Saturday benefit planned to aid stricken father of 3

[Guest guest]

August 6, 2008

`Band Aid'

Journal Newspapers - Wayne,MI*

Saturday benefit planned to aid stricken father of 3

http://www.journalgroup.com/Scene/8158/saturday-benefit-planned-to-

aid-stricken-father-of-3

The U.S. 12 Bar and Grill will host a benefit for Bob Roach, a

Westland resident, on Saturday.Bob Roach thought he had a simple

infection when he went to the doctor in February.

The single father had been doing renovation work on his Westland

home, which is renting to buy, and thought he picked up a

respiratory infection caused by mold, said his sister, Anita Hammer.

Antibiotics were prescribed, and Roach was sent home.

" We thought he was fine, " said Hammer. " One day he went to bed

feeling normal and the next day he was stumbling. "

Roach steadily—and quickly—got worse. The attacks of vertigo

progressed and he was having trouble talking. His extremities

started to go numb.

" It got to the point where he couldn't stand up, " said Hammer. He

was slurring his speech. "

Faster than anyone could predict, Roach was in the intensive care

unit at Oakwood polis Hospital, apparently fighting for his

life. He was diagnosed with a condition called Guillain-Barre

Syndrome—a disease in which a body's immune system attacks its

nervous system, causing paralysis.

" There's no treatment and there's no cure, " said Hammer.

Roach, who has an 8-year old, a 12-year-old and an 18-year-old

daughter, spent two weeks in the intensive care unit. He almost died

twice, but he is now slowly recovering. The disease is a sporadic

one that strikes without warning, it cripples the body quickly but

allows for a much slower recovery.

" The doctors are still kind of shocked that he's doing as well as he

is—that he can walk and talk, " said Hammer.

He cannot, however, work. That's a big blow for a man—known as The

B.O.B to his friends—who has traditionally worked two or three jobs

to support his family.

His friends and family are putting on a benefit for him beginning at

6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9 at the U.S. 12 Bar and Grill on Michigan

Avenue in Wayne. A number of bands will perform, and there will be

50/50 raffles, too. He will be eligible for long-term disability,

but it won't kick in for a few weeks. Roach will not be able to go

back to work for at least 60 days.

" We're anticipating some pretty big medical bills, plus he has

general living expenses, " Hammer said.

The benefit will cost a $5 donation at the door. Bands include:

Killin Machine, Stupid Children Playing, $even 10 Split, Potty Mouth

Sissys (PMS) and Vic Wayne and the Rockaholics.

Gocaj, co-owner of the tavern, said it was an easy decision to

host the benefit.

" He's a regular and a really good guy, " said Gocaj. " We wanted to

help out. "

More information can be found at the website

www.myspace.com/benefit4thebob.

" There's really no telling how long he's going to have to deal with

this, " said Hammer. " He could be fine for years and wake up one day

and have to go through it all over again. "