02/20/2010
by Michael Wells Today’s blood drive is “sold out” but I understand they will try to accommodate everyone even if you do not have an appointment. Sherrie and I want to sincerely thank Marc Rubenstein and his staff at Jersey Physical Therapy for making all this happen. We also, want to thank the great folks at Confectionately Yours (a Franklin Park landmark for great food and incredible ice cream) for donating 4 gift certificates which will be raffled off to those who donate blood. Speaking of donations; we have been asked by several people about making donations in Brady’s honor and here’s what Sherrie has set up: The Hugs for Brady Fund™ The Hugs for Brady Fund was established to help the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) fight the ongoing battle against pediatric cancer. The fund will be working in cooperation with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Foundation. Sherrie has a goal to open the (currently vacant) 7th floor of the BMSCH and have the pediatric hematology / oncology unit expanded from a 10 bed unit to the 30+ beds it so desperately needs. It is not uncommon to have children with cancer scattered over 3 different floors of the hospital because there isn’t enough room in the current 10 bed facility. So, if you have a couple of million you’re wondering what to do with, Sherrie would be delighted to have your name placed on the front door of floor 7. If not a couple of million; a couple of dollars can work nicely as well. It really is a great cause and sad to say really needed. If you care to make a donation 100% of the money goes to the cause without any administrative fees taken out. Also, it is 100% tax deductible (Tax id# 22-2378007). If you need more details, please contact Craig Williams, the Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving, (one of the really “good” guys) at craig.williams@rwjuh.edu or (732) 418-8407. Finally, Sherrie’s brother Wayne and my son Stephen both arrived safely from Florida. Today my daughter Jennifer will be coming up from Maryland and Sunday I will be cooking dinner for 8 people. Can’t wait it will be lots of fun! Brady sends his love and is doing so well I really, really do not want to have him go back to the hospital. But want as I may, he has a busy week ahead of him with a visit the clinic on Tuesday followed by a CAT scan on Thursday and if space is available off to CHOP on Monday March 1st. As always, please continue your prayers, hugs and good thoughts as a new definition for “March Madness” approaches…“8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and treatment of their son, Brady Michael. Hopefully these entires will provide an understanding of the journey families face when dealing with these horrific diseases and of the important work the Hugs for Brady Foundation does.