Help our "Cookie" (Andrew Cook)

In July 2015 “Cookie” - Andrew Cook discovered that he had a rare form of aggressive testicular cancer. What made this even more challenging is we discovered that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and his lungs, with over 50 tumours all up. He’s since been battling hard to stay alive for his beautiful young girls (Isabella and Liliana) and partner Ana.

He is closely supported by his immediate family and his close friends and work colleagues (both past and current), we are all hoping for a happy ending to this story and for Cookie to defeat this thing. I have been lucky enough to call him friend, employee, co-worker and manager during our time together. He is the type of person who meets somebody and they instantly smile and take a liking to him, his sense of humour and positivity are a shining light to all those lucky enough to know him. I can’t imagine a world that doesn’t have Cookie in it and I am sure there are a lot of people who feel the same way.

The fight has been epic leading up to Christmas 2015, with Cookie undertaking a grueling 3 months of intensive Chemotherapy. While the chemo did well to reduce the immediate risk and shrink the tumours, it was not able to clear the cancer. Since then he has had two surgeries, including a significant operation in late November to remove a tumour from the lymph nodes in his abdomen. The operation had to be performed in Sydney because surgeons in Adelaide were not able to complete the necessary work. There are at least two remaining operations in Sydney to remove the cancer that has spread to the lungs in January of 2016. With our best hopes and close medical attention, and monitoring he will not see cancer again once these surgeries are complete.

This unwanted journey has put many pressures on Cookie and his family. The psychological and physical trauma have been a major part of the trouble but the financial pain is now starting to ring true. Cookie’s medical expenses (those not covered by insurance/medicare) and travel expenses surrounding the flights and accommodation have quickly added up to nearly $70,000 AUD.
Cookie has not been able to work full time since undergoing all the treatments, appointments and surgery and other financial pressures are knocking on his doorstep including mortgage and everyday living expenses most families take for granted.

If you can find it in your heart to help our Cookie with any form of financial donation small or large, we’ll be helping him in this difficult fight and hopefully defeat this cancer together and ensure that Cookie’s three girls are looked after in the future.

With kind regards,
Warren Fenn