When a sore bump on his leg led to a diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood bone cancer, his family’s world turned upside down. Within weeks, he was undergoing chemotherapy and navigating a whirlwind of scans, surgeries, and appointments.

Despite the gravity of his diagnosis, Andy faced every step of his treatment with remarkable curiosity and strength. Fascinated by every detail of his medical care, he quickly became known for his sense of humor and sharp questions—so much so that nurses joked he’d be administering his own chemo someday.

Andy’s parents, Mike and Debbie, chose full transparency from the start, keeping him informed and involved in every decision. Together, they braced for a long year of treatment: cycles of chemotherapy, major surgery, and recovery. Through it all, the support of family, friends, and a world-class medical team became a lifeline.

By September, Andy had completed his first chemo cycle. Even while dealing with the ups and downs of treatment, he and his sister Emily returned to school, reconnected with friends, and even took part in a Tampa Bay Rays promo video—an experience Andy treasured. His sense of humor remained intact, too; after naming his tumor “Austin,” the nurses threw a tongue-in-cheek “funeral” to celebrate the tumor’s demise.

The rotationplasty involved removing his affected knee joint and a portion of his thigh and then rotating his lower leg 180 degrees allowing the ankle to function as a knee. A prosthetic is then fitted to the rotated leg. The operation lasted seven hours and was a success. Andy was up and doing physical therapy within a day, impressing everyone with his resilience—and even asking for food right after waking up from surgery.

By November, Andy was walking with a test prosthesis and slowly gaining his strength back. He attended neighborhood events, celebrated Halloween with a clever magic-themed costume involving his new leg, and met astronaut Steve Smith, who spent an afternoon discussing space and engineering—Andy’s favorite topics.

The community rallied around him, from fundraisers at the local VFW to thoughtful gestures from neighbors and classmates. Emily, too, shone brightly, earning Student of the Month and offering steadfast support to her brother.

After seven grueling months of chemotherapy, Andy reached a major milestone in March 2024—he completed his treatment. Facing each step of the treatment process with strength and determination, Andy emerged as a true fighter. His post-treatment scans, including bloodwork, imaging, and hearing tests, came back clear, showing no signs of cancer—a moment of overwhelming relief and joy for his family.

One unexpected gift of a delayed treatment schedule was being home for the holidays. Andy’s family cherished the extra time together, celebrating Christmas and New Year’s with a renewed sense of gratitude. During his hospital stays, Andy also made his voice heard in a powerful way—after expressing concerns about new port dressing materials, he wrote to hospital leadership. His advocacy led to a policy change, reinstating the original materials and improving the experience for other patients.

March also brought an unforgettable trip to the Kennedy Space Center, where Andy reunited with astronaut Steve Smith to talk about space and aeronautical engineering—a passion that continues to light Andy’s imagination.

With his rapid growth, Andy has already outgrown his first prosthetic leg, and the family is preparing for a new fitting. Now, they are focused on healing, living in the moment, and treasuring every hug, laugh, and step forward.

In March of 2025, CKc announced the naming of a research grant in honor of Andy: The Andy Albert Next Step Clinical Trial Grant to Dr. Allison O’Neill at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The grant supports Dr. O’Neill’s work testing antibodies that activate embedded immune cells in relapsed solid tumors and potentially attract additional immune cells to fight cancer. This grant lays the groundwork for the next phase of effective treatments for children with relapsed solid tumors.