Andrew’s Birthday
Andrew’s 33rd Birthday
Last Wednesday was Andrew’s 33rd birthday. Thank you to everyone who posted nice notes and donated to the Andrew’s Birthday campaign. The goal of the campaign was to raise $33,000 and B+ Nation rallied to raise over $42,000! For the month of September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month), we are spreading our message on a billboard collage in Times Square. On Andrew’s birthday, my boy was featured on the billboards. Chris, Ali, and I traveled to NYC to see Andrew in lights. It was both really cool to see Andrew four stories high, but also very sad when I saw the “1992-2007” line below his picture.
B+ Hero Makayla
While I’m sure you are busy and the passage belong looks long, PLEASE take a few minutes and read Makayla’s story. Makayla’s story is sad, but unfortunately, not that unusual. Relapses are very common among kids with cancer. Many kids with cancer are never really free of the cancer nor the late-stage effects.
“We want to thank you for your support during this tragic time for our family. My daughter Makayla is 18 years old and fighting for her life once again! At two years old she was diagnosed with a Hepatoblastoma stage four which is liver cancer that metastasized to both lungs. Doctors gave her an 18% chance to live, just a week before our life seem normal than in a second it changed forever, my poor baby had to undergo 15 rounds of aggressive chemo a lung resection and liver transplant. The doctors call her their miracle baby. Makayla has been in remission almost 16 years! Then during her first semester of college she was home on break for Christmas one night, severe pain in her side and we went to the hospital and once again for the words that a parent never wants to hear but for a second time Makayla had cancer again bone cancer a mass that cracked her rib. Now at 18, she was terrified and of course knew too much because she is a nursing major in her first semester. Long story short she once again is fighting for her life, aggressive chemo, and a serious long surgery to remove three ribs some muscle tissue and then they reconstructed her whole rib cage. She has started chemo again which will have to be every other week until the middle of January. These last few months have been very hard on her and our whole family, but we are all positive. It’s the only way you can get through. It is to be positive and that she is, she took up a hobby and his crocheting now which she loves and she’s amazing at it the things that she makes. I want to thank everybody for all their support and help. It’s a weight lifted off of us and gives us time to spend with our baby girl. I attached some pictures of Makayla she’s a very strong positive girl who just wants to live her life go back to college and graduate! That is her goal. Our whole family thanks you again for giving us this hope and positive outlook.”
Roll Tide
I’m on a roll right now…travel-wise. This is Week #2 of a stretch where I will be on the road part of 7 out of the next 8 weeks. Last night, I spoke with about 275 new fraternity and sorority members at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. We gave a great group of very dedicated student organizers that make up UABePositive. I’m so impressed by how dedicated and philanthropic students are today.
B+ Golf Outing
The 19th Annual B+ Golf Outing, Dinner, and Auction is 3 weeks away on Mon. Sept. 29th. We have a few sponsorships and foursomes available. Also, always looking for sports tickets and any other cool, unique auction items. Please contact me at Joe@livelikeandrew.org if you can help us out.
Ali & Andrew’s Dad