many sounds of laughter in that wing, but that's just how he was," O'Hearn said.
For Ron, laughter was the best medicine. Something that helped him survive. Something that he learned from his dear friend Robert.
"He was always a positive role model and for everyone around. There was lessons to be learned if people would stop and watch."
Robert's love for being involved in the community had no limits. He also served on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Directors and received Volunteer of the Year in 1998.
People used one word to describe Robert today, inspirational. He put his struggle to the side to motivate others to get through their own.
Ron O'Hearn wasn't sure where to turn when he was diagnosed with cancer. Then he met Robert.
"His son Matthew was playing t-ball and I coached Matthew's t-ball team. Since then our families have become close."
Quickly Robert became more then a friend, but a role model.
"Robert was very inspiring, really through his actions. He was really carefree. He lived his life like nothing ever happened. If you were a passerby you would've never known Robert was fighting cancer. Instead of complaints you'd hear him talk about cars and bands. He loved to talk about his kids and his wife," O'Hearn said.
Robert hosted countless events for the American Cancer Society. He helped to raise nearly $20,000 through his Robert's Red Ribbons Fund.
"He was right there no matter how he felt. I know good days and bad days that he was there to inspire people to keep fighting and always have a sense of humor," American Cancer Society Director Shayne Squires said.
"I was visiting him while he was having a chemo session the session can be anywhere from 5-8 hours long. Tedious and boring. His medicine bag needed changing. The nurse was coming over to hook up a new medicine bag. Robert got a twinkle in his eye. As soon as she hooked up his bag to the IV he quick jerked and froze. She screamed and he just started rolling laughing. There's not too many sounds of laughter in that wing, but that's just how he was," O'Hearn said.
For Ron, laughter was the best medicine. Something that helped him survive. Something that he learned from his dear friend Robert.
"He was always a positive role model and for everyone around. There was lessons to be learned if people would stop and watch."
Robert's love for being involved in the community had no limits. He also served on the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Directors and received Volunteer of the Year in 1998.
