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.