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

A Message From Ali –

I’d like to give a huge thank you to the 5,200 of you who voted for The B+ Foundation in Round 2 of the Chase contest.  Thank you to those of you who helped us spread the word by emailing friends and family, posting it to your profile, etc.  Unfortunately, 5,200 votes didn’t get us close to the $1 Million for 1st place or $100,000 prizes that went to 2nd – 6th place. 

As we mentioned on The Foundation’s Facebook page, the Advisory Board of the Chase contest awarded an extra $1 Million disbursed over 17 charities.  The Advisory Board consisted of:

1.      David Robinson - former San Antonio Spurs (NBA) player

2.      Eva Longoria - Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Desperate Housewives star.

3.      Nancy Lublin - CEO of DoSomething.org, the largest organization in America for young people and social change.

4.      Elliot Schrage - Manager of Facebook relations with stakeholders around the world.

5.      Kim Davis - Managing Director for the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Office of Corporate Responsibility and President of the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

Today, we got a call from Kim Davis saying that The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation was selected to be one of the 17 charities involved in the additional $1 Million.  Thanks to your votes, we won $25,000 from Round 1.  Though we didn’t make top 7 in Round 2, the Advisory Board awarded us an additional $37,000!!! Overall, we got a total of $62,000!!!!

Many thanks to the Advisory Board for understanding our Foundation, realizing its importance, and giving us the ability to help families when they need it most – as they fight to keep their child alive. 

Although none of the 3 pediatric cancer organizations in Round 2 (us, Okizu, and kidsSTRONG) won the $1 Million or $100,000 award, collectively, we won $112,000 for children with cancer!! Though the money will be extremely helpful in helping so many families, and I’m so grateful, this contest enabled more people to learn about pediatric cancers and allowed us to spread childhood cancer awareness.   During the week of Round 2, approximately 300 children were diagnosed with cancer.  We’re spreading awareness so people will realize pediatric cancers are a serious problem and we NEED funding. 

I think this contest said a lot about our Foundation.  It put us on the map with over 500,000 non-profits across the country.  Although we were one of the youngest and smallest organizations in the contest, we finished in the Top 100 (56th place).  By finishing in the Top 100, we proved that we are real.  We really do have a support group (thank you all!). We really do help families.  We really are honoring Andrew.  By being awarded the additional $37,000, it reassured me that we are doing the right thing with this Foundation.  The Advisory Board noticed what we’ve done and agreed with our mission.  That feels so good. 

Thank you, B+ Supporters, for your help in spreading the word and voting.  Thank you Advisory Board.  Thank you Andrew for being you, a great example for us as we work to honor you through your Foundation. 

As the Chase/Facebook contest comes to a close this evening, I want to thank everyone for their votes and for spreading the message about our Foundation.  Aside from any money that we have earned, there has been a great increase in awareness of childhood cancer and The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.  We have received over 5,000 votes and we currently rank 56th in the country!  While we may not close the gap to finish in first, we’re hopeful that our strong showing in the final days of this contest may catch the attention of the contest organizers.  As you may recall, the organizers are also awarding an additional $1,000,000 to one of the Top 100 charities of their choice.  So, you never know…it could be us!  :)  Thanks for helping us with our final push.  If you haven’t voted, the link is below.  Thank you VERY much for your support and thank you to Ali, for spearheading our efforts.  You did a great job, Sweetheart!!!

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/743884

I hope everyone MAKES it a great weekend!

Live Like Andrew - make the most of the present.

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

A note from Chris:

Our trip to Memphis last year gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn about Martin Luther King, Jr., and the more I learn, the more respect I have for him and his teachings.  Surely Dr. King deserves more than one day to be honored, so I’ll continue to honor him by sharing some of his quotes that I particularly like.

“The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.”  Andrew, Dr. King, and so many others are testament to this belief. 

So what about the rest of us remaining?  Perhaps we need to follow this quote:  “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’ “ 

Well, this family’s trying to do for others, with your help.  And as we take one day at a time, we try to follow more of Dr. King’s advice: “Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”   B+

~~~~~~~~~~

There are SO many brave B+ Heroes fighting cancer and other terrible illnesses all over the country.  Tonight, I especially ask for your prayers for the following:

• Carrie Maniscalco - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carriemaniscalco
• Reece Adams - https://www.carepages.com/carepages/ReeceA
• Kelly Laude - https://www.carepages.com/carepages/KellyLaude
• Jordan Lawson - http://www.carecalendar.org/?cid=30422 (security code = 2773)
• Joseph Feeley - http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/josephfeeleyiii

I’m hoping to visit Jordan tomorrow.  That will be a real honor.  Reece is also local and I stopped by AI duPont Hospital the other day to bring him a few gifts, but he was sleeping.  Reece, if you’re reading this, I hope you like the surprises I left on your door.

Please take a minute to say a prayer and visit these sites and send them some B+ best wishes.  Thanks!

Live Like Andrew - be selfless.

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

VOTE!!!     VOTE!!!     VOTE!!!

and, equally importantly, please pass the word on to ALL your friends and ask them to vote and pass the word on to their friends.  We’re slowly climbing the ranking, but we’ve got a long way to go.  Please help us win $1,000,000 to help families of children with cancer.  Please feel free to copy/paste the information below.

Help The B+ Foundation win $1,000,000:

1.       VOTE NOW!  http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/743884

2.       Forward this to all your friends

3.       Ask them to vote and forward to all their friends…

This is the only way we have a chance of winning.  People send so many silly emails…this one can dramatically help families of children with cancer.

Thank you.

~~~~~

There are two other childhood cancer organizations (Okizu, KidsStrong) that are finalists in the competition.  You get a total of 5 votes to cast, so please consider voting for them as well. 

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/744788

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/560751

THANKS!!!

B+

Ali’s & Andrew’s Dad

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough

Please help us by voting AND sending this email to everyone you know AND asking them to vote AND sending it to everyone they know.  That’s the only way that we stand a chance of winning. People send so many silly chain emails…this one is legit and can dramatically help families of children with cancer.

Thanks.

B+

~~~~~~~~~

Dear Friends of The B+ (Be Positive) Foundation,

2 minutes of your time can help us win $1,000,000 and enable us to continue to help families of critically ill children all over the country.  All it takes is your vote!  Voting is only open between Friday January 15^th and Friday January 22^nd.

VOTE NOW!  http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/743884

It sounds incredible, but The B+ Foundation is one of only 100 charities in Round 2 of the Chase Community Giving contest.  The charity with the most votes will receive $1,000,000 and 4 runners-up will receive $100,000.

1.       CLICK on the Facebook link and vote for The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.  Voting is open between Jan 15-22 and you can only vote for us once.

2.       FORWARD this email to EVERYONE in your address book, friends on Facebook, co-workers, etc.  It’s the only way we’ll win and it will only take a minute.  Your email could be the one that generates the votes to throw us over the top!

To date we’ve given out over $175,000 to over 190 families in 31 states.  We have helped pay for:

·         An oxygen tank so 8- year- old Maris could fly home to Georgia for her final days on this earth

·         Rent for 14-year- old Brittany (neuroblastoma) and her family, who was one month behind on their rent and faced eviction the day after Christmas

·         Required medicine for 18-year- old Brianna’s lymphoma treatment — medicine that insurance and the hospital wouldn’t cover

·         And many more critically ill children’s needs.

But the need is much greater than our resources, so please vote for The B+ Foundation today.

VOTE NOW!  http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/743884

To learn more about the work of The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation and the story of our brave 14-year-old boy who left this world way too early on July 14, 2007, please visit www.BePositive.org.

Thank you so much for taking 2 minutes to help families in their time of need.

There are two other childhood cancer organizations that are finalists in the competition.  You get a total of 5 votes to cast, so please consider voting for them as well. 

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/744788

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/560751

B+

Joe

“Andrew’s Dad”

www.BePositive.org

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewmcdonough