Rebecca & Andrew

Hi all -

 

As you may know, Rebecca and Andrew are going through a difficult time. In a few weeks, Andrew is undergoing open-heart surgery to repair a valve issue he was born with. Doctors say he should not travel back to the states given his condition, so the surgery and recovery will take place in Vienna. Rebecca will be traveling to Vienna to be with him for the surgery and help as he recovers. We hope this is just a short blip on the radar of their lives together, but as they begin navigating this difficult time, we want to do everything we possibly can to support them. They will both be missing work, dealing with expensive international costs, and, unfortunately, the costs of postponing their upcoming wedding. Andrew will be losing previously planned engagements that were his source of income. Anything you can help contribute to help defray some of these unexpected costs will go such a long way in taking some of the stress off their plates.

 

Thank you so much - we are extremely grateful for your support, friendship and love.

 

Meredith & Emma

PS. Please see a note from Andrew below:

Hi friends. I am sorry if I haven’t reached out to you personally yet, as I’ve been dealing with this news and its consequences since I’ve found out.
I recently found out at a routine cardiologist appointment here in Vienna that I am in urgent need of an aortic valve replacement, for which I will need open-heart surgery in the coming weeks.
The recovery time is 6-8 weeks to get to “normal”, which doesn’t include more involved efforts like performing opera, my main source of income and profession. Unfortunately I’ve had to immediately stop performances, which has been devastating in and of itself
While some of the details are still being worked out, we are coming to the conclusion that we do indeed need your help.
I am not allowed to fly home, and will need full-time care for recovery the moment my operation is done.
For the next 4 months or so, we will need to pay for expensive international flights, rent, potential accessible lodgings for recovery, as well as recouping costs from our wedding, which we now unfortunately must postpone, which was also a very devastating revelation for us.
I am uncertain of just how long I will need to recover, but it will be a while, and Rebecca and I both will be losing substantial amounts of income just to get me through this.
I want to thank not only Rebecca Russell for being the most steadfast and loving partner I could ever ask for, but also for both of our families. Our love continues to grow, and we are strong together.
I will be in very good hands with an increasingly growing cardiology team here in Vienna. I am so grateful for the good care I will be receiving, and that I will be getting this life-saving operation.
Thank you to Meredith Shevitz and Emma Cudahy for setting this up and for being a support system, as well as to all of our friends who have reached out and been there for us. A personal thank you to my roommate Niklas as he remains flexible for us to have a comfortable living situation.
I know it’s hard times, but anything you can contribute will be greatly appreciated.
My sincerest thanks and love. Please share if you feel so inclined.
Andrew