Cancer Fund

Hi my name is Mark Andrews of Mokena, Illinois and I want to share my story.  At age 51 I was diagnosed with rare appendix cancer after my appendix ruptured and spread cancer cells throughout my abdominal area in December of 2013 .  When my appendix was removed, I was home recovering for a month  and it was suggested that a section of my colon also removed in February of 2014.  A month after my colon surgery I underwent 5 months of extensive chemotherapy treatment.  Unexpectedly, after a section of my colon was removed I also underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in November of 2014. This lead to two HiPec surgeries within two years all completed at Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin.
The first surgery took over 10 hours  and warm chemo was distributed throughout my midsection over vital organs.  
In between my first and second HiPec surgeries my oldest daughter was married and my son completed four years in the Marine Corps and returned safely back home.

I worked for 32 years as a driver and deliverer for beverage distributors Coca Cola and Miller Lite before being forced to retire to undergo medical treatment.  In my younger years I enjoyed playing baseball, football, and golf.  Due to my physically active lifestyle and career, I had to have total knee replacement in August of 2017. The second HiPec surgery was in March of 2018 and they removed two portions of my liver, a portion of my small intestine, my gallbladder was also removed.
Despite this last surgery, performed by fantastic surgeons specializing in my rare cancer, I am not yet cancer free. For the first time ever, I am seeking out assistance and appreciate any support you can offer toward my out-of-state cancer treatments. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.