“Beware the ides of March” (Wm S.)

While most know this as a literary reference, I will always remember “the ides of March” in 2007 as a very, very dark day.  It was on that day that we learned that Andrew’s eyes were being impacted by the complications of the disease. 

~~~~~~~~~~

$206,804

On the one hand, it is just a number.  It’s the aggregate amount of 258 checks written by your Foundation to families of critically ill children around the country.  More importantly, though, that number represents HOPE…LOVE…FAITH…and TRUST.  When you are in the hospital worrying about your child’s life and death battle and you face eviction, for example, this support from ‘friends you have never met yet’ is truly a God-send.  More than paying a bill or two, it lets you know that people care about you.

     “We came home today from chemo round #3 and were moved to tears to find your letter and check in the mail.”  (Austin’s family)

      “You guys have been such a blessing to us!  There are times that I feel like I could lose my mind, but the other day I received the gift, and it changed my day.  Nobody except the people who have gone through this situation can begin to understand the financial and emotional hardships this brings on.”  (Mariah’s family)

Thank you very much for your continued support.  Andrew is the leader of our Foundation, but you all are the backbone!

~~~~~~~~~~~

I had the privilege of being interviewed last week by a gentleman named Todd Welch.  Todd has embarked upon a very ambitious undertaking to travel the country documenting stories of trust.  If you’re interested, you can view our interview at his website below.

http://trusttour.com/

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If you’re local, please plan to come out and join us for UDance on Sun. March 21st at the Field House at the University of Delaware.  UDance is a 12 hour dance marathon (11am-11pm) open to the public.  The highlight of the day will come at 4:30pm when we introduce the B+ Heroes (children with cancer) on stage.  More information can be found at www.BePositive.org.

Make it a great week!

Live Like Andrew

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

It’s been a little while since my last update.  Sometimes, I just don’t feel like, or have the strength, to post.  I’ve given three talks this week and, while part of me LOVES to talk about my Andrew, it’s pretty draining re-telling our story.  It’s truly hard to believe the words that come out of my mouth when I re-count the events of the past 3 years.  There are, literally, no words to describe how much I miss Andrew and no words to describe the pain that I see on Ali’s & Chris’ faces.  But, unfortunately, I know we can’t change what has happened.  I really hope everyone who reads this will live their lives a little differently because of “Andrew’s story”.  I can’t, of course, promise that something like this will never happen to you, but I hope you’ll all make the most of each day and let those close to you know how much they mean to you.  If people can learn from our journey, then there’s a little purpose there.  One of the things that allows us to live is that we don’t have any regrets about Andrew.  Andrew lived every day knowing how much we loved him and he wasn’t shy about showing that love back to us.  We had an awesome 14 years.  We have been blessed.

people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them

I think one of the things that surprises me, pleasantly of course, is the impact that Andrew continues to have on people from Heaven.  Andrew is continuing to help us grow, but we must be open to the message.  People, especially youth, are constantly reminding us that Andrew still ‘lives’…and I can’t tell you how important that is to us.

So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

 But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you

Andrew is so much more than just a ‘handprint on my heart’.  I know that “I’m who I am today because I knew” Andrew.  I am who I am today most significantly because of Andrew, Chris, and Ali.  If you’ve never experienced the loss of a child, you may wonder ‘when are you going to get over it’?  Fortunately, that question has not been asked of me; but I know other families who have heard that question.  The simple answer is - YOU NEVER GET OVER IT!  When someone is such a huge part of your life and your heart, the void is so great that it cannot be filled.  That doesn’t mean that you don’t try to live anymore.  But, honestly, there is not a 15 minute period when I don’t think of my son.  I can’t describe how close Andrew and I are.

I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you…
I have been changed for good.

There is NO doubt that Andrew has changed me for the better and FOR GOOD!  Thank you, Andrew.  I LOVE YOU!

Finally, last night I had the opportunity to speak to the new members of Ali’s sorority with the hope of encouraging their participation in the upcoming UDance.  I knew that I might embarrass Ali, but I would have been terribly remiss if I did not acknowledge, in front of the sorority, how proud I am of my little girl.  Ali has battled every day to survive in a world without her brother here.  She reaches out to children with cancer and their siblings.  She is on the Exec. Board of UDance and spent 5 hours ‘canning’ in the freezing cold on Main St the other day.  And, she declared her major a few months ago.  She wants to ultimately get her PhD so that she can counsel children going through grief, trauma, cancer, and similar situations.  I am so incredibly proud of my daughter.  That’s why I continue to say that I’m blessed.  I’m living my worst nightmare, but Chris and I have been married for almost 27 years and we HAVE two wonderful children.

If you’re still reading, great job.  To everyone else that fell asleep, sorry! 

Thank you for your continued support of our family and our extended family of children fighting cancer all around the country!

MAKE it a great weekend.

God bless you.

Live Like Andrew — B+

Couldn’t be prouder to be - Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

The closing song from “The Celebration of Andrew’s Life” (July 21, 2007)

“FOR GOOD” from Wicked

 (Elphaba) I’m limited
Just look at me - I’m limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn’t do, Glinda
So now it’s up to you
For both of us - now it’s up to you…

(Glinda) I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba) It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda) Because I knew you

(Both) I have been changed for good

(Elphaba) And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the thing I’ve done you blame me for

(Glinda) But then, I guess we know
There’s blame to share

(Both) And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda) Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba) Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both) Who can say if I’ve been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda) And because I knew you…

(Elphaba) Because I knew you…

(Both) Because I knew you…
I have been changed for good.

Last Saturday morning, I had the pleasure of spending some time with a very cool young B+ Hero, Reece Adams.  Reece is a 6th grader from Marple-Newtown, PA and he has made such great progress.  Reece is no longer on the ventilator and he did a great job talking.  Reece also recently had surgeries on both of his lower legs and is making super progress on the ’tilt table’.  For those of you unfamiliar with a ’tilt table’, the tilt table helps you learn to walk again by slowing putting weight on your lower extremities.  I was very fortunate to have a good friend, Kevin Reilly, join me for the visit.  As many of you in the Delaware Valley know, Kevin is a former Philadelphia Eagles football player who is a tremendous individual, one of the most inspirational people you’ll ever meet.  Kevin lost his arm following surgery many years ago and Reece couldn’t stop asking Kevin questions.  Kevin’s visit really picked Reece up!  Kevin also brought a football that he and former Eagle, Bill Bergey, signed.  Reece’s Mom reported that he slept with the ball that night!!!  Reece, keep up the great work.  You will be skateboarding and riding a bike before you know it.  Thank you, Kevin Reilly, for sharing yourself with so many that can benefit from your wisdom and insight.

~~~~~

Allow me to please introduce 2 new “B+ Heroes” to you.  I hope you’ll keep them in your prayers.

Jordan Davis is a 15 year old MN girl who is not only bravely battling rhabdomyosarcoma, but she has taken to giving her cancer a name - Felipe- in her battle to kick its butt.  By reading about her on her site, you can just tell that this kid has got an incredible attitude and plenty of fight in her.  I told her on her website that she can count on thousands of prayers from the B+ Nation for our newest “B+ Hero”.  A B+ shirt (and other stuff) is en route to Monticello, MN.  Can’t wait to see a picture of “Jojo” wearing her B+ gear.  Please visit Jordan’s site and show her some love.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/jojodeevsfelipe

Staying in the state of Minnesota, unfortunately, another story of rhabdomyosarcoma.  This young man, Luke Letellier is a hockey player who was just diagnosed within the last week.  I’m sure this initial shock is very jarring but, as his family says, “hockey players walk on water”.  Stay strong, Luke, you’ve got a lot of new friends praying for you.  Please visit Luke at:  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lukeletellier

~~~~~~~~

Why do children laugh more than adults?

Live Like Andrew - don’t take yourself too seriously.

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.BePositive.org

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

I’ve been checking in (on Caringbridge) on many of our B+ Heroes.  It’s really exciting when they report a last date of scheduled treatment. Even if the date is a year off, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.  I’m so inspired by these brave kids and their families.

Speaking of some of our B+ Heroes, 16 of them are paired with 15 fraternities, sororities, and student organizations at the University of Delaware for UDance.  UDance is a 12 hour ‘festival’ that is the largest student-run philanthropy at Delaware.  This year’s event will be held on Sun. March 21st from 11am - 11pm…and it’s open to the public.  At 4:30, we’re going to bring the B+Heroes on stage…always a moving moment when these brave kids get put up on the pedestal.  The students at UD have been amazing and we can’t thank them enough.  In addition to putting the Heroes up on the pedestal and bonding with their fraternity/sorority, we are hoping to raise a lot of money this year for our mission.  The UDance Executive Committee has set a goal of $100,000.  The online donation site has just gone ‘live’.

If you’re interested in supporting this great effort, please click on the following link.

http://www.elleevance.com/udance2010/EventLandingPage.aspx

If you would like to support my daughter’s fundraising efforts, here’s Ali’s link.  (Gotta help my girl!  :))

https://www.elleevance.com/beventLive.aspx?EventID=NBI36092620

   (Ali’s sorority has adopted Drew Koenig)

Don’t be shy about sending this link to other people.  Any size donation is much appreciated.  Also, whichever group is in the lead on Feb 28th gets a free pizza party as an interim incentive.

~~~~~~~~~~

I would like to thank the kids who honored Savannah Pauley last Saturday night at the Ursuline fundraiser.  There was a lot of pink in the crowd (Savannah’s favorite color), and the kids raised $1,577 for The B+ Foundation.  Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity.  Kids are not only the future, but they are the PRESENT!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~

The Blue Rocks have reported to me that orders are coming in for “B+ Night at the Blue Rocks” on Fri. Aug 20th.  B+ Night is also a fireworks night, so I’m sure we’ll sell out.  We’d love to see the whole stadium packed with B+ shirts.  We are going to have B+ Heroes on the field before the game and a lot of other surprises.  Please visit the homepage of www.BePositive.org to print out the order form.  Two dollars from every ticket sold goes to YOUR Foundation.  And, we’re going to have some more exciting news about the Blue Rocks and B+, but I’ll hold off on that for now.

~~~~~~~~~~

Please also mark your calendars for the “4th Annual B+ Fighting Pediatric Cancer 5k Run/Walk” to be held at Salesianum School on Thursday, June 17th.  Registration starts at 5pm; the Run/Walk kicks off at 6:45.  And, stay around after the walk…the highlight of the event is presenting the B+ Hero medals on the children with cancer AND their siblings.  Start assembling your teams now.  We’ll be back in touch when our site goes ‘live’.

~~~~~~~~

As you struggle with the everyday challenges of life, please take a minute to say a prayer for all of the brave children who are battling cancer and their families.  And, of course, please also pray for the families of those children have gone to Heaven.  I sincerely pray that you never feel that pain.  God bless you.

Live Like Andrew - carpe diem.

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s proud Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

Wow…it’s been an exciting week of weather here in the East.  I think we got about 26 inches of snow last weekend and over a foot yesterday!  It’s kind of nice that things have shut down for a little while.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for something to warm your heart with all of this snow?  Check this out.  Sammy Bradly, a 12 yr old PA boy who is bravely battling leukemia (AML, like Andrew) has made a tremendously generous contribution to AI duPont Hospital in honor of a special person who has inspired him - my son!  Here’s an excerpt from the letter that I received from the hospital — “Sammy told us that Andrew was an inspiration to him, and he would like his contribution to be used to purchase a flat screen TV for the patients of 3A (the Bone Marrow Unit)”.  Sammy’s Mom had tipped me off about this, but seeing this letter just blew me away.  Is Sammy incredible or what!!!  To know that my Hero, Andrew, is inspiring other brave children who never met Andrew in person, means so much to me and my family.  Sammy, thank YOU for keeping Andrew ‘alive’ and honoring him this way.  We will NEVER forget your generosity.

~~~~~~~~

Continuing on with B+ Heroes, Sydney Lysinger is going to be a model in an American Cancer Society fashion show at Home Grown Cafe in Newark, DE on Feb. 21st.  Tickets are $25 which includes the fashion show and brunch.  Tickets can be purchased by calling Sandi at 302-369-1960 or Lisa at 302-266-6993.  Have fun, Syd! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A B+ Hero that stole my heart, Savannah Pauley, is being honored Saturday night at the Ursuline-Padua basketball game.  Savannah, who went to Heaven on 9/13/09, continues to be a big part of the Ursuline-Padua-Salesianum community.  Saturday’s game is a fundraiser honoring Savannah with proceeds going to The B+ Foundation.  Take a break from the shoveling and come out and pack the Ursuline gymnasium.  Oh, one more thing — wear pink (Savannah’s favorite color)!  See you there.

~~~~~~~~~~

Finally, if you’d like to think warm thoughts, turn the calendar several pages to August and circle Fri. Aug. 20th.  Make plans to join us for “B+ Night at the Blue Rocks”.  Not only is it ‘our’ night at the stadium, but it’s fireworks night which is always popular (and sold out).  But, best of all, the Wilmington Blue Rocks have selected us to be included in the rare opportunity of having the team wear special B+ jerseys.  After the game, the game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting our mission.  How cool is it that the players will be wearing Blue Rocks/B+ jerseys.  I can’t wait and I just got to believe that Andrew is cracking up over this one (Andrew enjoyed MANY Blue Rocks games, including having his birthday party there.)  Our Foundation will receive $2 of each ticket sold, so please print out the order form from the BePositive.org homepage.  I want to see a stadium full of B+ shirts!!!  Thank you Wilmington Blue Rocks!  I’m not saying this just because they are supporting us, but the team has been a first class community partner since they came to Wilmington in 1993!

~~~~~~~

Whatever weather you have, ENJOY it!

Live Like Andrew - he made every second count.

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

I see online that we already have 20 inches of snow and who knows how much more.  It looks really cool outside.  I love the snow…shoveling is not a lot of fun, but you can’t have everything.

~~~~~~~

On Monday evening, I traveled to Dover for the viewing of 8 year old, Ethan Max Williams.  As you may know, Ethan is a HUGE Phillies fan and he was laid out in a Phillies casket.  The sight of a child in a small, open casket gets indelibly etched into your memory.  We will NEVER stop fighting until we win this war against childhood cancers.  Please keep the Williams/Burgess families in your prayers.

~~~~~~~~~~

We just learned that the Ursuline (Ali’s alma mater) community is doing a fundraiser on Tuesday evening at the Ursuline-Padua basketball game.  The night will be in honor of B+ Hero, Savannah Pauley, who passed away last September.  Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation to fight childhood cancer and help families of critically ill children.  Please come out to Ursuline to join us in honoring Savannah.

~~~~~~~~~~

As you know, Andrew loved the game of soccer and one of his proudest accomplishments was representing his state in the Olympic Development Program (ODP).  I just received an email from Mary Ann McKenna, the Director of the Delaware ODP that all Delaware Boys ODP players will wear a special training shirt which will consist of both the Delaware ODP logo and the B+ logo.  What a great way to honor our Hero.  Thank you SO much!  I’m sure Andrew is smiling.

~~~~~~~~~~~

By the way, I had a dream the other night with Andrew in it.  I LOVE when I get a visit from Andrew in my dreams.   They aren’t that frequent.  It was very short but nice.  Andrew was coming off of the ice from playing hockey (that part is kind of odd…he could skate, but he didn’t play ice hockey…maybe it was the recent Sallie ice hockey game) and I caught him before heading into the locker room.  I was by myself and I asked him if I could give him a hug and kiss and he stopped and we hugged and I kissed him.  It meant so much to me.  I asked him if Chris and Ali could get a hug and kiss the next game and he smiled and said “of course”!  Kind of odd, but that’s what it was.

~~~~~~~~~

Finally, I would like to put a call out for “B+ Ambassadors” around the country.  As you know, we have helped families in 31 states so far, yet we raise money primarily from the tri-state region here.  To spread the reach of The B+ Foundation far and wide, we have had some people volunteer to run B+ fundraising events in their communities.  We have interest expressed in Southern California, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Sarasota (FL), and in Virginia.  The events are primarily B+ Walks and in some of the other cases, a motorcycle rally and a soccer tournament.  Just think, if we could hold B+ Walks in 10 cities across the country, not only would we raise a lot of money for childhood cancer, but we would greatly expand the awareness of the cause.  But, to do this, we need your help.  It needs to be a grassroots effort in your community.  I have a one pager outlining the ABC’s of organizing a B+ Walk and can help you to some degree from afar, but what we really need are “B+ Ambassadors” around the country.  Would you like to be a “B+ Ambassador” in your area to help us with our mission?  I hope there will be great interest.  Please contact me at joe@livelikeandrew.org.  Thank you very much for considering this.

Enjoy the snow or whatever weather you’re having.  You can’t change it…the only thing that you can change is your attitude.

Live Like Andrew - make the best of whatever you have.

B+

Peace.

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

I wrote this yesterday, but my dad posted, so I waited…

Yesterday, January 29, marked 3 years since Andrew’s diagnosis.  In a way, 3 years seems like such a long time since the diagnosis, but at the same time, it feels like just yesterday. 

—

3 years ago today, for me,…

…my life changed forever.  The day started like any normal school day, except I noticed Andrew wasn’t getting ready for school.  As I was heading downstairs, I noticed Andrew lying on the floor in my parents’ bedroom.  My mom said he still wasn’t feeling well, which surprised me.  I knew he wasn’t feeling well on the 27th but he never got sick, so I thought it’d be gone by the 29th.  I said good-bye to Andrew and my parents and my mom dropped me off at school.  It was a normal school day. 

After school, I got a call from my mom asking me if I could get a ride home with someone else.  She said that Andrew still wasn’t feeling well and that they were at AI.  Immediately, my heart sunk.  By that point, there wasn’t a diagnosis, but I just knew it wasn’t good.  I could just feel it; it’s hard to explain.  Because of the feeling I had, that it wasn’t going to be good news, I got my homework done for the week as I waited for my ride home.  My friend was supposed to take me home, but all of a sudden my uncle showed up.  My heart started racing.  This couldn’t be good.  I left with him and he took me home where my MomMom was waiting for me.  I had absolutely no idea what was going on.  My parents weren’t home and we hadn’t gotten any news.  MomMom and I waited to hear what was going on. 

Suddenly, my dad came home and asked that we all sit down on the couch in the family room.  He said that Andrew had just been diagnosed with Leukemia, but that he could beat it.  I broke down.  Through tears, I made a few quick phone calls.  My dad and I rushed upstairs and packed our bags to head to the hospital. 

We got to the hospital just as they began rushing Andrew to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit).  My mom told us that Andrew’s stats had begun to drop and they thought he may be septic.  We got to the PICU and doctors kept running in and out of his room. Initially, my parents were in the room with Andrew, but they had to wait outside the room when things got worse. There were so many doctors, nurses and so much equipment in there to keep Andrew alive.  Every time the door opened for a doctor to run in or out, we screamed to Andrew to keep fighting and to let him know how much we love him.  I remember my Dad with his face pressed against the window looking in at Andrew.  Our extended family began showing up and before long we had a huge crowd in the hallway of the PICU and in the PICU waiting room. Honestly, as I screamed to Andrew I didn’t even know other people were in the unit.  I didn’t even realize there were so many rooms in the unit; all I could see was one door, Andrew’s.  Andrew was now declared to be in Septic Shock.  I didn’t know what that meant until later, and I’m glad.  Had I known that, as I stood outside his door, his heart had stopped and they were resuscitating him, I think I would’ve been sick myself.  His heart had stopped and his blood pressure was rapidly dropping.  They had to pump fluids into him to keep him alive.  He went from 130 lbs. to 195 lbs. within hours due to the fluids.  He was put on a ventilator to help him breathe.  It was so difficult to see him like that.  This was all to new to my family and to see Andrew with IV’s in him, a breathing tube, and so swollen from the fluids was heartbreaking.  I can still picture it… 

He fought for hours that night.  He surprised the doctors with his strength and determination. He never gave up and I couldn’t be prouder.  

—

3 years ago today, for Andrew,…

…he and my mom relaxed at home and watched TV, hoping Andrew would start to feel better.   As you’ve all heard, Andrew never complained, and if he did, we knew it was serious.  Andrew told my mom that his right side was really hurting him.  My dad had his appendix removed when he was around Andrew’s age, so we thought it was just that.  My mom brought Andrew to the pediatrician’s office.  Once there, they waited…and waited…and waited.  You’d think that if someone came into the doctor’s office saying that their child was in serious pain and that it was an emergency he’d be seen, right? Apparently not.  It got to the point where Andrew asked my mom to take him to AI because he couldn’t wait any longer.  That is SO frustrating to me.  (And yes, I switched doctors after that.)

            Andrew was told that he had Leukemia. Right after he was told, he asked my parents two questions: 1. “Can I shave my hair before it falls out?” and 2. “What do I tell my friends?” It’s heartbreaking to think about what was going through his mind.  Was he scared? We tried to control his pain, but did the pain medicine work? Did he feel alone?  Could he feel that he was becoming septic?  I can’t imagine what he was thinking…

            Andrew fought so hard.  Despite all the odds thrown against him, he made it through the night.  I’m so glad for that.  The 166 “bonus days” he gave us were some of the best days of my life, as strange as that seems since we were in the hospital.  It didn’t matter where we were. The four of us were together.  The nights when the four of us slept in Andrew’s hospital room were the greatest.  The days when Andrew asked for me while I was at school, and was so excited to know I was there once I got to the hospital were so heartwarming. Not once was Andrew alone.  I know he knows how much we love him and I know how much he loves us.

—-

            As real as the pain is, my life often seems so surreal.  I can’t believe that my younger brother is in Heaven.  I can’t believe that I can’t go to anymore soccer games. I can’t believe that I won’t wake up and see him getting ready for school ever again.  I can’t believe that I won’t ever get to see him get married.  It’s unreal. 

—

            One night, before everything happened with us, Andrew and I were watching the Real World/Road Rules Challenge. I remember this night so clearly.  Diem, one of the girls on the show, had been diagnosed with cancer. She had lost her hair from the chemo and wore a wig for most of the episodes.  I remember Andrew and I both said how bad we felt for her and admired her strength.  I remember saying to Andrew that I couldn’t imagine what I would do if he ever got cancer.  Of course I never expected it to happen less than a year later…

—

Prayers requested for:

1.      Please continue to keep Ethan Williams’ family in your prayers.  I know Andrew was up there waiting for Ethan.  I’m sure they’re talking about the Phillies and playing baseball.  I know Andrew will take good care of Ethan. 

Now is when we have to truly rally around Ethan’s family, his parents and his brother, Jake.  They’re experiencing their worst nightmare.  I wish there was something we could do to make them feel better, but unfortunately I haven’t found anything for myself yet either. 

Please let them know you’re thinking of them at www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethanmaxwilliams

2.      Please pray for the 46 families who will be told their child has cancer today. 

I can’t wait for the day when we don’t need to have The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, as that will mean that a cure was found and no other families have to experience such pain. 

-“Andrew’s Sister”

As many of you know, brave Ethan Max Williams passed away last night at 7:45pm at the age of 9.  Ethan’s family generously provided that part of Ethan’s legacy would be that several children (and research) would benefit from the donation of Ethan’s organs.  May God bless the Williams family as they cope with the tragedy of losing Ethan from this world.

~~~~~~~~

Last night, I was privileged to attend “Hockey for a Cause”, a fundraising high school ice hockey game between Andrew’s school (Salesianum) and their arch-rival (St. Mark’s).  I had the honor of speaking with Andrew’s Salesian brothers in the locker room before the game.  Sometimes, the most emotional moments sneak up on you…and that’s what happened to me last night.  Thank you, St. Mark’s and Sallies for including The B+ Foundation in the big game.  (By the way, it was an outstanding, well-played game.  Sallies won 2-1 on a late 3rd period goal.)

~~~~~~~~~

As you may know, 3 years ago right now, Chris and Andrew were heading over to A.I. duPont Hospital from the pediatrician’s office and I was heading over to meet them as well.  Little did we know that our horrific journey was about to start.  Perhaps Andrew knows that we need a little boost today as I just received a call from our bone marrow registry contact in NYC.  While I caution that this is preliminary, we MAY have a bone marrow donor match from the bone marrow registration drive that we ran at the Hockessin Athletic Club in Hockessin, DE.  Congratulations to Coo Murray and Carol Spiker, the organizers of this drive.  I will certainly keep you posted.  This could be really, really amazing!

Please keep all the families of children with cancer in your prayers.

God bless you and please MAKE it the best weekend you can.

Live Like Andrew - B+

The proudest Dad in the world!

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

Three years ago today, Jan. 27, 2007, Andrew and I took a trip up to Northeastern PA for the PA Indoor State Cup (Championship).  After looking pale in the first game, Andrew slept in the car and skipped the next game.  We didn’t know what was wrong — flu, migraine.  Andrew came back to play (a total of 4 games!)…and play well.  He made a great play in the closing seconds of the championship game to help seal the State Championship victory for the FC Delco Roadkill.

We had a GREAT ride home and talked about Ali, Facebook/MySpace, girls, all kinds of things.  It was just perfect.

Little did we know that just 48 hours later, we would learn that Andrew had leukemia and he would go into cardiac arrest.  The doctors said he wouldn’t make it through the night.  They were wrong.  He would give us 166 bonus days.

Please visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough to see the last picture we have of Andrew before we went into the hospital.  Andrew is in the top row, far left — the sickest child, but the only one smiling.  That’s my boy!

I love you, Andrew.

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

Please, please pray for Ethan Williams.  This brave “B+ Hero” is home with hospice care and is experiencing  bad headaches.  I pray that there will be a miracle for Ethan, but if not, that he at least be somewhat comfortable during this difficult time.  This inspiring young man needs your prayers and your kind words.  Please visit Ethan’s site.  Thank you!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ethanmaxwilliams

Live Like Andrew — never give up the fight!!!

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough