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Andi’s Story
If this fundraiser has reached you, it is because you or someone you know loves Andi. Perhaps you know him from UW Madison’s School of Education, FH King student farm, or his work as a Special Education Teacher at Ruth Acty or Beth El in Berkeley. You might know him from his work as a teacher and inclusion consultant for the city of Toronto, the queer life drawing group he co-founded, or his work as a teacher and consultant at Spark Education Services. In whatever way your and Andi’s paths have crossed, there is no question that you understand what an incredible human being he is.
Andi needs our support.
This October, at age 26, Andi was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer. The diagnosis was completely unexpected and as you can imagine, utterly devastating. After a visit to the emergency room, he was immediately admitted to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Canada’s best cancer hospital. Andi, his family and his circle of supporters are ready for the fight, knowing that this will be a long and arduous path.
B-ALL is a well-understood cancer with known effective treatments. Unfortunately, due to a genetic condition, his cancer is particularly treatment-resistant. The road ahead is long, scary, and expensive. Andi will need to pay out-of-pocket for additional, long-term medications to ensure that chemo is effective, and will likely require a bone marrow transplant.
All of this comes at a time of transition for Andi. Just last year, Andi moved from California to Toronto to be with his long-term partner Wiley, a PhD student at the University of Toronto. The couple had only just started to build a life together in Toronto when life took this turn. Andi & Wiley will need our support to make it through the difficult time ahead. Leukemia demands a long and intense treatment regimen, and Andi will be unable to work for at least 8 months, possibly longer. Wiley will be continuing to work as much as possible, but close by Andi’s side at every opportunity.
Cancer treatment is always scary and difficult, but with community support, we can keep the financial burden from becoming a life-changing obstacle. Anyone who has experienced Andi’s friendship or seen them at work knows how committed they are to witnessing, accompanying, and bringing joy to the people around them. Now, it’s our turn to make sure that Andi has everything he needs to get through the long months ahead. Please donate as you are able and share this fundraiser widely.
Xoxo,
The Andi support network
Funding Goals
We’ve split our fundraising goals into four sections: (1) support while Andi is staying in hospital, (2) Andi’s first three months out of hospital, and (3) the last three months of intensive chemotherapy and (4) long-term medication costs.
Goal 1: Inpatient treatment ($3,768)
- Medical supplies and PPE
- Parking/transportation to and from the hospital for Andi’s partner, Wiley
- Cleaning supplies to prepare his home for a safe return
- Meals for Andi and Wiley
- Art supplies and books to keep Andi busy!
Goal 2: Outpatient treatment, months 1-3 ($22,372)
- Medical supplies and PPE
- Out-of-pocket prescription and treatment costs
- Parking/transportation to and from the hospital daily
- Cleaning supplies to maintain a safe home while Andi is immunocompromised
- Counseling and therapy
- Meals for Andi and Wiley
Goal 3: Outpatient treatment, months 3-6 ($24,236)
- Funds raised for Goal 3 will continue to support Andi & Wiley’s outpatient needs listed in Goal 2 through months 3 – 6 of outpatient treatment.
Goal 4:
- Anything raised above the Goal 3 mark will help to provide the long-term medications he needs to ensure that treatment is effective.
Organizer
Andi Seiler
Organizer