Andrew
Mizzoni
Andrew was born on
Thanksgiving Day October 14th, 1991. He is our middle child, he has an
older brother Justin and a younger brother Lenny. Andrew's journey began
March 2001 when he was just 9 years old. We had noticed some swelling
under his left eye and of course we didn't suspect anything neither did
our family doctor who thought it was just an infection or virus. Over the
next few weeks we noticed that his left eye was now bulging and the soft
swollen tissue under his eye now felt hard. A CT scan was done and then a
biopsy, that was the first time we heard the word cancer. Andrew was
diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, a highly
aggressive malignant form of children's cancer in his left
orbit.
Andrew's oncologist Dr. Malkin told us that Andrew had the
"less sinister" form of Rhabdomyosarcoma called Embryonal. Further tests
concluded that Andrew's cancer had not spread and that his protocol would
include 10 months of chemotherapy and 5 weeks of radiation treatments and
most importantly that his cancer was curable.
Andrew's initial
protocol finished in December of 2001. He enjoyed only a few months of
remission and then he unfortunately relapsed in May of 2002. Andrew
underwent more chemotherapy and surgery and finally the decision was made
to perform the exenteration surgery which included the removal of all the
tissue in his left orbit, his eye and eyelids. The pathology report
results were so positive that all treatments have been currently suspended
and Andrew has a very good chance of shutting out
Rhabdomyosarcoma forever.
Andrew has received the following
chemotherapy medicines: VP-16, Ifosfamide, Vincristine, Dactinomycin,
Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin and Topotican along with 5 weeks
of radiation.
Andrew has had the support of many including family,
friends and even strangers who have learned of his story from all over
Canada and the USA. He has received words of support from as far away as
Australia and Ireland. All levels of minor hockey including players,
coaches, parents, referee's and arena staff throughout southern Ontario
have supported Andrew.
Andrew has had the support of some of our
finest professional athlete's and sport celebrities including, Curtis
Joseph, Vince Carter, Ed Belfour, NHL referee and cancer survivor Paul
Stewart, Don Cherry, Jim Ralph, "Pin Ball" Clemons, Steve Thomas, Roger
Neilson, Maple Leaf great Johnny Bower, Antonio Davis, cancer survivor
Saku Kouvo of the Montreal Canadians, Ken Dryden and Jordin Tootoo. The
Maple Leafs, Raptors and Argonauts have all invited Andrew to games as a
special guest. His bedroom walls are covered with autographed jerseys,
pictures, plaques, news articles and also an autographed life size
cardboard image of Curtis Joseph and a game used Ed Belfour goalie stick.
Andrew has had the support of our Prime Minister and the Director General
of Sport Canada.
Andrew has never cried, complained or asked "why
me?" The courage he has displayed has been an inspiration to us all. He
has accepted his treatments, surgeries and the loss of his left eye with
wisdom and maturity beyond his years. He resumed playing basketball one
week after surgery and was back between the pipes playing goal for the
Vaughan Rangers in less than one month after losing his eye to
cancer.
The Andrew Mizzoni Cancer Research Fund was established to
support cancer research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Through our dinner / dance, golf tournament and recent donations received
through the GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League) over $200,000.00 has been
raised for this most worthy of causes.
Thank you all for your
heartfelt words of support and prayers.
Sincerely, Len &
Rita
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