Running for the B+ Heroes!
B+ Hero Olivia
“Thank you for the generous grant that was awarded to our family.
Our beautiful daughter, Olivia was three and a half when she was diagnosed with a Diffused Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, an aggressive terminal brain tumor on September 21, 2023. Over the last year she has undergone 30 sedated radiation treatments, participated in a Car-T clinical trial in Seattle for five months, completed six brain and spine MRIs, countless pokes, she had a shunt placed and a shunt revision surgery and just finished another 10 rounds of unsedated radiation last week. She is still enjoying life but has lost her ability to walk, talk and a great amount of core strength over the last few months. She gets frustrated at times but still loves her favorite activities (Hide and Seek in the dark) and her favorite foods (pasta, pasta and pasta).
My husband is in sales and I am a school counselor. We received official news that Olivia’s tumor had started to grow on my first day of school this August. I was able to return to work for two weeks before she started radiation again. She is currently receiving a clinical trial chemotherapy drug from Germany that we hope will slow progression. We are paying for the medication and travel out of pocket. She is not done fighting.
Thank you for your generous contribution. We try our best to live our life and not focus on the financial aspect of this devastating diagnosis. We appreciate your help in keeping us afloat.
We have attached a photo of our baby girl and our family. They were taken during our initial month long stay in Seattle.
Thank you again ❤️”
B+ Running Team x NYC Marathon
In less than 6 weeks, I will tackle the 26.2 mile NYC Marathon as part of the B+ Running Team. I plan to write 26 names on my arms as my motivation for each mile. Each name will be that of a B+ Hero, who I personally knew, who has passed away. It shocked me when I was writing the list. I can’t believe that I personally know so many children who have died. I’m trying to raise $10,000 which will help about 10 families of kids with cancer pay their bills so that they can focus on what is truly most important - the life or death battle of their precious child.
If you’d like to help me get to that goal for these families, please click here. Any donation is very much appreciated.
As part of my training, I ran a half marathon yesterday in Ocean City, NJ. My grandson, Luke, made great signs for me and his Dad. Thanks!
If you're local to northern Delaware, please come out and support Sprinkles Bakery & Italian Market on Naamans Rd in Wilmington. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (Sept), they're raising money for The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.
Make it a great week.
B+
Ali & Andrew’s Dad