Andrew’s Story

On October 28, 2008, Andrew was admitted into the University of California San Francisco Medical Hospital after what he thought was a broken bone, turned out to be much more.  After a series of biopsies and scans, it was confirmed that he had Ewing’s Sarcoma in his right scapula.  Almost immediately, chemotherapy treatments were given and the battle began.

Being the fighter and athlete that he was, Andrew proceeded to play football, but this time, only as a kicker, in order to avoid contact, which possibly could have been fatal.  Andrew’s goal was to maintain as normal of a life that he could throughout all of his treatments; He did so by continuing his education as a Junior at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California, and participating in extra curricular activities as often as he could.  However, as time advanced, more nights were being spent in the hospital receiving medical care and less time trying to keep a typical teenage lifestyle. Although graced with frequent visits from all of his friends and coaches, his spirits were only lifted slightly, because nothing could compare when hooked up to an IV.

In March of 2009, Andrew received radiation treatment over a one-month period.  When the radiation was over, he continued with the last few chemotherapy cycles that he had left.  Finishing his treatments that May, and being considered cancer-free, he says is “The greatest accomplishment of my life.”

When school started up again in August, Andrew wasn’t cleared to play football, but joined the schools’ cross-country team in order to stay healthy.  He sucked at it and was most likely the worst on the team.  However he enjoyed it, and could hardly wait until the winter season started so he could join the basketball team.  That year, the basketball team went undefeated in league and won the North Coast Section and made it to the state quarterfinals – a feat that the school had never seen before.  Unfortunately though, towards the final games of the year, one of Andrew’s check up scans showed that the Ewing’s Sarcoma reappeared in small nodules in his lungs.  Andrew finished the basketball season and then began a regime of outpatient chemotherapy treatments. That summer, he underwent radiation treatments again, finishing his treatments.  He is set up to have check up scans in November, but he says that on the last day of his radiation treatment, lying on the table prior to his treatments, he felt a feeling that he hadn’t felt before.  Something was telling him that his last treatment was useless because he was already healed.  A feeling sent to him from God is what he believes, was letting him know that his battle was over, hopefully this time forever and not just a year.

In August of 2010, Andrew will begin his college education at the University of California at Berkeley.  Still uncertain of what to study, he will be taking a variety of classes, but for now mainly focusing in business.  Andrew knows that without the support and prayers given to him by friends and family, none of this would be possible.  He thanks you deeply and gives 100% of his gratitude to God for making all things possible for him.