Andy, our namesake, never turned his back on someone in need.  Whether it was a friend or a stranger, when he saw someone struggling, someone who was not sure where to turn, Andy’s instinct was to step in and do whatever he could to help them.  Sometimes that meant giving his own coat or gloves to those facing a cold night, or putting them up in a hotel room when he had the means.  Sometimes it meant spending his last cent on food for those who were hungry, or playing Santa to those who would otherwise have nothing during the holidays.  Sometimes it meant walking with someone so they didn’t have to feel afraid or listening to someone who needed a friend to talk to.  

Andy had a big heart.  In every sense.  

At the same time, Andy faced his own struggles, and they were formidable.  Like many others, for much of his life he struggled with his mental well-being, with thoughts of self-hatred and depression.  While he showed love to all those around him, he often kept none for himself.  

Having struggled with his weight since childhood, Andy’s eating was intrinsically connected to his negative self-image and dark thoughts.  At his lowest point, after years of uncertainty, Andy finally found the help he needed. After a lifetime of struggle with no understanding and no tools to help combat his demons, Andy finally found help.  He received a meaningful diagnosis and began treatment that saved his life.

The help Andy received enabled him to not only be his best self, but to finally take joy in who he was and appreciate what he had been through.  As a result, Andy developed a special passion for helping others who were similarly suffering. He became extremely active in supporting causes related to eating disorders and mental health. He knew that for many the path is not clear and despair can be overwhelming. He knew the dread of isolation that can accompany all of it. He began to use his story to reach those who were still struggling alone, and to help them find a path to recovery.

That’s where Andy’s story ends.

Just a few years after setting himself on this new path, Andy passed away suddenly and unexpectedly due to an unrelated and undiagnosed condition. It is still a struggle not to dwell on all of the good things that lay ahead for him that will now not be, but we are forever grateful that at the end of his life Andy was truly in a place of love and that his journey of discovery and recovery finally allowed him to separate himself from his disorder, embrace life, and connect deeply with others.  

Andy’s legacy lives on.

Andy is no longer here to tell his story or continue his work, but so many of the people he inspired are.  With Andy’s Big Heart, we hope that we can honor his legacy and continue in his memory to help others in need discover a path to their own recovery.

We strive, as Andy taught us, to let no one struggle alone. 

You are not alone.