Laurie Ann McAndrews
February 2018
Laurie Ann McAndrews has been a member of, and participated in spirit with, the UIC Brainstormers Team, at the annual Brain Up 5K run/walk. For years, Laurie has worked to help fund a cure for cancer, but since her own diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme, she had been searching for hope that a cure for brain cancer was on the horizon
From February of 2015 until February of 2018, Laurie bravely fought to live a life that was not defined by GBM. With treatment from her dedicated medical teams, and support from her devoted family, friends, love-of-her-life, and faithful dogs, Laurie faced each new day and challenge with the attitude of “what’s next?”
Laurie’s treatment included surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and Optune, and extended from Rush to UIC. Therefore, Laurie especially appreciated the collaboration inherent in the research mission of Brain Up.
Laurie’s family would like to thank all of the medical teams that treated Laurie, including Dr. Byrne and his NP Margaret Yesko, Dr. Aiken and his NP Laura Zuckerman, Dr. Diaz, his nurse Molly Prendergast and his NP Colleen Masters, and especially Dr. Nicholas (aka “Dr. Nick”) and his APN Jean Arzbaecher, who matched Laurie’s wit, humor and grace during the last 2 1/2 years of treatment.
