Family Raises Money For Rare Cancer In Their Mother's Memory
POSTED: Tuesday, April 8, 2008
UPDATED: 8:42 pm EDT April 8,
2008
Michael O'Connell of South Lyon, Mich., said his wife, Andi, was one in a million.Andi had three passions: her family and friends, her home state of Indiana, and shopping."She would come home with a shopping bag, and I would say what did you get, and she would say guess how much I saved you," said O'Connell.Andi was just 19 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma or ACC. The cancer begins in the secretory glands of the body, most commonly in the salivary glands of the head and neck.Andi fought her cancer for 21 years, enduring seven surgeries, more than 100 rounds of radiation and more 200 chemotherapy treatments."She said that she fought cancer Monday through Friday, and she was very diligent about it, but she took the weekends off," said O'Connell. "She was able and willing to fight the cancer anyway that she had to."In the summer of 2007, Andi lost her battle with cancer at the age of 40. She leaves behind three young children."Words can't describe it," said O'Connell of their loss. "She was our whole life. But right now, whenever we're feeling very sad about it and missing her, grieving her and feeling scared, an overwhelming sense of comfort comes over me that she's telling me to stop crying and get going."In that spirit, the O'Connell family started a foundation to raise money for ACC research and to establish scholarships in Andi's memory."There are thousands of people out there like her that endure this and fight these cancers and diseases every day, and those people need to be celebrated," said O'Connell.Andi's family will host the "Live Like Andi Walk/Run & Fashion Walk" on Saturday, April 12, at Catholic Central High School in Novi, Mich. They are also selling special cheetah print bracelets with their slogan "Live Like Andi."For more information about the event or to donate, click here.To learn more about ACC, click here. click here.
Copyright 2008 by ClickOnDetroit.com.
All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed.
Ken Cockrel, who appointed James Barren as Detroit Police Chief during his tenure as Detroit Mayor, is publicly asking Mayor Dave Bing for an explanation to the firing of Barren.
Just in time for the Fourth of July, 14 coworkers have won a measure of financial independence by sharing a $12 million Michigan Lottery jackpot.
Four missing Michigan fisherman whose boat capsized in western Lake Erie were found alive Friday afternoon.
Meijer is among food distributors recalling nonfat dry milk, cocoa and other products linked to possible salmonella contamination at a Minnesota company.
Report: Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans to take over
A Diabetic driver goes the wrong way down a stretch of Interstate 94 and causes a multi-car crash. 
Surveillance video from a shooting in Detroit was released to Local 4 News. 
Local 4's Guy Gordon reports on NBC's Today Show's exclusive photos of Michael Jackson's children. 
Police found the arsonist who was responsible for starting the fire that killed 37 year old firefighter Walter Harris na few months ago
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
