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HELP FATHER OF DISABLED SON BEAT CANCER
MARGARET & ANDREW'S STORY:
When you meet Margaret Burns, you quickly realize that she’s the best person you could ever know. Then you meet her husband Andrew Pudvah, and you understand why they’re a couple. Together, they have two beautiful boys – Thomas and Joseph.
But this wonderful family has suffered a string of unthinkable tragedies and is now in deep trouble. Andrew has recently been diagnosed with incurable cancer. He is fighting for his life. Their oldest son, Thomas, is significantly disabled, both physically and mentally. Their youngest son Joseph bears the heavy burden of dealing with the family’s struggle.
Andrew has always been a hands-on Dad and loving husband. Margaret has dedicated herself full-time to caring for Andrew and the boys. Despite his challenges, Thomas is a sweet and curious child who loves Pokemon, My Little Pony, and Superhero movies (his favorite character is Harley Quinn!) Joseph, a caring and sensitive young boy, is an honors student who cherishes family get-togethers and talking video games with his Dad.
This couple has committed everything in their lives to serve their kids. The demands of caring for a sick child, while trying to balance everyday needs are nearly impossible under the best of circumstances, let alone under the oppressive burden of an insidious disease.
Thomas has 2-3 seizures every night and also has a condition called Klinefelter’s Syndrome. Due to the damaging effect of the seizures, he is confined to a wheelchair and needs round-the-clock attention. Prior to Andrew’s cancer, he and Margaret took shifts, day and night, caring for Thomas. This is no longer possible.
Andrew and Margaret are faced with the terrifying statistics of a diagnosis with no known cure. The standard treatment and management for this disease is a stem cell transplant. Andrew is scheduled for this procedure at the end of this month-- but they can’t do it without your help. The only chance they have at fighting this is to stay ahead of the progression of the disease.
In addition, they aren’t able to rely on family for help. Margaret’s mother, father, brother, and sister have all died. The trauma and loss this family has endured is unimaginable. It’s too much for one family to bear. Please donate to help them get the care and support they need.
Please, please help.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
They currently need
-Someone to help Margaret care for Thomas
-Qualified aides to support Thomas in his personal needs before and after school
-Someone qualified to watch Thomas at night.
-Help shopping and preparing meals
-Overall support for Margaret and Joseph as they serve as caregivers
-Construction on the house to make it wheelchair accessible
-Household help so Andrew can focus on recovery from Stem cell transplant
-A vehicle to transport the family and their motorized wheelchair
-General support and more
They cannot do this alone.
They need you.
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS AND CARING ABOUT THESE AMAZING PEOPLE. HERE’S SOME MORE DETAIL ABOUT THEIR TERRIBLE TRAGEDY:
BACKSTORY:
On Christmas Day of 2017, crisis hit when Andrew started to feel excruciating back pain. As they finished dinner, Andrew felt some tingling in his legs. They left their boys with friends and family and rushed him to the hospital. By 6:00 pm that same night, Andrew had lost all feeling from the chest down.
The debilitating pain turned out to be a malignant tumor pressing on Andrew’s spine, causing his vertebrae to rupture. Surgery revealed that they could not remove the entire malignant tumor due to its precarious location near his spine.
Andrew was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. There is currently no cure for this form of cancer.
On Christmas of 2018, Andrew was again hospitalized with a fever and virus. He was also diagnosed with neuropathy, which is the loss of feeling in your extremities. He returned to the ER again this February, with another fever, and neuropathy in his right foot that made it incredibly painful to walk. They had to remove a drug from his chemo treatment because of this setback.
Margaret Burns and I have been friends for many years. Anyone who’s lucky enough to know Margaret has benefitted from her deep kindness and ability to make you laugh. She’s the epitome of everything we all wish we could be. Smart and loving, funny and adventurous, she brings joy wherever she goes. When I first met Margaret we were living in California, her Mother had just passed away suddenly. Margaret then moved back to New York to be closer to the rest of her family. It was there that she met Andrew Pudvah. Andrew is the incarnation of George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life. He is the definition of goodness. If you know him-- you love him. Andrew and Margaret fell in love and got married.
Soon they were expecting baby Thomas. On December 8, 2003 her brother James died suddenly. The shock of his death sent Margaret into labor and the following day she gave birth to Thomas. Two years later she had Joseph. With those great joys, the losses echoed in their family.
When Thomas was around two-years-old, Margaret’s father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He had one chemo treatment and the chemo was too much for his lungs. He died of pneumonia. The week that Margaret returned from burying her Dad, she noticed Thomas seemed to be having trouble putting his tiny left hand into the sleeve of his winter coat. This symptom was the first of many. Thomas started having seizures, sometimes 50 or more a day.
This launched a lifelong commission to care for Thomas and his increasing special needs. Margaret helps Thomas each night when the seizures occur. She changes his clothes, bedding and helps him go back to sleep. This nightly duty used to be something she and Andrew would tag team on. Thomas is completely dependent on them. He will most likely require an aide as he gets older and moves into a group home.
Over time, Margaret and Andrew moved from NYC to Maryland to be even closer to Margaret’s remaining family, and to give the boys the freedoms that suburban life offers. They were happy to be near Margaret’s brother James’s kids, and her sisters, Mary and Susan.
In another unbearable blow, Margaret’s beloved sister, Mary, died suddenly in August of 2015. She left behind her husband, who was the love of her life, and their precious little girl.
As if this weren’t enough…
Last summer, Thomas suffered a seizure causing a fall that fractured his kneecap. He is now wheelchair-bound due to lack of muscle strength. Thomas is 6 foot 3 and weighs 190 pounds.
Margaret herself had total knee replacement surgery and is still in physical therapy seven months later. Due to the needs of Thomas and the family her rehab has taken longer than the normal.
The GOOD news: Margaret and the entire Burns-Pudvah Family are the definition of fighters. As a couple, Margaret and Andrew carry an unbelievable load, but have stayed positive and fully committed to one another and their boys based on their deep love and strong faith. With our help they can fight back and win.
More GOOD news: Your contribution will make a difference.
Please share this post. Every share matters!!
On behalf of Margaret, Andrew, Thomas and Joseph,
THANK YOU!
MARGARET & ANDREW'S STORY:
When you meet Margaret Burns, you quickly realize that she’s the best person you could ever know. Then you meet her husband Andrew Pudvah, and you understand why they’re a couple. Together, they have two beautiful boys – Thomas and Joseph.
But this wonderful family has suffered a string of unthinkable tragedies and is now in deep trouble. Andrew has recently been diagnosed with incurable cancer. He is fighting for his life. Their oldest son, Thomas, is significantly disabled, both physically and mentally. Their youngest son Joseph bears the heavy burden of dealing with the family’s struggle.
Andrew has always been a hands-on Dad and loving husband. Margaret has dedicated herself full-time to caring for Andrew and the boys. Despite his challenges, Thomas is a sweet and curious child who loves Pokemon, My Little Pony, and Superhero movies (his favorite character is Harley Quinn!) Joseph, a caring and sensitive young boy, is an honors student who cherishes family get-togethers and talking video games with his Dad.
This couple has committed everything in their lives to serve their kids. The demands of caring for a sick child, while trying to balance everyday needs are nearly impossible under the best of circumstances, let alone under the oppressive burden of an insidious disease.
Thomas has 2-3 seizures every night and also has a condition called Klinefelter’s Syndrome. Due to the damaging effect of the seizures, he is confined to a wheelchair and needs round-the-clock attention. Prior to Andrew’s cancer, he and Margaret took shifts, day and night, caring for Thomas. This is no longer possible.
Andrew and Margaret are faced with the terrifying statistics of a diagnosis with no known cure. The standard treatment and management for this disease is a stem cell transplant. Andrew is scheduled for this procedure at the end of this month-- but they can’t do it without your help. The only chance they have at fighting this is to stay ahead of the progression of the disease.
In addition, they aren’t able to rely on family for help. Margaret’s mother, father, brother, and sister have all died. The trauma and loss this family has endured is unimaginable. It’s too much for one family to bear. Please donate to help them get the care and support they need.
Please, please help.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
They currently need
-Someone to help Margaret care for Thomas
-Qualified aides to support Thomas in his personal needs before and after school
-Someone qualified to watch Thomas at night.
-Help shopping and preparing meals
-Overall support for Margaret and Joseph as they serve as caregivers
-Construction on the house to make it wheelchair accessible
-Household help so Andrew can focus on recovery from Stem cell transplant
-A vehicle to transport the family and their motorized wheelchair
-General support and more
They cannot do this alone.
They need you.
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS AND CARING ABOUT THESE AMAZING PEOPLE. HERE’S SOME MORE DETAIL ABOUT THEIR TERRIBLE TRAGEDY:
BACKSTORY:
On Christmas Day of 2017, crisis hit when Andrew started to feel excruciating back pain. As they finished dinner, Andrew felt some tingling in his legs. They left their boys with friends and family and rushed him to the hospital. By 6:00 pm that same night, Andrew had lost all feeling from the chest down.
The debilitating pain turned out to be a malignant tumor pressing on Andrew’s spine, causing his vertebrae to rupture. Surgery revealed that they could not remove the entire malignant tumor due to its precarious location near his spine.
Andrew was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. There is currently no cure for this form of cancer.
On Christmas of 2018, Andrew was again hospitalized with a fever and virus. He was also diagnosed with neuropathy, which is the loss of feeling in your extremities. He returned to the ER again this February, with another fever, and neuropathy in his right foot that made it incredibly painful to walk. They had to remove a drug from his chemo treatment because of this setback.
Margaret Burns and I have been friends for many years. Anyone who’s lucky enough to know Margaret has benefitted from her deep kindness and ability to make you laugh. She’s the epitome of everything we all wish we could be. Smart and loving, funny and adventurous, she brings joy wherever she goes. When I first met Margaret we were living in California, her Mother had just passed away suddenly. Margaret then moved back to New York to be closer to the rest of her family. It was there that she met Andrew Pudvah. Andrew is the incarnation of George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life. He is the definition of goodness. If you know him-- you love him. Andrew and Margaret fell in love and got married.
Soon they were expecting baby Thomas. On December 8, 2003 her brother James died suddenly. The shock of his death sent Margaret into labor and the following day she gave birth to Thomas. Two years later she had Joseph. With those great joys, the losses echoed in their family.
When Thomas was around two-years-old, Margaret’s father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He had one chemo treatment and the chemo was too much for his lungs. He died of pneumonia. The week that Margaret returned from burying her Dad, she noticed Thomas seemed to be having trouble putting his tiny left hand into the sleeve of his winter coat. This symptom was the first of many. Thomas started having seizures, sometimes 50 or more a day.
This launched a lifelong commission to care for Thomas and his increasing special needs. Margaret helps Thomas each night when the seizures occur. She changes his clothes, bedding and helps him go back to sleep. This nightly duty used to be something she and Andrew would tag team on. Thomas is completely dependent on them. He will most likely require an aide as he gets older and moves into a group home.
Over time, Margaret and Andrew moved from NYC to Maryland to be even closer to Margaret’s remaining family, and to give the boys the freedoms that suburban life offers. They were happy to be near Margaret’s brother James’s kids, and her sisters, Mary and Susan.
In another unbearable blow, Margaret’s beloved sister, Mary, died suddenly in August of 2015. She left behind her husband, who was the love of her life, and their precious little girl.
As if this weren’t enough…
Last summer, Thomas suffered a seizure causing a fall that fractured his kneecap. He is now wheelchair-bound due to lack of muscle strength. Thomas is 6 foot 3 and weighs 190 pounds.
Margaret herself had total knee replacement surgery and is still in physical therapy seven months later. Due to the needs of Thomas and the family her rehab has taken longer than the normal.
The GOOD news: Margaret and the entire Burns-Pudvah Family are the definition of fighters. As a couple, Margaret and Andrew carry an unbelievable load, but have stayed positive and fully committed to one another and their boys based on their deep love and strong faith. With our help they can fight back and win.
More GOOD news: Your contribution will make a difference.
Please share this post. Every share matters!!
On behalf of Margaret, Andrew, Thomas and Joseph,
THANK YOU!