The Andrew Lee Story
By ALLEN HARRIS
times misdiagnosed.
Andrew Lee was just a normal 19 year old. He was full of hope and joy. He loved cars and was just heading into the University of New Hampshire for his first year of college, looking toward a bright future without a care in the world. He was just like all of us, a brother. Filled with images of a car he would one day work hard to earn.
Andrew wasn’t ready to give up. Mass General Hospital referred him to the National Cancer Institute at NIH in Bethesda Maryland. There they had an experimental treatment that could be used to prolong his life. He was the 42nd person to undergo the procedure.
That all changed May 15, 2015 when Andrew complained of excruciating pain. He was rushed to the hospital and after many tests was informed he had a very rare cancer known as HLRCC. It was as Stage 4, it wouldn’t respond to treatment, and there was no known cure. He wasn’t given long to live. What is HLRCC? It’s a hereditary form of cancer that individuals develop tumors containing smooth muscle tissue in the skin. It can affect different areas and, like in Andrew’s case, can increase the risk of kidney cancer. It affects about 300 people worldwide, but as Andrew found out, it’s often
Facing a difficult process, Andrew’s father Bruce, decided to ask him what he wanted. Andrew replied, a Nissan GT-R. This was no small feat. As many of you know the GT-R is not a cheap vehicle, but Bruce buckled down and three weeks after being diagnosed Andrew was driving his dream car. The GT-R became Andrew’s cure, an escape from the illness ravaging his body. As he began to attend car shows and events, word of his story began to spread. Soon Andrew was a notable face at events, being met with questions about his illness and people looking to show support. He realized that his new vehicle, mated with his story, could be the catalyst to awareness Continued Next Page
18| Motorhead Magazine - July 2021
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