As you may know, Andrew has been 
home after his bone marrow transplant but not eating and barely drinking, getting nutrition through a tube. He says nothing tastes right and hasn’t had an appetite. Recently though he’s begun to drink Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink (a lot of it) and eating a bit. It’s a good sign. Can Yoo-Hoo be the magic elixir that gets him on the road to eating again? Let’s hope so! “It’s Me-hee for Yoo-Hoo!”
Andrew followers and friends: His blood counts are way up, he’s able to drink fluids again, they are weaning him off of the many medicines, etc., and may be able to send him home by the end of next week! Still a road ahead but a huge mountain was moved. Toughest kid I know, and from what I hear the toughest kid the folks at Shands have seen so far. I believe that steadfast strength and courage comes from his grandfather…
AUGUST 7: It’s a long road to recovery and Andrew continues to be fed through a tube and requires frequent tests, treatments and adjustments. The continuing challenges wear on his family. Please continue to show your love and support as the long recovery continues.
Please continue to send your love, your prayers, your positive thoughts and more to Andrew and his family as he fights hard against post transplant complications. Nothing is easy. Without going into detail, let’s just say Andrew is still working hard to recover and the challenges continue to come his way. So send your love in the best way you know how. This picture is very recent and shows him at a strong moment. Thanks.
Andrew is getting the head and body radiation treatments now in advance of the bone marrow transplant set for Feb. 29th. We know it’s gotta be tough but Andrew is TOUGHER. Now is a good time to keep Andrew and his family in your thoughts and prayers and to send him some love right here at Kids Fighting Cancer – leave a note on this page or the Guest Book. Let’s cheer him up and cheer him on to total victory over the menace. Andrew, we’ve got your back on this – keep pushing, you’ll get through. – Uncle Mark
Tony Hudson from LifeSouth Community Blood Center in Lake City has started up a Bone Marrow Donor drive in Andrew’s name. He will be organizing both financial donations and donor sampling (coming soon to the Lake City Mall).
The donations drive is running online at the Be the Match Foundation website so please take a look and spread the word through your social media and contacts.
Welcome to Kids Fighting Cancer at http://kidsfightcancer.wordpress.com. This is uncle Mark getting the blog off the ground for Andrew. Andrew has been fighting Leukemia since age three and has gone through two long treatment periods of several years each, but now it’s back once more. So the bone marrow transplant is the next treatment. It takes time and it takes toughness. Andrew is the toughest kid I know and I’m proud to be his uncle. His parents Dave and Donna are stronger than any married couple should have to be for there have been many more challenges they’ve faced head on as well.
This is Andrew’s space to share his experiences and thoughts as he goes through this latest course of treatment. We would love to have other kids who are going through similar challenges jump in and share – and of course it’s a place to share good wishes too.
Say hello to Andrew Holmes – Cancer FIGHTER – the toughest kid I know.
