Hello everyone,

We are reaching out as a family for support in raising funds for our Dad, Fortunato Andrade (also known as Andy, Paeng, or Coach ).

For those who know him, he is a jokester and a caring man who puts everyone ahead of himself. His years of involvement in the basketball community was second nature to him as it was the best of both worlds - his love for basketball that he shared with his family and helping the youth. When he wasn't involved with the weekly games, his contributions to the community continued outside the basketball court through Knights of Columbus and working at Scarborough Centenary Hospital for 15+ years. He also enjoyed being a handyman and was constantly on his feet repairing anything from cars to building an addition to our childhood home. Our parents later moved to California where they spent over a decade working in a dialysis laboratory. Our Dad's love for the warmer weather ultimately had him longing to retire back home in his childhood home in Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines. Since 2014, he and our mom have travelled every six months to and from Canada and the Philippines until COVID halted all travel. 2023 was his first year back to the Philippines since the restrictions were lifted, but unfortunately during his stay, he suffered a stroke on May 29th and has been at St. Luke's Hospital since.

After two days in ICU and being intubated, he was transferred to his own room where at first, was doing amazing with his rehabilitation. Our Dad surprised the specialists by passing all cognitive tests and by being able to quickly rebuild his strength to walk. Unfortunately, on June 3rd he recalled dreaming he was pain free, but was awakened from a devastating fall out of his hospital bed. This turn of events was the beginning of another decline. Our Dad started wheezing and failing his cognitive exercises. By that afternoon, he became unresponsive, and we were forced to make the decision to intubate him for the second time. It was discovered that he suffered a heart attack and required an emergency angioplasty. Days after the procedure the medical staff attempted to extubate him, but he nearly suffered a cardiac arrest which prolonged the life support insertion. After two and half weeks in the ICU, he was blessed to be extubated and transferred to his own room on Father's Day. He remained in the hospital for two more weeks and focused on strengthening his lung capacity and rehab as he completely lost his ability to walk. Fortunately, he was able to pass the altitude test July 3rd and obtained the medical clearance to fly back to Canada, with required oxygen assistance. The passing of this altitude test led all his medical specialists to commence the discharge orders. Our Dad can come back home to Canada!

As some of you may know, if he were in Canada, his medical treatment would be covered by our provincial health insurance. Unfortunately, while in the Philippines, he was not eligible for any travel insurance coverage due to his age and pre-existing ailments. The medical expenses for his ongoing treatment and the necessary testing and procedures in the hospital has been overwhelming to say the least. He has suffered a variety of medical conditions in addition to the stroke (heart damage, pneumonia, lung failure, and decrease in kidney function). With these complications, he was treated daily by a cardiologist, pulmonologist, infectious disease specialist, nephrologist, and neurologist.

Your contributions will help support Dad to cover his medical bills and support his recovery and rehabilitation tremendously. We THANK YOU for your generosity, well wishes, and continued prayers and happy to say our Dad is coming home July 9th.

Cassey (daughter) & Ron (son)

and the entire Andrade Family

Please feel free to share Dad’s story

Note: If you prefer to donate via e-transfer please contact a family member directly (emails are not published through GoFund me for privacy reasons).