Help for Andrew
Donation protected
Please help us ease Andrew’s suffering
Hello everyone.
Most of you know Andrew’s story. After, hearing the story of how he came into this world, there is no other explanation for it, other than, Andrew is a miracle. Suffice to say, a malpractice took place in the seventh week of Phyllis's pregnancy with him, and miraculously he survived.. However, this left Andrew experiencing seizures from birth, and quite possibly while still in utero. He is non-verbal, cannot read or write, is totally dependent on others, and needs constant supervision.
He has had 2 MST surgeries by the age of 6.
He had a surgery to implant a Vagus Nerve Stimulator device and several other surgeries to replace the device when needed.
At the age of 16 he began experiencing Grand Mal, Tonic Clonic Seizures that at first were controlled by medication and the Vagus Neve Stimulator but by the time his was 19, the seizures were less and less controlled.
With the upheaval to his life that Hurricane Sandy caused, Andrew landed back into the hospital. While most kids are celebrating, Andrew spent his 21st birthday in the ICU.
In 2013, the doctors attempted a brain resection surgery, but it was unsuccessful.
A subsequent surgery was performed in 2014, but it still didn’t work and his seizures continued, almost daily.
In 2015, he received a Neuropace device, he was only the 6th person to receive it post approval by the FDA. Due to this surgery he ended up with Hydrocephalus and had to get a shunt to drain his spinal fluid for the rest of his life. Complications caused him to have needed a second shunt surgery.
In spite of the fact that he has had all these medical procedures, he still suffers from GTC seizures, that involve a clustering of seizures from one to another, loss of consciousness, lack of breathing and injuries due to falling when the seizures occur.
Needless to say, Andrew has been on long list of different drugs, and more trips to the ER than one could possibly count. Throughout his life Andrew has suffered, but he has persevered.
Throughout his life, in spite of the difficulties he has experienced, he is SO loved. Today, Andrew is 25 years old and he is such a special human being. He has a smile that lights up a room. Anyone who meets him can’t help but fall in love with him.
His mother, Phyllis is a friend of ours, and she has devoted her life to advocate for Andrew every step of the way. As a mother, I can only image the pain she has endured watching her baby suffer. On top of medical bills, the doctor visits, the trips to the hospital and caring for him at home, she has had to deal with the loss of their family home from Hurricane Sandy. Phyllis has lived with her children in her family’s home, hotels, and rental homes. Throughout it, she and Andrew and his sister Ashley hold a smile on their faces.
It has become apparent that things cannot continue this way for Andrew. In the past year he has spent an inordinate amount of time in the hospital. At this point, Andrew’s seizures are becoming life threatening. The doctors have run out of options to help this poor boy. As a last effort to ease Andrew’s suffering and hopefully reduce and/or end his seizures and give him a better quality of life, the doctors have recommended he try an alternative treatment that unfortunately is not covered by insurance. For Andrew, the requirements will be $600-$700 a month. His mother has been trying to find a way to get this much needed treatment for her son. She has applied for financial aid and grants but as of this writing, she has been unable to obtain any assistance. We couldn’t sit by and not do something to help.
Every day with Andrew is a gift. So today, we ask you to join us and help raise the money so that Andrew can obtain the medication he needs. We also ask you today, to remember him and his family in your prayers. We ask you to prayer for the doctors, that they find a way to help Andrew obtain a good quality of life.
May God bless Andrew and his family. And maybe God bless you for the generosity that you have some.
With much love and appreciation,
The friends of Phyllis and Andrew.
Hello everyone.
Most of you know Andrew’s story. After, hearing the story of how he came into this world, there is no other explanation for it, other than, Andrew is a miracle. Suffice to say, a malpractice took place in the seventh week of Phyllis's pregnancy with him, and miraculously he survived.. However, this left Andrew experiencing seizures from birth, and quite possibly while still in utero. He is non-verbal, cannot read or write, is totally dependent on others, and needs constant supervision.
He has had 2 MST surgeries by the age of 6.
He had a surgery to implant a Vagus Nerve Stimulator device and several other surgeries to replace the device when needed.
At the age of 16 he began experiencing Grand Mal, Tonic Clonic Seizures that at first were controlled by medication and the Vagus Neve Stimulator but by the time his was 19, the seizures were less and less controlled.
With the upheaval to his life that Hurricane Sandy caused, Andrew landed back into the hospital. While most kids are celebrating, Andrew spent his 21st birthday in the ICU.
In 2013, the doctors attempted a brain resection surgery, but it was unsuccessful.
A subsequent surgery was performed in 2014, but it still didn’t work and his seizures continued, almost daily.
In 2015, he received a Neuropace device, he was only the 6th person to receive it post approval by the FDA. Due to this surgery he ended up with Hydrocephalus and had to get a shunt to drain his spinal fluid for the rest of his life. Complications caused him to have needed a second shunt surgery.
In spite of the fact that he has had all these medical procedures, he still suffers from GTC seizures, that involve a clustering of seizures from one to another, loss of consciousness, lack of breathing and injuries due to falling when the seizures occur.
Needless to say, Andrew has been on long list of different drugs, and more trips to the ER than one could possibly count. Throughout his life Andrew has suffered, but he has persevered.
Throughout his life, in spite of the difficulties he has experienced, he is SO loved. Today, Andrew is 25 years old and he is such a special human being. He has a smile that lights up a room. Anyone who meets him can’t help but fall in love with him.
His mother, Phyllis is a friend of ours, and she has devoted her life to advocate for Andrew every step of the way. As a mother, I can only image the pain she has endured watching her baby suffer. On top of medical bills, the doctor visits, the trips to the hospital and caring for him at home, she has had to deal with the loss of their family home from Hurricane Sandy. Phyllis has lived with her children in her family’s home, hotels, and rental homes. Throughout it, she and Andrew and his sister Ashley hold a smile on their faces.
It has become apparent that things cannot continue this way for Andrew. In the past year he has spent an inordinate amount of time in the hospital. At this point, Andrew’s seizures are becoming life threatening. The doctors have run out of options to help this poor boy. As a last effort to ease Andrew’s suffering and hopefully reduce and/or end his seizures and give him a better quality of life, the doctors have recommended he try an alternative treatment that unfortunately is not covered by insurance. For Andrew, the requirements will be $600-$700 a month. His mother has been trying to find a way to get this much needed treatment for her son. She has applied for financial aid and grants but as of this writing, she has been unable to obtain any assistance. We couldn’t sit by and not do something to help.
Every day with Andrew is a gift. So today, we ask you to join us and help raise the money so that Andrew can obtain the medication he needs. We also ask you today, to remember him and his family in your prayers. We ask you to prayer for the doctors, that they find a way to help Andrew obtain a good quality of life.
May God bless Andrew and his family. And maybe God bless you for the generosity that you have some.
With much love and appreciation,
The friends of Phyllis and Andrew.
Organizer and beneficiary
Phyllis Boland
Organizer
East Rockaway, NY
Phyllis Boland
Beneficiary
