Help us support Andrew's rehab and bring him home
Donation protected
In August 2017, following months of suffering with muffled hearing, headaches, dizziness and fatigue, Andrew received the devastating news that he had a brain tumour. While we were relieved to learn that it was benign and slow-growing, it was by this point large, and situated in a precarious position on his acoustic nerve, close to his brain stem.
On 4 September 2017 Andrew was admitted to the Walton Centre to have the tumour removed. It proved to be the longest day of our lives.
Complications during surgery meant that it was touch and go whether Andrew would survive the operation. He did, but what then followed was weeks of uncertainty as we waited to see if he would wake up.
Despite the extremely bleak prognoses given to us by various specialists over the following months, Andrew's sheer strength and determination have seen him make a remarkable recovery.
From being essentially 'locked in', almost completely paralysed and requiring a ventilator to breathe, he now has near-normal use of the right side of his body and the left side is weak, but improving. He can now eat and drink, and is slowly regaining his speech, but he relies on a wheelchair to get around.
After almost two years as a patient at the Walton Centre, including nine months in intensive care on a ventilator, Andrew finally left hospital in July 2019 and is now receiving rehabilitation at a specialist facility in Crewe.
Andrew on a ventilator and using a letter board to communicate in early 2018.
Why we are asking for your help
He has now been away from home for more than two and a half years. In that time his children have continued to develop and grow, and have now spent more of their lives without their daddy at home than they did with him. Emma was three at the time of his surgery; she is now six. Thomas was one, now three.
We are desperate to finally have him home with us, and are hopeful that this will happen by the end of 2020.
However, in order for this to happen we will need to make costly adaptations to our house so that we can live as a family again, including space for Andrew to get around both downstairs and upstairs, to give his children a bath, read them a bedtime story and sleep in his own bed again.
We will also need to fund Andrew's ongoing need for rehabilitation therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, all of which he receives now, but may not be entitled to in the future, but which are integral to helping him to be the best he can be.
A Trust has been set up by Andrew's family to manage the money raised to help achieve these aims. Any contribution you can make will be gratefully received and help us achieve the goal of reuniting Andrew with his family and continuing his rehabilitation.
Playing with Emma in ITU in 2018. Andrew only had only regained movement in his right hand/arm and foot at this time, and was still on a ventilator for most of the day.
May 2019 - Walking practice at the Walton Centre.
August 2019 - Andrew receiving physio in Crewe .
Sept 2019 - Mirror therapy to activate left hand.
On 4 September 2017 Andrew was admitted to the Walton Centre to have the tumour removed. It proved to be the longest day of our lives.
Complications during surgery meant that it was touch and go whether Andrew would survive the operation. He did, but what then followed was weeks of uncertainty as we waited to see if he would wake up.
Despite the extremely bleak prognoses given to us by various specialists over the following months, Andrew's sheer strength and determination have seen him make a remarkable recovery.
From being essentially 'locked in', almost completely paralysed and requiring a ventilator to breathe, he now has near-normal use of the right side of his body and the left side is weak, but improving. He can now eat and drink, and is slowly regaining his speech, but he relies on a wheelchair to get around.
After almost two years as a patient at the Walton Centre, including nine months in intensive care on a ventilator, Andrew finally left hospital in July 2019 and is now receiving rehabilitation at a specialist facility in Crewe.
Andrew on a ventilator and using a letter board to communicate in early 2018.Why we are asking for your help
He has now been away from home for more than two and a half years. In that time his children have continued to develop and grow, and have now spent more of their lives without their daddy at home than they did with him. Emma was three at the time of his surgery; she is now six. Thomas was one, now three.
We are desperate to finally have him home with us, and are hopeful that this will happen by the end of 2020.
However, in order for this to happen we will need to make costly adaptations to our house so that we can live as a family again, including space for Andrew to get around both downstairs and upstairs, to give his children a bath, read them a bedtime story and sleep in his own bed again.
We will also need to fund Andrew's ongoing need for rehabilitation therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, all of which he receives now, but may not be entitled to in the future, but which are integral to helping him to be the best he can be.
A Trust has been set up by Andrew's family to manage the money raised to help achieve these aims. Any contribution you can make will be gratefully received and help us achieve the goal of reuniting Andrew with his family and continuing his rehabilitation.
Playing with Emma in ITU in 2018. Andrew only had only regained movement in his right hand/arm and foot at this time, and was still on a ventilator for most of the day.May 2019 - Walking practice at the Walton Centre.August 2019 - Andrew receiving physio in Crewe .Sept 2019 - Mirror therapy to activate left hand.Fundraising team (4)
Norman Holladay
Organizer
James Holladay
Team member
Katie Holladay
Team member
Sarah Roberts
Team member
