Grey Matters - Locket Shirt Fundraiser for Andy

Read more about Andy and follow their updates: https://www.facebook.com/SupportingAndy/
Visit our other booster over at www.booster.com/SupportingAndy2 to become Locket Security!! :)

Andy is the brother of one of the designers and good friends on my team, Hope.  She is a big part of our Origami Owl family, and her family could use our support. Owls assemble!!!

{Origami Owl}
I am a designer with Origami Owl, which is a company that sells lockets, charms and other personal jewelry.  For anyone wondering why these shirts are all about lockets :)

{Diagnosis and treatment info} 
 Andy was diagnosed with GBM (Glioblastoma multiform) stage IV on February 13, 2013.  It is considered a terminal diagnosis, with most people having a maxiumum life expectancy of 15 months.  He has had 4 surgeries to date.  Winter of 2014, they found infection and had to remove his bone plate.  The tumor has reached over 3 inches and cannot be removed because of the risk of the infection lingering and causing meningitis.  There is also a continued risk for seizures that could take his life.

With chemo and surgery off the table, Stephanie and Andy searched for new methods.  They have found the Novo TTF (Novocure) head device a few weeks ago.  Essentially, the NovoTTF creates an electric field around the tumor to disrupt the growth and reproduction of cancer cells in the brain.  These are connected to a battery and the system sends electromagnetic waves throughout the brain.  This causes cancer cells to be unable to divide and grow.  There are 4 batteries on a charger - one is connected to him in a backpack and lasts about 2-3 hours until a new battery needs to take its place.  The minimum length of time for this to be worn is 18 hrs per day. The longer it is worn, the better results.  The women who went to their home to train them said that she had patients who saw shrinking results at the 2 month MRI.  She also explained how she had patients who this device shrank the tumor down to nothing, completely gone!  Unfortunately, there were also some patients that it did not work on. It all depends on how the body reacts to this therapy.







Hope & Andy