In Loving Memory of Andrew Gilligan

Hello, Thank you for visiting our families GoFundMe page. My name is Chrissy Gilligan. I am happily married to my amazing husband Andrew.  We have 2 beautiful small children. Dawn 7 years old and Patrick 5 years old. We currently reside in Ocala, FL With this page my goal is to help raise money for my husband's medical bills, and to raise awareness for GIST. In June of 2017  my husband Andrew was diagnosed with Stage 4 Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. (GIST for short) The oncologist explained that GIST is a very rare stomach cancer. Here is the back story. Around the beginning of June in 2017 he was awoken by the worst abdomenal pain that he said he has ever felt in his life. So he rushed to the Emergency Room. They ran many tests while there, he received an ultrasound, a CT Scan, and a MRI. The tests revealed that he has several masses in his liver. They then preceded to do a liver biopsy and an endoscopy to take samples of the masses and send them over to pathology. One of the doctors confirmed that he has cancer. He was in the hospital for 10 days. After he got out of the hospital he visited the oncologist, and she told us exactly what it is and how we would treat it. Surgery is not an option because too much of the liver is infected by the tumors. The only option we have currently is a targeted therapy drug, known as Gleevec. Gleevec is an oral chemo drug that is supposed to shrink the tumors down until surgery is an option. He tried the Gleevec for a while with horrible side effects and it did not work. The tumors were still growing. They decided to try another targeted therapy drug called Sutent. This one has shrunk the tumors some and showed progress. The problem with Sutent is that it is not a medicine to be taking long term so he will soon have to come off it. He was briefly off this medicine and the tumors started to grow rapidly then more tumors appeared. He now has 7 tumors total. our small kids just do not understand why daddy is always sick and can not Play with them. They just want their daddy back and I want my husband back. This has taking such a huge toll on our family emotionally and financially. The expenses to continue his treatments have become so overwhelming.  Any and all funds donated will be used to pay for the nessecary treatments, medical bills, and any other expenses that may come up during this time. No donation is too small and all donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance. -The Gilligan Family