In a lot of ways, Rob Dolan is your average 13-year-old kid...a teenager navigating the halls of junior high and a sports fan keeping up with his favorite collegiate team (Texas Tech Red Raiders!) He loves 3D printing, baking, cooking, traveling, and ALL things Marvel. He is a gamer, a taekwondo student, and the football manager at his school. But unlike most 13-year-old kids, Rob is also a cancer warrior.
In the spring of 2021, Rob was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a cancerous brain tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain. Primarily a childhood disease, this type of cancer is rare and affects only 350-500 children and adults in the U.S. each year. It is, however, the most common type of cancerous brain tumor affecting children.
In addition to having surgery to remove the tumor and receiving nine cycles of chemotherapy, Rob also received 30 proton therapy treatments (a form of radiation treatment used to destroy tumor cells) on his brain and spine. All of this treatment was done within the course of one year. After the removal of his tumor, Rob developed posterior fossa syndrome which greatly affected his muscle coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. He started coming to therapy at MCRC at this point, receiving both physical and occupational therapy and later participating in the taekwondo and therapeutic riding programs.
In the past two years, the staff have witnessed remarkable advancements in various aspects of his physical development. When Rob first started coming to MCRC, he was very unsteady with walking and was not able to do any running, jumping, or hopping. His endurance was very low and he needed frequent rest breaks. Post-surgery, he couldn’t even walk. Now he is running, jumping, earning new stripes and belts in Taekwondo, and mastering horsemanship in Therapeutic Riding.
His occupational therapist, Elizabeth, said, “Rob has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing his strength, balance, coordination, visual motor integration, and manual dexterity. Rob’s dedication to his therapeutic journey has been truly inspiring as he continuously pushes himself beyond his limits, always striving for more. His determination to excel, not only in therapy but in all aspects of life, is truly commendable.”
Throughout his cancer battle, Rob displayed SO much heart, resilience, and positivity, and he made an impact on everyone he encountered. He loves Jesus and he loves his family, and this shines through in his life in so many ways. After completing his treatment in the fall of 2022, Rob decided he wanted to be a pediatric oncologist just like the doctors who took care of him. Rob and his family are fierce advocates for kids with cancer and doing what they can to raise awareness about childhood cancer and raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
On September 12, 2022, Rob — accompanied by a light saber (in true Rob fashion) — rang the bell at Covenant Children’s in Lubbock. He has been in remission for a little over a year and he is absolutely thriving. His mom, Mara, said, “The bonds Rob has made with Kelsey, Laura, Elizabeth, Gwen, and so many others are priceless. He has had a team that has rallied around him, encouraged him, pushed him, and wanted nothing more than to see him succeed. His therapists at MCRC are just as invaluable as the neurosurgeon and oncologist who saved his life. I hope more members of our community will find time to volunteer at MCRC. Our community has been blessed with an amazing facility that advocates for so many kids!”
Rob has touched many hearts throughout this journey and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next. We are so proud of this cancer warrior!
