13 years ago, Rob was diagnosed with hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis (HUV), an extremely rare autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow and damage vital organs and tissues. In Rob's case, and in 50% of cases diagnosed, the cause of HUV is unknown. Due to the chronic nature of this condition, upon diagnosis, Rob began taking a number of strong medicines that he had to continue to take throughout his life in order to maintain his health.  

At the age of 24, Rob underwent heart valve replacement which, although never proven, was believed to have been brought on by his HUV. There are 18 different types of vasculitis, none of them are curable and due to the rare nature of this condition, research into this condition and support for those living with it is extremely limited. 

After surgery, Robert's condition was very stable and he made the most of life, travelling the world and working abroad for a number of years. Over the last 3- 4 years, Rob became very interested in living a healthy lifestyle, researching in depth foods he could eat and ways he could support himself. He learnt about his condition extensively and trained as a councillor in order to support others living with an auto immune condition. During this time, again thought to be brought on by his auto immune condition, Rob's tendons in his hands and feet deteriorated, making everyday activities increasingly challenging for him. He never once complained about his condition. 

Out of the blue, in mid-June 2023, Rob began to feel unwell and spent 4 weeks in hospital undergoing a wide range of tests, scans and treatment in order to identify what was causing a severe weakness in his heart. Unfortunately, the cause for this remains unclear. We lost Rob on 11th July 2023. He was 35. 

Having lived alongside Rob, witnessing what he went through and feeling inspired by his passion towards helping others with a similar condition, we are dedicated to raising funds for Vasculitis UK. A charity that helps and supports people with vasculitis to improve outcomes for vasculitis patients and that funds further research in this field.  

Any contribution you choose to make is sent directly to Vasculitis UK and extremely valued by us.  

Swipe for just a few of our precious memories. 

With love and thanks,  

The MacDonald Family xxx