Andrew a.k.a. “Drew” has been a life-long public defender for decades representing indigent people who are accused. For more than a decade, he has also taught online courses for University of Arizona. All his life, he looked healthy, except, his blood test results have been abnormal for many years.
Finally, in June 2024, he was told why. He was diagnosed by a hematologist/oncologist, an expert doctor of blood cancer, with Primary Myelofibrosis. His stem cell was cancerous, causing fibrosis in his bone morrow. That has resulted in his bone marrow being unable to produce an adequate amount of blood.
Drew’s body eventually became unable to produce necessary amounts of blood. Since around October 2024, he has been dependent on blood transfusions. His attending physician told him that the only available treatment under the current medical science is stem cell transplant, receiving healthy stem cell from a matching donor.
Recently, Drew underwent stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor at University of Washington (“UW”) Medical Center. Drew has not healed quickly and is currently disabled.
During the active treatment at the cancer center in March 2025, Drew had a mysterious experience. He went to a medical appointment at the cancer center. At the clinic, he saw a person with a glistening white face. Drew said “hi” to the person. It appeared that the person was surprised that he was seen. No one but Drew spoke to the person. Then Drew heard a nurse calling him “come this way.” Drew followed the nurse’s direction. The nurse did not seem to notice the person. When Drew turned around, the person was no longer there. Drew believes he saw a dead person.
The costs associated with stem cell transplant as well as his catastrophic illness are ongoing. Treatment has required Drew to stop working, and his wife had been his unpaid full-time caregiver, adding to the financial strain. Very few cancer centers agree to perform a transplant if a patient does not have a full-time caregiver. Although stem cell cancer has not been found since the transplant, Drew’s dependence on blood infusion to stay alive still continues.
Once Drew gets well, Drew would like to travel to Japan as he did every year before the diagnosis. Currently, he is unable to travel long-distance because of his immune compromised/suppressed condition and of need to be within a clinic where he can get blood transfusion.
As a rare disease survivor, Drew is willing to share his experience whenever reasonably requested. Drew participates in a 5-year long clinical trial without reservation. He signed off paperwork without hesitation to donate his left-over tissues to the cancer center and UW for research. Being asked why he signed the paperwork, Drew answered with confidence he wants to contribute in any way possible for advancement of cancer research.
Drew’s journey has not ended yet with the transplant. It is only a new start for survival.
Please kindly donate to Help Hope Live in Drew’s honor and spread the word! Donations are tax-deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover medical related expenses.
Please share the link/URL of his campaign page with others: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/25582/. Drew appreciates your note in Guestbook, too, on the campaign page. Thank you for your generous support!
