Help Andy Get Back on His Feet and Beat Cancer Again

Hi, my name is Brendan, and I’m fundraising for my dad, Andy—the strongest man I know.

From breaking his back right before I was born to being diagnosed with cancer just as I left for college, my dad has spent much of his life fighting through pain with quiet determination and relentless courage. Through it all, he never complained and always put others before himself, without asking for anything in return. He always had a smile on his face and never had a bad thing to say about anyone—unless, of course, you were the referee or umpire at one of my football or baseball games!

He would hate that I’m even asking for help right now. But he needs it—and I know he’d do the same for anyone else if he could.

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A Life-Changing Diagnosis

Around Christmas two years ago, we learned that Dad had prostate cancer. True to form, he powered through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and by Christmas this year, all his lab work looked great! We started to plan a spring golf trip to celebrate.

But that trip—and everything else—had to be put on hold.

Shortly after the New Year, we got devastating news: the cancer had spread to his spine, causing several vertebrae to fracture. What we thought was just a pulled muscle turned out to be something far worse.

In February, he underwent a complex 9-hour spinal surgery to remove three vertebrae and replace them with a metal cage and rods. Since then, he’s been hospitalized—working every single day to relearn how to walk, use his hands, and regain his independence.

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A Long Road to Recovery

Every small step forward in therapy is a hard-fought victory—but the brutal three-day chemo cycles continue to knock him back.

Despite all of this, my dad is still cracking jokes with the nurses. He cheers on other patients in therapy. He’s still fighting—because that’s who he is.

How You Can Help

When he’s finally strong enough to come home, he’ll need a safe, accessible living space and ongoing care. Your support will help us:

• Modify the house (ramp installation, handrails, and a downstairs bedroom)

• Cover medical and rehab expenses not covered by insurance

• Fund continued therapy, mobility aids, and home care

If you know Andy, you know he would never ask for help. So I’m doing it for him.

We completely understand if a monetary donation isn’t possible. But even sharing this page—or keeping him in your thoughts and prayers—means the world to our family.

Thank you for being part of his fight and helping us get Andy back on his feet.

With love and gratitude,

Brendan & Family