Help Andy eat again with vital treatment

Thank you Tiktok community for inspiring this fundraiser for my dad - Andrew Coles (aka the best chef in the world who can’t eat a thing)

Meet Andy - hasn’t eaten since 2020 and can not swallow food, liquid or even his own saliva

My dad continues to fight for his life. Getting dad to the point of breathing unassisted has meant the world - but the journey is only beginning. Right now he requires 24/7 care, recovering from a rare and risky surgery that has never been done in Australia before! The disease he has is called Supraglottic Stenosis, and since the end of his radiation for throat and tonsil cancer, dad has had 7 emergency surgeries, including 3 tracheotomy’s. Cancer has left him with an airways disability and now the fight is to explore surgeries and treatment to walk more than 20 metres, swallow through his mouth and have some quality of life back. Our lives have been changed forever and this year dad has received a serious diagnosis of skin cancer all over his body and requires ongoing surgeries as we speak.

$75 a fortnight?

We need your help to fund ongoing treatment that is out of pocket and not covered by the government/insurance. Dad use to be a thriving and hard working individual. He has lost his job and can’t contribute to any bills due to his rare condition. Australian government doesn’t classify him as disabled, covid payments ended - so he only gets $75 a fortnight to cover all expenses… financially just scraping by to live. Mum and I not classified on paper as carers and use unpaid leave and our pay cheques to support dad at appointments, treatment costs and 24/7 caring at home.

This fundraiser started by his daughter will go to supporting Andrew’s medical costs and assist his support groups in Australia.

For just over 2 years now my dad has endured the fight of his life due to head and neck cancer

Dad has a permanent airways disease due to radiation. He will never ‘return to normal’, similar to what we hear about the pandemic, normal will never be the same.

Cancer doesn’t stop at the disease and treatment, there is no timeline for recovery and this will continue to be the hardest part. My dad who was once the loudest voice in the room, buffet lover and frequent traveller can only walk to the mailbox, has a PEG in his stomach for liquid food for past year and may never eat a steak or bacon sandwich (his favourite) ever again.

Please spread the word - check your lumps

It is my passion to continue to spread awareness about the lifelong effects and non linear recovery process of cancer. The lack of support for patients once treatment is over must be reconsidered, with vital funding required. I will continue to be an ambassador for Peter Mac Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Aus where dad had most of his treatment. I’ll also work closely with dad’s support networks including Larykins and Head and Neck Australia to support their research and funding to help people like dad and families like mine!

Every single dollar counts - and if you can’t financially support please share this page on your socials. Shoutout again to the wonderful tiktok community, it all started with dad making me dinner and he is so proud to feel special just for showing our daily life! My love always xx Britt

Dad is a viral sensation on TikTok

tiktok: Banne_8



Dad can’t eat, he can’t even swallow his own saliva

He has coughing fits regularly, requires constant care as his airways are so incredibly tight… even saliva gets stuck.

But before cancer, Angry Andy Eats was a vibrant instagram full of his latest eating adventures around Melbourne. The biggest foodie, loudest character and still tries talking our ears off with his trache tube!

He still loves cooking and shows his love with food! I decided to film him cooking the gourmet meals he makes me when I come home from work and millions of people on TikTok resonated with his story.

I’ve been flooded with comments that have left us in tears. Videos have gone viral and left the most talkative man speechless

For those who follow, thanks for your support - we forget we live such a challenging life and our daily routine is not the norm. I’m so honoured to share his love and that’s what gets us all through.

What is *actually* wrong with my dad?

It’s a long story but here it is! In September 2019 he was diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer (HPV16+ T4N2 tongue & right tonsil) and underwent an intense 35 sessions of radiation and chemotherapy. Treatment at Peter Mac was vital for dad’s survival and the meaningful relationships developed with doctors, nurses, admin staff and fellow patients was a lifeline beyond medication.

People think cancer stops at treatment. This wasn’t the case for my dad. The past two years have been a gruelling uphill challenge for Dad and also mum and I. Dad has been diagnosed with a rare airways disease as a result of radiation. He can barely walk, lost the ability to swallow and talk.

The disease is called Supraglottic Stenosis, and since the end of his radiation, dad has had 7 emergency surgeries, including 3 tracheotomy’s. Cancer has left him with an airways disability and now the fight is to explore surgeries to secure an airway, whilst keeping his voice and one day the ability to swallow food again. Rehabilitation to learn these skills again will be vital for years, especially with his jaw-lock and lymphedema. So the treatment at Peter Mac whilst he is in cancer remission is ongoing with ENT specialists. Dad also has skin cancer with bills for private treatment stacking up.

Cancer has changed my dad forever. I’ll forever cherish our coffee dates, travel adventures and eating dinner together - things we use to take for granted. He is my biggest inspiration in life, and mum and I will always support him and be his rock - there is no one else in the world I can imagine who could endure the pain, hardships and ongoing fight for life like my dad can.

This fundraiser is for my dad. His translator when he can’t talk, his spokeswoman for his story, his carer, but most importantly - his daughter.