Andra is a sweet 9 year old girl receiving treatment at the Chicago Proton Center in Warrenville, IL. Andra is being treated for Oligodendroglioma, a type of brain tumor. Despite the ordeal this tumor and the treaments have put her through, Andra exhibits a love of life and music which helps her persevere through this journey to full remission.
I met Andra and her Dad, Christian, at the Ronald McDonald House in Winfield, IL on February 18, 2016. Yoli and I went there and joined with Alyssa Alvin Foundation for Hope Board members Ashlee Schneider and Monica Balc to present Andra with the flute she had asked for. With help from Ashlee and her husband, Glen Schneider, also a Board member, we were able to obtain the flute as a donation from Quinlan & Fabish Music Co. Upon opening the case which held the flute, Andra radiated much happiness in simply holding in her hands a flute of her own! Ashlee, being a musician and flute player herself, showed Andra some of the basics in playing the flute and also presented her with an instructional book on flute playing. Andra and her Dad had visited the American Girl store the previous day and had brought home an American Girl flute player...she had her own flute! So Andra and her American Girl now have their own flutes!
Andra continues treatment through the end of this month February 2016. After that she gets to go home in Michigan. She'll be surrounded by a loving and supportive family, including 4 younger siblings and her parents. We offer our prayers and remain hopeful that Andra's journey will end positively. We hope to hear Andra play a song or two on her flute in the near future.
