July 12 10

One mother’s thoughts:
Despite all the doctors, all the surgeries, all the dire prognoses, until July 12th, 2007, we never thought that Andrew was dying.  The plan was always for the four of us to leave the hospital together.  On three occasions, the experts had told us that Andrew wouldn’t make it through the night, but each time we knew they were wrong -- and Andrew proved it.  Even coming back from a crash during an MRI to raise his fist in the air and proclaim “I’m back.”  But on July 12th, when the doctors told us for the fourth time that Andrew wouldn’t make it, the four of us knew they were right.  Remembering that July 13th is Joe’s birthday, Andrew held on for another 40 hours until July 14th.  He gave his family time to say goodbye for the first – and last – time. 

I now believe that God and Andrew’s plan all along was for Andrew to stay with us in the hospital long enough for us to get our minds in a place to be able to live without him.  How very difficult everything about the past three years would be had Andrew been taken from us the very first night of his diagnosis.  His strength of mind and body kept him with us 166 more days to allow us to come to terms.  Although the past three years have not been easy, I know they would have been so much more difficult if Andrew had not stayed with us so long after diagnosis.  If you knew what Andrew had to endure over those 167 days as the sickest patient they’d ever had, you’d understand why we unabashedly call Andrew a hero.

--Andrew's proud Mom