Among Fort Collins Director Candice Andrews’ many credits has been “Bullshot Crummond” for OpenStage Theatre.The Denver Actors Fund’s overall support for Candice has since risen to $3,523.
For Fort Collins director and mother, the struggle is ongoing
Aid recipient: Estes Park Director Candice Andrews has directed throughout Northern Colorado for the past 20 years. Most recently, she was slated to direct Ken Ludwig’s “Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood” for OpenStage Theatre Company in Fort Collins before the statewide COVID19 shutdown. Previous OpenStage productions include “Bullshot Crummond,” “Scapin” and “Spring Awakening,” as well as titles for Colorado State University, Bas Bleu Theatre Company, Fort Collins Children’s Theatre and more. Currently, Candice serves as the district administrator for an arts-integrated school in Loveland.
Her medical story: In 2018, Candice was diagnosed with Stage 3 uterine cancer as well as an autoimmune blood disorder called Pholosiphliped Antibody Syndrome. When antibodies attack phospholipids, cells are damaged. This damage causes blood clots to form in the body’s arteries and veins and can lead to stroke. Candice has incurred thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical expenses to date.
How we have helped: The Denver Actors Fund has provided Candice with $1,535 for reimbursement of eligible expenses incurred within the past 12 months. Later, the DAF paid Candice’s $1,400 bill for an ambulance ride after an ischemia stroke. Candice also received $75 in targeted donations from the community and qualified for a $500 DEAR Fund income-replacement stipend during COVID for an overall gift of $3,523 to date.
‘The medical bills keep coming and my biggest struggle is the emotional impact of knowing that this is a lifelong condition.’
A message from Candice: “Over the past two years, I have received beyond loving support from my OpenStage Artistic Director, Sydney Smith. I have met my insurance out-of pocket max totaling $9,400, along with at least another $5,000 in living expenses. The medical bills keep coming, and my biggest struggle is the emotional impact of knowing that this is a lifelong condition that will accumulate more medical debt, and my health outcome is unknown. For the last three years I have been a single mom, and on multiple occasions I have feared having enough money for gas. I have frequently visited the local food bank. My two little munchkins keep me going and laughing. One positive, exciting devlopment for me is that I am now a newlywed. This summer, I married my best friend, Seth. I now have a supportive husband who is my rock, and he does his best to hold us all together. I don’t know what I would do without him. I am forever grateful to The Denver Actors Fund for the help it has afforded my family so far. Any future donations we receive from the Denver Actors Fund or the local community would significantly lift our spirits. Every penny fills our hearts with love. I hope to be able to pay it forward someday when I am in a better financial position to help someone else in need.
How you can help us help Candice more: If you would like to direct a specific donation to help give Candice some additional breathing room as she continues her ongoing treatments, simply mail checks in any amount made out to The Denver Actors Fund (with Candice Andrews’ name written in the topic field), to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80211. Or use this donation link. If you use the online option, be sure to designate that your donation is targeted for Candice Andrews. (She will receive 100 percent of your donation.) Otherwise, your donation will be applied to the replenishment of the Denver Actors Fund’s general fund.
Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here
Note: At The Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the recipient chooses to have their story told.
