Friday, April 3, 2026  

Friday, April 3, 2026

Today’s post was written by our niece, Maddie Fox.

May 31st 2025 is a day that probably sticks out to a lot of readers, the day of Uncle Andy’s party at Illinois Beach Resort. That day will always live in my memory as two moments intertwined. On one hand, you have a day filled with celebration, and the other with quiet, life changing news that I wasn’t ready to share yet.

When my uncle was diagnosed with ALS, time felt more fragile, more intentional. The disease moved in ways that were both slow and relentless, and yet, through it all, he showed us what it meant to live with courage and humor.

His daily blog became a window into that journey. Honest, vulnerable, sometimes funny, but always authentic. He didn’t just document his illness, he documented love, family, and what it takes to keeping pushing yourself.

So when we gathered for his party, it wasn’t just a celebration, it was a declaration. A reminder that he was here, that we could still laugh together. The room was full of stories, music, and warmth only family and friends can create.

And that was the day I found out I was pregnant with my second son.

I carried that news quietly that day as I listened to people share their memories. It felt almost surreal, standing in the middle of a moment shaped by loss and uncertainty, while holding onto something so new and full of promise.

I didn’t know how to process the two at the same time. How could joy and grief exist at the same time? But now, looking back, it feels like something Uncle Andy would have understood better than anyone. His life, especially after his diagnosis, was a testament to that exact truth, that even as things change, there is still room for laughter and for new beginnings.

My son Phillip, was born February 3, 2026. And although I never got the chance to tell Uncle Andy this story, or for him to meet my son, Phillip will know about Uncle Andy’s strength and spirit that fought this awful disease.

Life doesn’t wait for the perfect moment to give us something meaningful. It happens all at once, love and loss, endings and beginnings.

Maddie