'Net Courage' Andrew's Story

"Its not often you come across a young athlete who displays such quiet grace and inner fortitude in the face of immense personal hardship"

Marissa Stapley, Toronto Sun


"This lad's strength should be an inspiration to anyone 4,5 or 6 times his age with half the problem's"

John Gardner, President GTHL


"Incredible as it sounds he continued to play hockey while he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer"

Lois Kalchman, Toronto Star


"In my mind I will refer to you as a great Canadian"

Lane MacAdam, Director General, Sport Canada


"A one eyed goalie & cancer survivor who has inspired his team & his community"

Mattew Sekeres, Ottawa Citizen


"Consider Andrew Mizzoni the little goalie that could"

Todd Saelhof, Ottawa Sun


Welcome to Andrew's website we hope you will be inspired and moved by his courageous battle with cancer and perseverance for sport.

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 fund raising, donations and annual golf tournament over $255,000.00 has been raised for this most worthy of causes.

Thank you all for your heartfelt words of support and prayers.

Sincerely, Len & Rita

Journal

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 6:06 PM CDT

Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't written in awhile.
Andrew has been doing really well, he has been in remission for 4 1/2 years!!! He is currently in grade ten and still playing basketball. This year he made the senior team. We had a new prosthesis made for Andrew this spring which he wears just about every day. Unfortunately it is still held in with glue, but looks GREAT. Very soon he will be having surgery to implant 3 small magnets in his orbit. This will allow him to apply and remove his prosthesis with very little effort and also will remove the possibility of it falling out on its own. Andrew is very excited about this opportunity. This year we decided not to hold Andrew's charity golf tournament and instead are planning a dinner / dance gala this fall in support of Andrew's fund at SickKids hospital in Toronto. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.
Sincerely,
Len

Hospital Information:

Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Links:

E-mail Author: lmizzon@rogers.com

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.