In a recent interview with Great.com’s podcast series, ‘Great.com Talks With…’, Hugs for Brady Foundation’s co-founder and executive director, Sherrie Wells, introduced the foundation’s mission to relieve the financial burden from families with children suffering from pediatric cancer.
HFB News
10 Years Making a Difference, 10 Years Making it Better
We are celebrating the Hugs for Brady Foundation’s 10th Anniversary! That’s 10 amazing years of helping children with pediatric cancer in countless ways. And none of it would have been possible without you—our generous and loyal supporters. This very special milestone reminds us why we started Hugs for Brady and motivates us to honor Brady’s… [Read More]
Kids with cancer have a new fight on their hands
Dear Friends, Together, we have done great work! Your past support has enabled the Hugs for Brady Foundation to do so many good things for kids and families such as: Funding special projects such as sedation-free MRIs at NYP/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and seeking more effective treatments Read More Shipping Brady Buggy® Wagons to hospitals… [Read More]
End of Year Giving Guide
Whether volunteering, participating in a fundraising event or making a donation– your support is greatly appreciated. On behalf of every child with cancer, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. All donations are 100% tax-deductible — Tax ID# 27-3921673. If you’d like to receive a record of your donation for TAX PURPOSES, please… [Read More]
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08/21/2010 by Sherrie Wells I’ve been dreading this day for the last month. It’s Brady’s birthday! He would have been 2 years old. I cannot begin to tell you just how much we miss our baby; it’s just about as debilitating as your worst nightmare. There isn’t an hour that I don’t think about him,… [Read More]
The Hugs for Brady Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Lab at RCINJ
The Hugs for Brady Foundation was able to do something amazing this year, and it is all thanks to you. Hugs for Brady in partnership with the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey opened The Hugs for Brady Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Lab at RCINJ. This is the institute’s FIRST lab devoted to its Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program. Dr. Peter Cole,… [Read More]
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08/18/2010 by Sherrie Wells …Did You Know??? Did You Know, Brady would have been two years old on August 21, 2010. This is the date that Michael has chosen to write his final journal entry. After August 21st, all news and events will be posted on www.HugsForBrady.org. We will be doing many fundraisers and we… [Read More]
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08/14/2010 by Michael Wells It’s been awhile since I’ve updated Brady’s Journal, it’s been a day-to-day struggle for Sherrie and me but we are somehow managing. Since Brady’s passing, the out pouring of love from our families, friends, neighbors and community has been just astonishing. We are just so thankful and humble. Sherrie and I… [Read More]
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08/11/2010 by Michael Wells Wednesday nights at Confectionately Yours are normally known as just another night. Wednesday is the night that is between Tuesday night’s car show and Thursday night’s Prime Rib dinner specials. But Wednesday September 1st is going to be known as “Platelet Night.” That’s right on Wednesday September 1st the good people… [Read More]
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08/09/2010 by Michael Wells I am at a loss to truly express our feelings regarding yesterday’s fundraiser. It was just spectacular and we are just so humbled by the outpouring of support for our son’s foundation. The first annual Hugs for Brady Blood Drive & Fundraiser was a huge success. Here’s what the Red Blood… [Read More]
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08/05/2010 by Michael Wells Sherrie and I have run away for a few days. We need a little time to take some deep breaths and clear our heads. We will be at the Blood Drive and Fund Raiser at Confectionately Yours on Sunday. We want to express our deepest appreciation and thanks to everyone for… [Read More]
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08/02/2010 by Michael Wells If you’re a reporter; it must be easy to write about an event; a fire, a burglary, a crime. But it must be extremely difficult to write a story when nothing is happening. This is the way I feel. When our beautiful son Brady was a live it was easy to… [Read More]
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08/01/2010 by Michael Wells This is the time of day I love the most. For some it’s the middle of the night but for me it’s the beginning of a new day. It’s less than 3 days since our baby left us and it’s just so overwhelming. Sherrie and I are just like 2 zombies… [Read More]
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07/31/2010 by Michael Wells Last night, I took Ambien sleeping pill to get some rest and it worked; I slept for about 8 hours. I just don’t know what to write. I miss my son so much. Brady was a wonderfully amazing baby and I will miss him forever. I don’t know how long I… [Read More]
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07/30/2010 by Michael Wells Today, at 5:13am our beautiful loving Brady was pronounced dead. Please allow Sherrie and me a little time to compose ourselves. I will do my best to let you know the “arrangements” as quickly as possible. Now I ask each of you to hug everyone you love, pray for our baby’s… [Read More]
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07/29/2010 by Michael Wells Wednesday was spent at the hospital receiving transfusions of whole blood and platelets. Thanks to Nurse Practitioner Donna, Brady got a room in Pediatric Hematology / Oncology unit on the 2nd floor. The rooms are much bigger and better equipped for an all day session like yesterday. The platelets came from… [Read More]
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07/27/2010 by Michael Wells Brady continues to have a few “good” hours and Monday was no exception. In between frighteningly high fevers (104˚F) and everything that goes along with this horrible illness our baby is still bright, happy and energetic beyond my belief. He is such a wonderful part of us. I just love his… [Read More]
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07/26/2010 by Michael Wells Sherrie was up around 2:00am this morning and wrote the following: Well, we now know the reason for the goat named Ernie; to make us all chuckle as he delivered a “special” gift on Aunt Ellen and Uncle Frank’s front lawn. That’s right; when you can’t make it to the farm,… [Read More]
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07/25/2010 by Michael Wells Saturday and it was truly deja-vu all over again! Brady after going to sleep at around 2:00am slept until about 10:00 am and when he woke up wanted a cheese burger. So, off we go to Burger King in search of a cheese burger. Normally, you cannot buy a cheeseburger before… [Read More]
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07/24/2010 by Michael Wells Wow, what a crazy day or should I say night? For most of the day Brady continued to follow much of the script that has been laid out for him; his temperature continues to spike at scary ranges over 103˚, his breathing is somewhat labored and his eyes are puffy and… [Read More]
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07/23/2010 by Michael Wells Brady continues to be about as adorable as any 23 month old toddler. Thursday, he (when awake) was in truly great spirits. He directed us to take him for a walk which turned out to be about 3 times as long as our normal one as he did not want to… [Read More]
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07/22/2010 by Michael Wells Wednesday, was another copy of Tuesday. Brady slept most of the day. He is awoke around 7:30pm and wanted to go for a walk. It was truly delightful to put him in his carriage with a half dozen stuffed animals and an assortment of various toy tractors. During our walk, we… [Read More]
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07/21/2010 by Michael Wells Tuesday was not a good day for Brady. He spent the entire day at the hospital receiving platelets and whole blood transfusions. He also had his broviac catheter dressing changed and was hooked up to a portable IV pump. The sad part of this whole process is Brady will be attached… [Read More]
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07/20/2010 by Michael Wells Last night was just an awful night. No amount or combinations of oral pain management drugs seemed to help Brady. I think Sherrie and I had about 4 hours of sleep combined. Today, when Brady is at the clinic receiving his whole blood and platelet transfusions, he will be once again… [Read More]
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07/19/2010 by Michael Wells Sunday was an R & R day for the Wells family. It began with a 7:00 am walk around our neighborhood (no Pit Bulls), I love walking with Brady first thing in the morning; it’s so peaceful and quiet. After Sherrie friend Kellie headed off to the airport we were off… [Read More]
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07/17/2010 by Michael Wells What a simply wonderful day Brady had. We had a delicious breakfast made by Aunt Kellie and we were ready to roll before 9:00am. We decided to visit Terhune Orchards in Princeton, NJ. They have a small petting zoo and Brady just loved feeding the goats and ducks. We returned home… [Read More]
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07/16/2010 by Michael Wells We never did make it to the aquarium; instead we went to Great Adventure and drove through the wild animal park. Brady was not too interested in the animals but he really did like to drive my car as he sat on lap. Earlier on Thursday we stopped by Gymboree and… [Read More]
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07/15/2010 by Michael Wells Having fun can be hazardous to your health! Yesterday was an extremely weird day. It started out as normal as any other day but before it ended some strange things occurred. Before I begin to tell you about our day, I want say thank you to all my coworkers and management… [Read More]
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07/13/2010 by Sherrie Wells Brady came through his surgery yesterday with flying colors. He left the hospital and made his rounds thanking everyone for the great care that he has received. As we were about to depart, he even had a surprise visit from Mr. Jones (CEO of RWJU Hospital). We picked up all of… [Read More]
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07/12/2010 by Michael Wells It’s absolutely amazing; on the outside our Brady is an intelligent, handsome, precocious, personable toddler; however, on the inside our baby is a very very sick child. Today around 11:00am I received a phone call from Sherrie, telling me; Brady peripheral white blood has 71% cancerous blasts cells. This is the… [Read More]
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07/11/2010 by Michael Wells Saturday was just a great day! We had a visit from my sisters Kathleen and Arleen along with their husbands Dennis and Michael. It was extremely nice of them to drive from Connecticut to visit with Brady. They also arrived bearing gifts; Brady now has the unofficial largest collection of Elmo… [Read More]
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07/10/2010 by Michael Wells It’s Saturday morning and the “man cave” is in week-end mode. We just finished our 3rd bottle (18 oz. water) and our 3rd diaper change of the night and now it’s back to sleep. Last night was an excellent evening; we went for walks, picked some flowers, watched a couple of… [Read More]
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07/09/2010 by Michael Wells Life for Brady is becoming more and more “normal.” He has been fever-free, his blood pressure is normal, his white blood count is recovering at a slow pace (0.6), he is receiving less and less pain medication and he is within days of no longer receiving steroids. He appears to be… [Read More]
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07/07/2010 by Michael Wells Where to begin? Yesterday, Brady continues to act like any precocious toddler; he sings songs without words, his vocabulary continues to grow faster than I could ever imagine and he appears to be about as happy as anyone can be living in a hospital hooked up to 5-6 different pumps. His… [Read More]
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07/06/2010 by Michael Wells CBC continues in the neutropenic range with his white blood count at 0.3. While Brady needed a blood transfusion yesterday and will be getting more platelets today; we are very pleased with the results of this slow recovery of his system. The logic is simple; the slower the recovery, the slow… [Read More]
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07/04/2010 by Michael Wells Saturday was a very special day. My brother Richard, his friend Donna and my Mom drove from North Haven, Connecticut to visit Brady. It was great to see all of them and I was extremely happy my 91 year old mother got to visit with her 21st grandchild. It was very… [Read More]
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07/03/2010 by Michael Wells It’s late Friday night or early Saturday morning depending upon your frame of reference. It was another day of wait and see. I hate this disease and the absolute destruction it causes. I want my baby back the way he was more than I have ever wanted anything in my life…. [Read More]
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07/02/2010 by Michael Wells Thursday was an interesting day. We went to pay our respect to Brady’s friend; Jasanti, we made a decision and the “man cave” made an unexpected appearance. Jasanti’s service was very nice and I must say I don’t think I have ever seen so many flowers, it was quite emotional. We… [Read More]
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07/01/2010 by Michael Wells Wednesday was another “good” day for Brady. He continues with his daily routine of wagon rides throughout the day or as he likes to call them, “walks.” It truly remarkable to see a baby so sick and all he wants to do, virtually all the time is walk. However, the terrible… [Read More]
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06/30/2010 by Michael Wells A very short entry; Brady had a wonderful Tuesday. He played, went for walks in his wagon from the time he woke up until almost 2:00pm when he napped until 8:00pm. He finally woke up; he was in just great spirits. Brady while still puffy from the steroids was in great… [Read More]
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06/29/2010 by Michael Wells We went to CHOP yesterday. We rode in a small cramped ambulance with a driver who actually got lost on the way. The 90 minute trip took almost 3 hours! The attendant who sat in the back had such bad body odor; I thought I was going to pass out. All… [Read More]
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06/27/2010 by Michael Wells Sunday is just about over and it’s a very good thing. Brady has a very difficult Saturday night followed by an even more excruciating Sunday morning. His temperature continued to spike up to 103.4˚ and no one seems to have an answer as to, “why.” He has been given different antibiotics… [Read More]
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06/26/2010 by Michael Wells Brady had a relatively good night; he only spiked at 103 once and slept through most of the night. This morning we walked and walked and walked some more. He absolutely loves to be in motion. He has a set routine; he must wear his shoes and socks, he must select… [Read More]
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06/25/2010 by Michael Wells I woke up this morning and realized I had no mentioned a couple of wonderful events which occurred yesterday. First, Brian Ceralo (Jackie’s Dad) came to the hospital last night to introduce us to Joe and Maryann of Edison. Joe and Maryann are professional “healers” who believe in the power of… [Read More]
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06/24/2010 by Michael Wells Today was another day of an emotional roller coaster. Brady slept a good portion of the morning as he continues to be febrile as his temperature bounced around 102˚ all day long. Sherrie and I managed to have our conference call with Dr. Bunin and as a result we are scheduled… [Read More]
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06/23/2010 by Michael Wells Today, June 23rd started our just wonderful. Brady’s blood counts were all in the “right” direction and Nurse Practitioner, Donna told us Brady’s blood was once again O+ as opposed to A+. All signs pointed to nothing but excellent bone marrow biopsy (BMB) results. His BMB procedure went extremely well and… [Read More]
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06/22/2010 by Sherrie Wells This morning Brady had a 102.2 fever. He is being treated with antibiotics and Tylenol. He was monitored closely throughout the night, which was very rough for him. He has a hard time getting comfortable as he now has several wires connected to his chest, a pulse ox on his toe,… [Read More]
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06/21/2010 by Michael Wells Today was the tale of 2 Brady’s. It was the best of times and it was well, the worst of times. First, the good; Sherrie told me, he had a hearty breakfast, he played with all his toys, he told her, that he wanted to go for a wagon ride and… [Read More]
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06/20/2010 by Sherrie Wells I was just pulling into my driveway this evening and I realized how lucky I was for so many reasons. Michael and I were able to get some quiet time alone while “Grammy and Grandpa” watched Brady. I think the three of them had a lot of fun together. And I… [Read More]
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06/19/2010 by Michael Wells Happy Father’s Day I am one of the luckiest dads in the world. I have 3 wonderful children and I am very proud of each of them. Wishing each and every Dad a day which is only surpassed by that day in May a Happy Dad’s Day! After all, we do… [Read More]
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06/18/2010 by Michael Wells The “Man Cave” is in full swing. I swear his room even takes on the odor of a college dorm the minute his Mom leaves. Brady and I walked as far as we could; to the courtyard, the PSE&G fish tank, the fountain outside and of course around the unit several… [Read More]
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06/17/2010 by Michael Wells Thursday nights are late nights for me at my office. I arrived at the hospital around 8:00pm just in time to go for our evening walk. Brady was in wonderful spirits and it was extremely encouraging to see him almost back to his “normal” self. Sherrie is exhausted as she managed… [Read More]
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06/16/2010 by Michael Wells Yesterday, I didn’t get to spend much time with Brady. Sherrie and I attended Christian’s funeral which was held about an hour from the hospital. Grandma was kind enough to stay with Brady while we paid our respects to Lori and Ray, (Christian’s Mom & Dad). The funeral home was overflowing… [Read More]
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06/14/2010 by Michael Wells Just a brief entry today as I want to get to my office early. Brady is doing as well as expected; his chemo is completed and now it’s the very difficult task of waiting. On the positive side, his white blood count is at 0.10 which is the lowest that can… [Read More]
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06/12/2010 by Michael Wells Saturday was a wonderfully uneventful day. Brady’s cbc continues to head in the right direction with his white blood count now at 200 (normal range is: 5,000 to 10,000) and thus he is extremely neutropenic which is exactly what we all want. He is still on steroids and this is causing… [Read More]
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06/11/2010 by Michael Wells Yesterday, Brady’s blood counts continued to diminish. He is extremely neutropenic and I never thought I’d be saying I couldn’t be happier. You see, the very first step in Brady recovery must be the destruction of all his bone marrow blood cells. The chemo must kill all his red, white and… [Read More]
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06/10/2010 by Michael Wells A very short update; Brady’s ANC is 418 which means he is now neutropenic and hopefully his is a good sign the chemo is beginning to work. He’s sleeping now and every once and awhile calls out in his sleep; “MaMa” it’s really very touching. Finally and most importantly; please keep… [Read More]
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06/09/2010 by Michael Wells 9:45am – Brady managed to get through the night without any major complications. He received both the Clofarabine and the Cytarabine chemo drugs. He is resting and I think he will be sleeping a good portion of the day. For the intellectuals the following are brief summaries of the 2 principal… [Read More]
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06/08/2010 by Michael Wells Oh what a day! After 3 different chemo protocols were presented to us, Brady medical team has decided on the following drugs: Clofarabine and Cytarabine. Brady has been given the Cytarabine before but the Clofarabine is new to him and is some real nasty stuff. Brady will be receiving his Chemo… [Read More]
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06/07/2010 by Michael Wells Sunday was a much better day than Saturday. Brady had his personality back and was doing fairly well most of the day. His temperature was in the “normal” range and he did not require any additional IVs. All was going well until 7:00pm then his temperature once again spiked to 103.5˚… [Read More]
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06/05/2010 by Michael Wells It’s after 2:00am and what a surprise, I can’t sleep. Brady’s temperature just hit 103.4° and I just gave him some Tylenol. It’s extremely difficult to stay off what my sister Kathy calls, “the pity potty” as all I can think of is: WHY? We had 72 days of Brady in… [Read More]
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06/04/2010 by Michael Wells Hospitals are strange and sad places in the middle of the night. Brady continues to spike temperatures (102.4°) followed by Tylenol and a few hours of comfort. His medical team still has no idea of what is causing these temps but until he is no longer febrile he is staying in… [Read More]
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06/03/2010 by Michael Wells I just arrived at the hospital, worked late tonight and finally got here. Brady is fussing a bit; damn temperature keeps bouncing around like a basketball. He’s trying to get to sleep but it’s apparent he’s a little uncomfortable. I sent Sherrie home for the night; she really needs to get… [Read More]
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06/01/2010 by Michael Wells I just got home from the hospital and unfortunately not much has changed. Brady continues to spike temperatures and continues to recover quickly once given some Tylenol. Still no cause for the temperatures as blood work testing continues. He will be in the hospital tomorrow and most likely for another night…. [Read More]
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05/31/2010 by Sherrie Wells Memorial Day and memories of this day we will have. After 72 days since his transplant, Brady is back in the hospital (Robert Wood Johnson Bristol Myers Squibb’s Children Hospital) fighting a low grade temperature. It started out as a “normal” day, we were puttering around the house doing some landscaping… [Read More]
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05/30/2010 by Sherrie Wells We awoke this beautiful morning to some very sad news from Tracey Levine: On Saturday, May 30th at 3:10am our beloved son and brother, Mark Eric Levine took his last breaths in our loving arms. He is our angel now and will be forever with us. We love you Mark forever… [Read More]
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05/29/2010 by Michael Wells Today’s journal entry is dedicated to “Mark the Shark” and his family as now, more than ever, this family needs strength. Mark’s mom is asking for prayers this morning. she writes… Last night I heard Mark whisper in my ear, “I can’t breathe Mommy”. Through the night his breathing became more… [Read More]
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05/25/2010 by Sherrie Wells Well, I have some news. I’m told it’s not bad or good, we just need to change things up a bit. Brady’s engraftment percentage was at 98% two weeks ago. They were hoping for the same or higher last week. Well, it went down to 96%. I immediately started to panic… [Read More]
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05/18/2010 by Michael Wells We had another wonderful visit to CHOP’s day hospital today. My “oh, so proud” moment was when the nurse told Brady that she had to give him a needle in his hand. He held up his hand, looked at her, and said “boo-boo”. She confirmed that he would have a boo-boo…. [Read More]
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05/12/2010 by Michael Wells We have some wonderful news to share and some not so wonderful. First the good news and then we’ll move on to the other stuff. Brady is doing incredibly well. Yesterday, he had his weekly check-up at CHOP and didn’t even let out a peep when he was given an IV… [Read More]
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05/07/2010 by Michael Wells Just some GREAT news today! Brady’s has 98% of my stem cells running around his little body. His medical team would have been extremely pleased with 96% so they are just ecstatic over the tremendous results of Brady’s peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Needless to say so are Sherrie and I!… [Read More]
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04/30/2010 by Michael Wells Yesterday Brady was at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to have his broviac catheter removed and to have a bone marrow aspiration performed. A bone marrow aspiration is removes a small amount of bone marrow fluid and cells through a needle put into the hip. This procedure is much less invasive… [Read More]
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04/22/2010 by Michael Wells First and most importantly; Brady is doing incredibly well. He’s been improving each and every day. His medical team is extremely pleased with his progress and it appears things are going in the right direction. Sherrie and I could not be happier! It’s just beyond my ability to write the correct… [Read More]
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04/15/2010 by Michael Wells It has been a while since I last posted an entry in Brady’s journal. Needless to say, Brady is doing just incredibly well. He is just about back to his “normal” self. Since arriving at home also 2 weeks ago, Brady has developed an unbelievable appetite; he seems to be constantly… [Read More]
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04/10/2010 by Michael Wells It’s so nice to be home! First a super thank you to our neighbors Debbie & Dan for the wonderful surprise at our door and the incredibly delicious dinner. It was yummy! Well, other than Brady getting re-adjusted with his home, life is just excellent. We went for a walk, we… [Read More]
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04/09/2010 by Michael Wells Welcome Home Brady What a wonderful slogan to type. We will be leaving Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia sometime around noon. Grandpa and I will be traveling down to Philly to meet the “ladies” and bring our baby home. Brady is in wonderful spirits. His health is improving every day and he… [Read More]
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04/07/2010 by Michael Wells A very simple up-date as my main computer is in the shop (virus) and I am using a 10 year old lap top and it’s very slow. Brady’s condition simply stated is: 2820 ANC This is just great news and we are still set to go home on Friday. Sherrie and… [Read More]
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04/06/2010 by Michael Wells A very short update, my computer crashed and I’m using a very old backup. Brady had a GREAT day and actually went for a walk outside with Mom & Grandma. Everything is still a go for Friday and I can hardly wait for the day to arrive. Thanks for all your… [Read More]
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04/05/2010 by Michael Wells Easter Sunday was a wonderful day. Other than a couple of vomiting episodes, Brady has no fever, his rash is gone and he is on the mend. I did however make one very big mistake regarding his absolute neutrophil count (ANC). The number I reported was 278 when in fact the… [Read More]
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04/04/2010 by Michael Wells Happy Easter Indeed a very Happy Easter to all! Brady slept through the night and does not have a fever, and his rash is all but gone! I will let you know how “things” develop during the day but right now it’s just about perfect. Thank you will never be sufficient… [Read More]
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04/03/2010 by Michael Wells Brady slept through the night and woke up around 9:00am. He’s in great spirits and with the exception of a little swelling and of course a temperature (100.4°) life is pretty good. Brady’s counts look pretty good as well: his ANC is a little lower than yesterday 156 versus 176 but… [Read More]
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04/02/2010 by Michael Wells Wow! What a day; it turned out to be a good day in fact, a very Good Friday!!! Brady started his day with a negative reaction to all the morphine he’s been receiving; not a pleasant thing to experience. He basically started to “cold turkey” and all I can say is;… [Read More]
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04/01/2010 by Michael Wells A very short entry tonight; Brady is doing just a little better than yesterday but this is nothing to shout about. The only “good news” is Brady does not have slapped face syndrome. But the bad part of that news is the doctors still are not exactly sure what is causing… [Read More]
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03/31/2010 by Michael Wells Another day and yet another diagnosis, today’s disease: Slapped Cheek or Fifth disease. The CDC defines fifth disease as “a mild rash illness that occurs most commonly in children. The ill child typically has a “slapped-cheek” rash on the face and a lacy red rash on the trunk and limbs. Occasionally,… [Read More]
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03/30/2010 by Michael Wells I left the hospital on Sunday evening with what I thought was a sick baby, I returned Tuesday evening to discover I really didn’t understand exactly what being sick really was. Brady has developed engraftment syndrome (ES). ES is a toxicity of an autologous stem cell transplantation which occurs unexpectedly and… [Read More]
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03/29/2010 by Michael Wells Day +9 was another rough day for our baby. Brady continued to spike temperatures, had excessive bleeding (nose & gums) and he vomited everything he consumed. His blood counts continued to be low and so he had another platelet transfusion followed by a transfusion of red blood. He also had Lasix… [Read More]
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03/27/2010 by Michael Wells It’s Saturday morning (early) in the “Man-Cave” and thanks to all of your actions Brady is sleeping like the beautiful baby he is. The Rituximab drug was administered yesterday and other than a vomiting episode last night Brady is doing as well as can be expected. I think his vomiting was… [Read More]
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03/25/2010 by Michael Wells I got to the hospital late last evening and managed to have a very nice “off-campus” adult conference with Sherrie at a very nice Mexican restaurant. This was made possible by Sherrie’s parents who stayed with Brady as we pondered the pleasure of nectars of the Agave plant. While we were… [Read More]
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03/23/2010 by Michael Wells Several people have asked Sherrie and me when will we know the results of Brady’s transplant. We hope to see positive results (his body making white blood cells) within the next 2-3 weeks. But this is just the beginning of a rather long and treacherous journey which Brady has just begun…. [Read More]
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03/22/2010 by Michael Wells This is an email I just received from Sherrie and I think is worthwhile sharing: Well, where to begin. Last night Brady kept waking up and crying out in pain. By the time I got out of bed and put the crib rail down he managed to fall asleep again. This… [Read More]
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03/21/2010 by Michael Wells It’s early Sunday morning and I’m having trouble trying to find something interesting to write about. This is a rather beautiful feeling and one I pray will last for a very long time. I know that the first few days after a peripheral blood stem cell transplant (BSCT) the doctor call… [Read More]
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03/19/2010 by Michael Wells Brady slept most of the day away. He’s in absolutely great spirits. It’s 8 o’clock and still we wait for the good Doctor Bunin to arrive with Brady’s stem cells. Grandma just informed me that Dr. Bunin is right outside our room and things should get underway within minutes. As anticlimactic… [Read More]
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03/18/2010 by Michael Wells There are relatively few days in a person’s life that are indelibly marked in the essence of one’s soul; today was one of those for me. I was blessed to be placed in a position to help my son win his battle against cancer. This situation was created by “Mother Nature”… [Read More]
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03/17/2010 by Michael Wells What a day! Where do I begin? Well, Brady is doing wonderfully well; little vomiting and his Foley catheter was removed. He’s napping now and from the little I’ve seen him appears to be in great shape. My day on the other hand; celebrated Murphy’s Law as opposed to St. Patrick…. [Read More]
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03/16/2010 by Michael Wells I am told one the side effects of the drug I am taking is irritability therefore I have an excuse not to be in a very good mood. I wrote the following entry late last night after speaking with my bride, I hope you will understand my intensity. This latest round… [Read More]
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03/15/2010 by Michael Wells What a day! Every once and awhile life sort of throws a few nasty curveballs at you and this weekend we saw more than our fair share. The conditioning chemotherapy is doing exactly what’s it’s supposed to and we have a rather sick baby on our hands. Brady actually had a… [Read More]
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03/13/2010 by Sherrie Wells Sherrie’s quick note (as life at CHOP is very busy!) Okay, so the baby was sleeping soundly this afternoon when all of a sudden the world seemed to explode all at once. Let me explain. Brady had simultaneous diarrhea and severe vomiting. We immediately called the nurse and got him into… [Read More]
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03/12/2010 by Michael Wells It’s a rainy night in Jersey, I’m sitting home alone doing laundry and bored to tears. I’m not in Philadelphia as tomorrow a visiting nurse is coming to our home to teach me how to give myself injections of Neupogen. This drug is designed to stimulate the blood system (bone marrow)… [Read More]
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03/11/2010 by Michael Wells I got home Thursday morning around 7:00am from CHOP and decided I should check the mail before I took a shower and headed off to work. There is a local newspaper the Community Tribune which is mailed to all the homes in South Brunswick and which I usually toss immediately in… [Read More]
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03/10/2010 by Michael Wells 11:00pm and Brady is sound asleep. He is now completing day -8 and is half way through the Busulfan phase of conditioning chemo. Starting Saturday he get 2 days of Thiotepa which is a nasty chemo drug and will most likely cause what little hair Brady has to fall out. So… [Read More]
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03/09/2010 by Michael Wells Wow! I just sat down to write an entry into Brady’s Journal and the number of visits to his site is 10,002. Just unbelievable and extremely humbling. Our thanks to everyone who is following Brady’s fight and I assure you his ultimate victory over this disease. Not too much to report… [Read More]
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03/08/2010 by Michael Wells Well we’re at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Brady is once again hooked up to an IV pump and once again starting to receive all sorts of medications. Tonight it’s Dilantin, followed by Busulfan every 6 hours for the next 4 days. This is also combined with various prophylactic antibiotics… [Read More]
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03/07/2010 by Michael Wells Well as we head into our last day home I am ever so thankful for such a wonderful time we had together as a family. We have been home almost 4 weeks and in that time have managed to see our neighbors, some friends and family. Yesterday, we drove to Connecticut… [Read More]
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03/05/2010 by Michael Wells Our “Typical” Day… Michael and Brady are up at the crack of dawn. They start a pot of coffee and get the table ready for breakfast (Brady gets the filter and puts it in). Around 6am Brady will come and get me up to join them, he’s very persuasive when he… [Read More]
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03/04/2010 by Michael Wells Brady’s visit to the clinic on Tuesday was totally uneventful. He is doing exceptionally well and everything is set for Monday at CHOP. We have 4 more days at home to enjoy our son and then the very serious phase of his treatment will get underway. He will begin the conditioning… [Read More]
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03/02/2010 by Michael Wells Well, we have spent our last Monday evening home for the next couple of months. Brady is just doing incredibly well. Today he is off to the clinic for his weekly check-up and we are expecting nothing but outstanding results. Sherrie and I have done our due-diligence. Brady will be going… [Read More]
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03/01/2010 by Michael Wells Another Great week end and one more to go! Brady is doing extremely well and it hurts to think we have to start the craziness all over again next Monday. This weekend we had to run (and I do mean run) into the mall to get Brady a couple of… [Read More]
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02/26/2010 by Michael Wells Well, where to begin? Brady had his CAT scan and it appears the infection in his right lung is on the mend. The plan as of this minute is to have him admitted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) on March 8th to begin the peripheral blood stem cell transplantation process… [Read More]
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02/25/2010 by Michael Wells A quick update on this rainy, snowy Thursday morning; Brady just completed his CAT scan and he is recouping from the anesthesia at the outpatient clinic. Everything went well and he will be home within the couple of hours. Sherrie was told we will have the results of his scan by… [Read More]
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02/24/2010 by Michael Wells Brady’s day at the clinic was totally uneventfully – “Thank God.” His complete blood count (CBC) had normal results and there was no need for any transfusions of platelets or whole blood. In fact, he was sleeping when Dr. Drachtman got to his room to examine him and Sherrie and the… [Read More]
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02/23/2010 by Michael Wells Good morning and my apologies for not writing a journal update yesterday; worked late and when I finally got home Brady wanted my total and undivided attention. Life is pretty darn good! Brady is doing beyond remarkably well; he has had no temperatures, and is just in the greatest spirits. He… [Read More]
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02/22/2010 by Michael Wells A truly wonderful week end; the blood drive was truly successful event with more than 75 people showing up to donate. The two blood drives generated more than 130 pints of blood – thank you Michelle and Marc for all your hard work putting both drives together. Also, we thank everyone… [Read More]
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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… [Read More]
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02/19/2010 by Michael Wells I got home after 8:00pm last night (website development meeting) and much to my surprise Brady was asleep and is still sleeping. He is doing so well I just hate the idea of having to start all the craziness of “conditioning” chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation process. He is such a… [Read More]
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02/18/2010 by Michael Wells Thursday morning and really nothing to report regarding Brady’s health other than he is doing wonderfully well. It’s beyond my wildest imagination how great it is to have our baby back home and acting like a 17 month toddler. I will keep you posted on any developments but right now our… [Read More]
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02/16/2010 by Michael Wells Another uneventful day for Brady is just about as much of a blessing as anyone can ask for. Sherrie took Brady for a check up today and here’s the latest schedule for him. He will continue his IV antibiotics for the next 3 days and next week on February 25 have… [Read More]
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02/15/2010 by Michael Wells Monday evening and I must say we just had the best week end in several months. It’s wonderful to have our son home and as the photo shows he seems to be really enjoying himself. Nothing to report which is just about as great as it can get. February 25th is… [Read More]
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02/14/2010 by Michael Wells Saturday was another simply wonderful day. We (Sherrie, me and Brady) went for 2 very nice long walks. Brady perched upon my back in his knapsack, bundled for the rather chilly temperatures and on both occasions fell fast asleep. I guess he too is enjoying being home. Early in the afternoon,… [Read More]
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02/13/2010 by Michael Wells Another wonderful day with Brady at home and news from Dr. Drachtman that leaves very little else to say: Blast Count 4% Cancer is in Remission Just incredible news and I really have nothing to add this miracle. Thank you one and all for your continued support. Your prayers, hugs and… [Read More]
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02/12/2010 by Michael Wells I got home late last night (around 8:00 pm) to find my “normal” happy baby sitting in his Mommy lap having a bottle. It is just amazing how incredible the little things in life have taken on such significant importance to us. Brady is home and it is just an out… [Read More]
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02/11/2010 by Michael Wells Thursday morning and the first in more than 40 days since we were all home at one time. That’s right; yesterday during one of the worst snowstorms in the past several years Brady was released from the hospital and we went home. We arrived late yesterday afternoon in the height of… [Read More]
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02/09/2010 by Sherrie Wells Sherrie’s early morning journal entry… As I lay awake I can’t think of anything but Brady, his beautiful laugh and wonderful sense of humor, the lives he’s touched, this horrifying cancer, etc. I am so anxious about today’s blast count that I just wish it was 6pm, not 4am, and that… [Read More]
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02/08/2010 by Michael Wells Monday evening and it’s pretty difficult to think about anything else except tomorrow’s bone marrow biopsy. I’m going to work tomorrow as I really don’t know what good I would be hanging around and driving everyone crazy. We won’t get any definitive results back from pathology until after 5:00pm and so,… [Read More]
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02/07/2010 by Michael Wells Sunday morning and life in the “Man Cave” is just about as sane and serene as it can get. I am listening to Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Noah Jones (Pandora web radio) and I guess it has a way of mellowing out even the most stoic of sadists. This morning… [Read More]
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02/05/2010 by Michael Wells Our visit to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, (CHOP) went extremely well. Brady rode in an ambulance with Sherrie and Grandma & Grandpa rode with me. We arrived early and I must say the entire pretesting for us went smoothly. Here’s the latest schedule of events; 1. Tuesday, Feb 9th 9:00am… [Read More]
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02/04/2010 by Michael Wells It’s early Thursday morning and I am (and have been since 3:00am) awake. I was lying in bed thinking about what is going to be taking place in the next few weeks and it’s just about overwhelming. I spoke with Dr. Weiss last evening and he told me most likely CHOP… [Read More]
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02/03/2010 by Michael Wells Sherrie is home for the evening and I have the “watch” for tonight. It was a rather uneventful day which is very good. Brady’s blood count has him no longer neutropenic as his absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is above 500 and this is very good. However, his doctor wants to wait… [Read More]
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02/02/2010 by Michael Wells What an exciting day! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow; 6 more weeks of winter which should make everyone happy. And by the way; Brady and I have compatible HLA genes! Phil has seen his shadow 99 out of 114 times. The chances of him seeing his shadow are just a little… [Read More]
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02/01/2010 by Michael Wells I am heading into NYC and must be on my way. Brady is doing quite well. He had an excellent Sunday with no temperatures. In fact, he slept until 10:00am and even took a nap in the afternoon. His blood counts are improving every day and yesterday he did not have… [Read More]
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01/30/2010 by Michael Wells A quick update on Brady’s condition; he is continuing to spike temperatures with the latest at 4:15am hitting 102.3˚. Sherrie just phoned me to tell me about the on-call Resident who was going to start treating Brady for a fungal infection as supposedly he was instructed to do. This very potent… [Read More]
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01/29/2010 by Michael Wells Brady’s health continues to mirror yesterday; he is still febrile and has a morphine drip line to help ease his apparent discomfort. His blood counts were slightly improved and are headed in the right direction. I arrived at the hospital around 8:00pm and he was very excited to see me. At… [Read More]
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01/28/2010 by Michael Wells Good morning or late night or whatever… I’m up and I have been for the past 3 hours or so. We had technical problems with Brady IV pumps; they kept occluding. And every time the IV lines are blocks the pumps start a ringing sound that at 3:00am resembles the horn… [Read More]
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01/27/2010 by Michael Wells It’s Wednesday night and I have the “watch.” Today other than an Electrocardiogram was a rather an uneventful day in the continuing saga of Brady’s war with cancer. While, he still is somewhat febrile, battling nausea and diarrhea he continues to be in good spirits; courtesy of his morphine drip line…. [Read More]
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01/26/2010 by Michael Wells Goodmorning to all of Brady’s friend’s & family, It is 11:30am and Brady just nodded off to sleep. He has been getting a constant morphine drip for generalized pain as well as tylenol throughout the night to keep his fevers under control (less than 103°). He was in pain this morning… [Read More]
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01/25/2010 by Michael Wells Normally, if someone were to ask me about a dreary, cold, rainy Monday I would tell you it’s a typical blue Monday, but not today. We have some good news and some great news. First the good news: Brady, or should I say Sherrie and I have finally learned to understand… [Read More]
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01/24/2010 by Michael Wells A quick entry to bring you up to date on how Brady is doing – Brady was fast a sleep by 7:00pm and wide awake at 3:00am. He woke up with some apparent pain and he was given a little Tylenol with codeine and now he is sitting in his crib… [Read More]
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01/23/2010 by Michael Wells I’m listening to Led Zeppelin (headphones), Brady napping, and Sherrie’s on her way home for some much needed and overdue rest. And right at this moment life is pretty good! While Brady is still febrile with sporadic vomiting he seems to be holding steady around 102°. His other vitals are fine… [Read More]
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01/22/2010 by Michael Wells I arrived at the hospital a little after 8:00pm tonight to find Brady running a temperature (100.8°) and having vomited twice already. Yet, this astonishing toddler was still in relatively great spirits. We had a very light dinner consisting of cookies and jell-o. After dinner because he was not up to… [Read More]
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01/20/2010 by Michael Wells Wednesday night and I have the “watch.” I think there must be a few nurses and/or staff members reading Brady’s journal as everyone has made an extra effort to point out the fact (to me) they were washing their hands. All I can say is; “thank you.” Tonight Brady had his… [Read More]
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01/17/2010 by Michael Wells Early Sunday morning or late Saturday night whichever works best for you? I had the distinct pleasure of spending most of Saturday alone with Brady. Sherrie spent Friday night at home and took care of several personal items on Saturday. I was with my son from the time he woke up… [Read More]
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01/15/2010 by Michael Wells It’s just about 9:00pm, Sherrie is home, Brady is trying to sleep and I have the “watch.” Today was another wonderful day in paradise. Brady has surgery today at 1:30pm and I cannot begin to tell just how upsetting this mid-day surgery scheduling is for a toddler. I am absolutely not… [Read More]
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01/14/2010 by Michael Wells Last night was an uneventful night with a few exceptions. For the past several days Brady has either prematurely entered the “terrible two’s” or has had it with living in his cage of a crib in a hospital. I am not sure if either of these reasons are accurate but WOW… [Read More]
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01/12/2010 by Michael Wells Monday Morning Finally my beautiful son is asleep and it’s 6:00am. It was a night for the record books. Brady didn’t nod-off until 11:00pm and no sooner would Brady be snoozing when the door to our room would open and it was either Aaron his med tech wanting to take his… [Read More]
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01/10/2010 by Michael Wells I was speaking with Dr. Pan one of the members of Dr. Drachtman’s group and while it is far from the time to “throw the towel in” it’s getting to the time in the game when the outcome is seriously in question. This disease has no conscience it has no soul… [Read More]
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01/09/2010 by Michael Wells Well, it’s Saturday afternoon and I am listening to my favorite internet radio station – Pandora. It’s really cool and I have my number 1 son Stephen to thank for turning me onto it. Speaking of my son Stephen; Sherrie, Brady and me wishing you a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Love ya… [Read More]
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01/08/2010 by Michael Wells Brady received his intrathecal chemotherapy today and came through the entire process in excellent condition. He was amnestied and everything went well. I have the “watch” tonight and it should be fun as Brady slept through most of the day. I think I might get some sleep around 3:00am if I’m… [Read More]
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01/07/2010 by Michael Wells As Yogi Berra once said; “it feels like déjà vu all over again.” And so it goes; Brady is hooked up to his IV pumps and is currently receiving his first dose of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy protocol will be as follows: Cytarabine every 12 hours next 4 days and then beginning… [Read More]
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01/05/2010 by Michael Wells A very short journal entry as we are off to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to meet with Dr. Nancy Bunin for a preliminary bone marrow transplantation physical examination. We are hoping Dr. Bunin can give us some words of encouragement regarding Brady’s condition. I will let you know the outcome… [Read More]
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01/03/2010 by Michael Wells Sunday morning soon to be the afternoon on a frigidly cold and windy gray January day; I just finished picking “things” up as both Brady and Sherrie are napping. Brady has had a bit of a rough time sleeping in his crib since coming home so last night he and I… [Read More]
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01/02/2010 by Michael Wells On New Year’s Eve I could not sleep and so I decided to do some research regarding Brady’s next round of chemotherapy. In my efforts to better understand the drug protocol I came across an article in Journal of Clinical Oncology on Mitoxantrone and Cytarabine Induction, High-Dose Cytarabine, and Etoposide Intensification… [Read More]
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12/31/2009 by Michael Wells Happy New Year Wow, what a year and where in the world did it go? Sherrie and I will always remember 2009 as the year Brady was diagnosed with leukemia. As we wrap-up this year we have some excellent news to share; we have our son home with us for an… [Read More]
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12/30/2009 by Michael Wells Today was a day of good news and no news. The good news is Brady had his bone marrow biopsy performed and all went as planned. The no news is we still have no results regarding the pathology of the bone marrow. This is of course extremely frustrating and has me… [Read More]
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12/29/2009 by Michael Wells Tomorrow at 9:00am Brady will have another bone marrow biopsy performed. He will be anesthetized for this procedure and we should have the preliminary results by mid-day. The outcome will not greatly change our course of action but can give us a huge sense of hope if the cancer is in… [Read More]
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12/28/2009 by Michael Wells Sunday night started out rather interesting but ended quite well. Sherrie went home for the night and I had the “watch.” It’s amusing that the oddest events seem to occur when I’m alone with Brady. Anyway, Brady was napping for about an hour and woke up around 7:30pm and as I… [Read More]
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12/27/2009 by Michael Wells Yesterday was an exciting day as we were able to have Brady unhooked from all IV pumps for about 3 hours. While we still could not leave the room, we did play on our bed and soon all 3 of us were sound asleep. We slept over 2 hours and then… [Read More]
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12/26/2009 by Michael Wells How can a dark, dreary, cold, and rainy, December morning somehow be peaceful and serene? It’s very simple; have your very sick baby sleep through the night. Brady settled down around 10pm and has stayed that way all night. Sherrie and I had a lovely night’s sleep on the “rack” which… [Read More]
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12/25/2009 by Michael Wells Merry Christmas to All… Our Christmas Holiday although a bit cramped was simply wonderful. We had a delightful dinner with a couple of martinis to add a rather festive glow to our accommodations. Brady is still battling the RSV bug but in spite of a nasty cough is doing OK all… [Read More]
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12/24/2009 by Michael Wells Brady’s blood cultures finally came back from the lab and he has been officially diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Here’s what the American Lung Association has to say about it: RSV is a very contagious virus and the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the… [Read More]
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12/23/2009 by Michael Wells Brady is breathing much better and still has a normal temperature. So, it was a pretty good day! It amazes me how the very little things such as breathing well with a normal temperature have become so overwhelmingly critical to Sherrie and me. Other than the daily vomiting episodes (once again… [Read More]
Hugs for Brady partners with New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital to provide sedation-free MRIs
Hugs for Brady partners with New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital to provide sedation-free MRIs to our youngest patients. The use of MRIs as a diagnostic and follow-up tool in children is prevalent; however, to ensure an accurate scan sedation or general anesthesia is typically used to obtain motion-free imaging. There are risks associated with… [Read More]
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12/22/2009 by Michael Wells It’s been a very rough day for Sherrie and Brady; Brady is in isolation. This means he cannot leave his room and everyone (with the exception of his parents) must wear protective clothing consisting of surgical garb, mask and gloves before entering his room. We don’t know why he is coughing… [Read More]
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12/21/2009 by Michael Wells A new day, a new week and for some a new life. One of Brady’s newest friends Lilly went home yesterday; it was her final day fighting the beast of cancer. I don’t know exactly what type of cancer she had but that’s really not relevant what is significant is this… [Read More]
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12/20/2009 by Michael Wells Weird thoughts at 2:00am Funny how a snow storm effects people; super markets are busy with people stocking up on bread, milk and eggs. I wonder where and why that started. My wonderful Mother-in-law (Janice) gets a little panicky and really doesn’t like to drive in “it”, even though she drives… [Read More]
New Jersey Legislature Honors Hugs for Brady
New Jersey Legislature Honors Hugs for Brady by proclaiming December 7, 2017 Hugs for Brady Foundation Day! “. . . this Legislature hereby honors the Hugs for Brady Foundation, pays tribute to its meritorious history of service, leadership, and commitment, and extends sincere best wishes for its continued success and vigor . . .” Twenty… [Read More]
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12/18/2009 by Michael Wells Brady is doing just wonderful! With the exception of daily vomiting and extreme diarrhea he is going through this round of chemotherapy so much better than the first round. I think the main reason for the improvement is directly related to the fact that during the first round he also had… [Read More]
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12/17/2009 by Michael Wells Other than vomiting Brady is doing incredibly well. Everything is going in the right direction and I am confident will continue that way. I am going to make this a short entry as I am on my way to NYC for a day of sales calls. Sherrie is working very hard… [Read More]
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12/15/2009 by Sherrie Wells Sherrie’s early morning arbitrary thoughts… Well, it’s 3:30 in the morning and I have been awake for an hour now. Brady had rolled over and the IV pump sounded. I tried to get to him in time to fix the kink but apparently I was too slow getting out of bed…. [Read More]
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12/14/2009 by Michael Wells Funny things Brady has done the past few days… Speed dialed Grandma Wells at 10:30 at night (funny for us at least, maybe not so funny for Grandma waking her from a sound sleep!)… Somersaults in his crib with no help from anyone… Using the hospital telephone he actually ordered a… [Read More]
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12/13/2009 by Michael Wells A rainy, cold, December day but in my heart it’s a bright, sunny, beautiful Sunday afternoon in May. Both Sherrie and Brady are fast asleep getting some of the much needed rest they both deserve. I just returned from my week-end meeting and I can’t begin to explain how happy it… [Read More]
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12/12/2009 by Michael Wells I just got home a few minutes ago and thought I would write a little about Brady condition and how he’s doing. Well, he’s beginning to react to the 11 days of chemotherapy. While he had a wonderful day it was interspersed with numerous rounds of vomiting. His temperature continues to… [Read More]
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12/11/2009 by Michael Wells It’s Friday night! Date night! Ever since Sherrie and I started dating Friday nights were (and still are) date nights. Our dates would run the gamut from fine dining and dancing to just going for a walk. But somehow, some way we (Sherrie really) made our Friday nights special. Tonight was… [Read More]
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12/10/2009 by Michael Wells I came home from the hospital a little early tonight around 8:00pm. I was tired and planned to get to bed early. However, once again I find myself in need of answers more than sleep. In my search for information on pediatric AML with inverted C16 chromosome; I found a rather… [Read More]
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12/09/2009 by Michael Wells It’s around 2:00am and I can’t sleep. Brady had a simply tremendous day. While he needed a blood transfusion his overall health is excellent and his temperature remains normal. The blood transfusions are getting to be a matter-of-factual event in his life which is something I don’t think 2 months ago… [Read More]
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12/07/2009 by Michael Wells Brady’s Christmas list… As I lay awake for hours I can’t help but think solely of my beautiful baby boy that is sleeping peacefully just a few feet away from me. Many people have asked what Brady would like for Christmas. We have come up with a wish list. 1. DONATE… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 54
12/06/2009 by Michael Wells Chemo is an interesting word. The dictionary defines it as: Chemo – a combining form with the meanings “chemical,” “chemically induced,” “chemistry,” used in formation of compound words: chemotherapy. All I know is after today I understand why the word chemo is combined with the word “therapy.” After today, I am… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 53
12/04/2009 by Michael Wells Well, today was a good day. Brady had so much energy! As far as the chemotherapy, so far, so good and with very little vomiting. We received a phone call from Dr. Bunin at CHOP telling us that finding a match should not be difficult. And, in reference to confirming RWJ… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 52
12/03/2009 by Michael Wells After yesterday’s rather deep and dark journal entry Sherrie and I need to share with everyone some really good news; Dr. Bunin from CHOP informed us today they have already sourced a perfect umbilical cord match for Brady. We were told the cord matched Brady in all of the 6 categories… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 51
12/02/2009 by Michael Wells Our visit to CHOP… Today Michael and I went to the CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) for a 2 hour consult with Dr. Bunin regarding a bone marrow transplant for Brady. Her recommendation is to continue with the second round of chemotherapy induction at BMSCH (Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital). While… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 50
12/01/2009 by Michael Wells I don’t know where to begin other than to say this has not been a good day. It has lived up to every thing Sherrie and I have been dreading for the past several weeks. Brady’s cancer is not in remission. The bone marrow biopsy results have blasts ranging between 5… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 49
11/30/2009 by Michael Wells Monday evening and we are concluding our week of freedom (so to speak). Brady is just about as normal as any 15 month old toddler can be; we had a great London broil dinner with ice cream cake as dessert. The cake was given to Brady by his daycare teacher –… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 48
11/29/2009 by Michael Wells As we end the holiday weekend several thoughts and people come to mind. Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful, and that we are. We were able to spend a nice, long, relaxing weekend with our baby at home. We had several wonderful surprises this weekend. First, I would like to… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 47
11/28/2009 by Michael Wells Wow! What a great week-end. Yesterday we went for our daily 2 mile walk which turned into a 4 mile walk as Brady decided he does not like mittens and took one off while on my back in his knapsack. Yes, we found the missing mitten and along the way ran… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 46
11/27/2009 by Michael Wells Brady has just a truly wonderful Thanksgiving at home. Although, he is still upset about the outcome of the Giants game all in all he had a great day. We started our day with a 3+ mile walk and later we were joined by Brady’s Grandma Jan and Grandpa Gary for… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 45
11/26/2009 by Michael Wells Good Thursday Morning… I started writing this Thanksgiving journal entry several days ago. Wondering just how I would or could thank the ever growing, ever so many incredible people who have made me and Sherrie humble and proud all at the same time. I am truly amazed how our son has… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 44
11/24/2009 by Sherrie Wells Sherrie’s very random thoughts at 3am… Good morning to all of Brady’s readers. Brady has been a ball full of energy since 2am. He’s quite content playing in his crib with his Elmo cell phone and his “sick” baby bunny that came with a thermometer. He bounces up and down as… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 43
11/23/2009 Another Curve Ball… Brady woke up with a 101 temperature and it spiked at 102 so no bone marrow biopsy and it looks like we will be spending Thanksgiving in the hospital. This disease just is not cooperating. I will write more later… Monday night and there is still some hope that we will… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 42
11/22/2009 by Michael Wells My watch and I can’t sleep the “window rack” is killing my back. The accommodations at The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Bristol Meyer Squibb Children’s Hospital are not designed for a 6’2” 216 lbs. guy. Or perhaps they really are designed with a purpose other than pain; maybe they’re designed… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 41
11/21/2009 by Michael Wells Saturday morning and Brady is about as bored as a 14 month old toddler can get. He has been in his room for more than 2 weeks and he has a bad case of cabin fever. I am working the doctors, nurses and anyone else to try and get him a… [Read More]
Meet M
Meet M, a courageous 11-year old fighting an illness no child should ever have to face. M was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma of the brain in 2015. She underwent surgical resection of her tumor, six weeks of radiation therapy, and approximately one year of chemotherapy. In early 2017, M’s parents discovered red bumps on her… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 40
11/20/2009 by Michael Wells A Roller Coaster Ride CBC results: white blood count – 2,000; platelet count – 101,000; neutrophils are also up but blasts are at 12% or so we thought. “I HATE THIS DISEASE.” Yesterday everything was pointed in the right direction and today another scare. You see, blasts going from 4% yesterday… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 39
11/19/2009 by Michael Wells Today is another day of positive progress. Brady’s blood counts continue to head in the right direction: White blood count 1.7, Platelets 56,000 and Neutrophils 170. The only downside is there are 4% blasts still hanging around but we hope they are on their way out and gone. Brady is slowly… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 38
11/18/2009 by Sherrie Wells Good afternoon to all of Brady’s readers… I am writing early this afternoon because Brady is playing happily in his crib now and I do not expect to get another opportunity today to write! Michael will not be to the hospital until late tonight as he needs to work. So, I… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 37
11/17/2009 by Michael Wells “Cautiously” Great News!!! I just had a lengthy conversation with Dr. Drachtman Brady’s lead doctor and here’s his quote; “I’d be amazed if Brady is not in full remission.” Now, this is by no means backed up by any scientific data but Dr. Drachtman is one of leading pediatric hematologist/oncologist in the… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 36
11/16/2009 by Sherrie Wells Hello to all of Brady’s readers, friends, and family. I hope you don’t mind me filling in again for Michael but it looks like he will be working late tonight. So let’s start at the beginning. This morning I had the drama of changing complete bed linens three times due to… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 35
11/15/2009 by Michael Wells I’m sitting here around 2:00am listening to Nora Jones on the web radio station Pandora and waiting, hoping for Brady to fall asleep. I’m listening with my headphones on one ear so I can listen for Brady with the other ear. My son Stephen turned me on to Pandora and it… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 34
11/14/2009 by Michael Wells …”But the one thing I am learning through this experience is nothing really is what you think it is”; I got a first hand example of this tonight. Everything was going so smoothly, we had finished dinner, we were eating Aunt Peg’s cinnamon nut rolls, (unbelievably good) Sherrie had gone home… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 33
11/13/2009 by Michael Wells I’m sitting in a Brady’s negative pressure hospital room and thinking what a strange name for a room located in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Ever since we entered the hospital it has been a far cry of “negative pressure.” I don’t think I could handle much more pressure in… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 32
11/12/2009 by Michael Wells It’s around 3:00am and I cannot wait until the day shift arrives. This nurse is just plain awful. She is the least attentive nurse I have experienced since coming to this hospital. Why she is working in PICU is beyond my reasoning power, in fact why she is a nurse is… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 31
11/11/2009 by Michael Wells I just spoke with Sherrie (who spent yet another night at the hospital) and she told me Brady once again is spiking temperatures. He was just given more Tylenol and hopefully this will bring his 102.4˚ temperature back in line. Brady also has red dots on his body which is now… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 30
11/10/2009 by Michael Wells So much continues to happen so quickly. Brady is resting comfortably and that in itself is almost remarkable Brady is not a fan of the PICU. Monday he has received platelets, blood and an assortment of drugs to control vomiting, bacteria, and perhaps rheumatoid arthritis – I would not be surprised!… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 29
11/09/2009 by Michael Wells The time is 1:45am Monday morning and oh what a night! Brady’s condition is not good. His breathing is once again erratic and his blood pressure is now of concern as it is lower than desired. This combined with the temperature spike and Brady got an official visit from the PICU… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 28
11/08/2009 by Michael Wells Today was a very rough day for Brady. In the past 20 hours Brady has projectile vomited 3 times and on each occasion he is apparently in more pain than ever. His team of doctors are telling us the same story; this is all to be expected. Expected or not it’s… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 27
11/07/2009 by Michael Wells It’s 4:21am and Brady is resting quietly. He is still hooked up to a bevy of equipment but his latest blood cluster came back negative for gram-positive cocci in chains (streptococci). This is good news because it means the antibiotics are working and the infection is under control. Hopefully he is… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 26
11/06/2009 by Michael Wells I started writing today’s journal entry on my business trip (train ride) to Washington DC. I wrote a bunch of stuff about how I am feeling and a bunch of stuff about what Sherrie and I are experiencing and how this whole “thing” is affecting us but I’ve decided not to… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 25
11/05/2009 by Michael Wells It’s early Thursday morning or late Wednesday night whichever you prefer. Brady my Baby Bear is finally sleeping. He having a bit of a rough time; his temp hit 102.4 and this got me a bit nervous. I came so close to yelling at the nurses to stop watching the blankety-blankety… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 24
11/04/2009 by Michael Wells Brady had a rough day. His white blood count is down to 0.7 and he developed a temperature. His temp hit 102.4 and he is on 3 different types of antibiotics. He’s trying to sleep now and hopefully he will keep his temp at the last reading of 99.0. Sherrie is… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 23
11/03/2009 by Michael Wells We finally have received Brady’s diagnosis. Brady has leukemia this we already knew. However, what we now know is Brady has neither Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia nor Acute Myelogenous Leukemia he has own unique Leukemia which is supposedly a combination of several of the sub-types of both ALL and AML. The doctors… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 22
11/02/2009 by Michael Wells Good evening to all our friends, family and fans of Brady. Today was a very good day for Brady; his temperature and blood pressure are running normal, his CBC is doing what it’s suppose to do; go down. His white blood count has dropped to 1.2 from 1.6 in 3 days… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 21
11/01/2009 by Michael Wells November 1st and I’m a year older, UCONN loses a heartbreaker to Rutgers, the New York Yankees are on their way to buying another World Series, and some how I really don’t care. Its ironic how in a single moment life as you know it can change? Now my daily box… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 20
10/31/2009 by Michael Wells My poor baby is being poked at once again: eye drops! He’s back sleeping and it’s just about as nice as it can be. I truly love this time of day; it’s so quiet, so calm, and so nice. It had to be a little more hectic a dyslexic 36 years… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 19
10/30/2009 by Michael Wells Friday night and so far all is relatively calm. This is our date night; for the past 4 years Sherrie and I made it a ritual to go out every Friday night even if it was just a walk around the neighborhood. In less than 3 weeks my how things have… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 18
10/29/2009 by Michael Wells Wow, what a day! Sherrie figuratively “hit the wall” and had to go home for some much needed rest. Hopefully, I can convince her to take the next couple of nights off as well. To add to the excitement, Brady decided he was a skydiver and needed to pull his ripcord…. [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 17
10/28/2009 by Michael Wells Brady’s MRI and PICC catheter insertion surgery went well. We don’t have the results from the MRI but we’re confident everything will be just fine. Brady is turning into a quite a hit with all the teenagers on the floor and one in particular (Jacklyn). She has been supplying him with… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 16
10/27/2009 by Michael Wells It’s raining cats and dogs my son is sleeping and today was a very good day. No MRI today rescheduled for tomorrow along with the replacement of his PICC catheter. I don’t have too much to write about today and I actually feel very good about that. I’m sitting here eating… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 15
10/26/2009 by Michael Wells Today is just about over and that’s about the best thing I can say about it. A tough one for both Sherrie and Brady; Brady’s next procedure will be an MRI to take a look at the possibility of tumors behind his eyes. I have been told this is for base-lining… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 13
10/24/2009 by Michael Wells Brady is enjoying his morning bottle of milk while lying in his crib with all of his friends. Woof-Woof the dog is sitting next to him protecting him from the numerous Nurse Ratchet’s of the world with their thermometers, blood pressure machines, eye drops and nasty tasting drugs. Last night was… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 12
10/23/2009 by Michael Wells Brady is back in the hospital and it feels like we never left. He has been diagnosed with ALL/AML with most likely his own sub-type but very close to AML sub-type M04. All of this means is he is a very sick baby with a very rare illness. He has (I… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 11
10/22/2009 by Michael Wells We had a truly wonderful evening! Brady, Sherrie and I went for a twilight walk on a beautiful Indian-summer day. Brady in his backpack with his red hat on calling out woof-woof at every dog he saw. We came home and gave Brady a bath in which he splashed and laughed…. [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 10
10/21/2009 by Michael Wells Brady got home tonight just in time for dinner. He had a very special dinner consisting on pizza and ice cream. He is sleep now and we are just so happy to have him home… “8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 9
10/20/2009 by Michael Wells Brady is trying and I do mean trying to sleep. It’s 4:00am and the Bear is having a tough time. The nurse just came into his room to draw blood. Another CBC (complete blood count) and to check his electrolytes; I’m not sure if he has any blood left to check…. [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 8
10/19/2009 by Michael Wells Today was Brady’s best day! His temperature continues to be normal and other than a blood transfusion he is in great spirits. He is currently in his crib having a good night bottle and making all sorts of wonderful noises. Sherrie is home tonight as she needs a good night sleep…. [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 7
10/18/2009 by Michael Wells Platelet count continues to be a nemesis with Brady’s fight. A nasty byproduct of low platelet count is severe bruising and Brady is not lacking in this department. He looks likes he’s gone 10 rounds with Muhammad Ali while being blind-sided by Lawrence Taylor. He has a horrible bruise under him… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 6
10/17/2009 by Michael Wells I have been up since 3:30 can’t sleep with all the people coming and going in and out of Brady’s room. Well it’s Saturday morning and I’m sitting in my son Brady’s hospital room after a lovely night of sleep on the rack. This is the time of day I love… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 5
10/16/2009 by Michael Wells Brady is sleeping and after 2 rounds of chemo appears to be headed in the right direction. His temperature has been under 100 for more than 24 hours and this is the first full day his temp is back to somewhat normal in over 2 weeks. I can only hope this… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 4
10/14/2009 by Michael Wells It’s been 2 days since my 13 month old son Brady Michael was diagnosed with Leukemia. Since the moment my wife and I were told our lives have been turned upside down and inside out. It’s taking all of my strength to stay focused, alert and clear headed. My son came… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 3
10/13/2009 by Michael Wells My personal thanks for the overwhelming outpouring of love and well wishes for our son Brady, it means more than I can possibly express. Brady has had a very stressful day receiving another lumbar puncture, another bone marrow biopsy, a picc catheter surgically inserted into his arm and his first regiment… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 2
10/12/2009 by Michael Wells We have some terrible news to share; our wonderful son Brady has been diagnosed with Leukemia. We don’t yet know the exact type of Leukemia but we do know it is treatable and most importantly can be completely cured 80-90% of the time. Brady is resting in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology section… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – 1
10/11/2009 by Michael Wells Things with Brady are going from bad to worst. His platelet count continues to drop and is now at 20,000 from yesterday count of 88,000. While we are still being told it’s most likely a virus they have scheduled a bone marrow biopsy for 7:00am tomorrow to rule out things that… [Read More]
8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer – Introduction
Dear Family and Friends, Did you ever ask yourself, does a journey really ever end? The word journey is used for many things; a trip, a path you’ve chosen to take in your life, a relationship. For me, journey is a bittersweet word that brings me both joyful memories, and painful reminders of a devastating… [Read More]
Hurricane Relief Donations
Team Up With HFB to Send Hurricane Relief
Thank you for your support! We are no longer accepting donations. In response to the massive flooding in Texas and Louisiana due to Hurricane Harvey, Hugs for Brady Foundation will be partnering with Hermann Services, who are donating two 53′ tractor trailers, to send donations to those in need. We need your help to… [Read More]
Helping Families Defray The Cost of Treatment
Meet our friend Luke. Luke is 13 years old and has been battling ALL since 2015. Like so many other families, Luke’s illness has been difficult not only physically and emotionally, but financially as well. Fortunately, Hugs for Brady has been able to step in and assist Luke and his family. Although it is so… [Read More]
Bob’s Discount Furniture’s “Random Act of Kindness”
The Hugs for Brady Foundation was the beneficiary of a “Random Act of Kindness,” an outreach program from Bob’s Discount Furniture whose mission is to help as many non-profit organizations in the community as possible. Our founder, Sherrie, picked up the $1000 check at the newly opened Monmouth Junction, NJ location. I was deeply touched… [Read More]
Free Somerset Patriots Tickets for Onco Families and Volunteers!
Are you part of an oncology patient’s family and/or a Hugs for Brady volunteer who loves baseball? We’d like to say “thank for your support” by giving away tickets for ‘Hugs for Brady Day’ at the Somerset Patriots baseball game on Saturday, June 24. We have a limited number of tickets available on a first… [Read More]
Hugs for Brady Donates 10 Sony PlayStations to BMSCH
Thanks to donations made by the generous attendees of this year’s winter gala we were able to donate ten Sony PlayStations to the oncology rooms at the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Children’s Hospital. The PlayStations have been installed and they are already a big hit with the children currently in treatment at the hospital. This is so… [Read More]
2017 AFP Philanthropy Awards
Excellence in Philanthropy Awards
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (New Jersey Chapter) held their Excellence in Philanthropy Awards on May 4, 2017. The awards recognized the achievements of some of the most notable citizens and organizations in the state who have dedicated their efforts toward making New Jersey a better place to live. The Hugs for Brady Foundation was… [Read More]
HFB Is Adding Two New Board Trustees
Please help us in welcoming two trustees to our board. Heather Lovell Heather will be taking over for Kevin Lovell who will be stepping down. Heather has been involved in various charitable organizations over the last 20 years. During this time, Heather has managed and helped raise thousands of dollars for many central NJ hospitals. Heather was… [Read More]
Oh my G.O.S.H. – Hugs for Brady goes Across the Pond!
At the beginning of September, the Hugs for Brady Foundation went international and visited the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, England. While on vacation with her family, Sherrie took time to visit with this incredible pediatric hospital to learn about a ground-breaking new treatment (photo above is of Sherrie with Dr. Owen Williams, Reader in Cancer… [Read More]
Patient AirLift Services volunteers pilots for KIDS battling cancer
Hugs for Brady in coordination with Patient AirLift Services volunteers pilots for KIDS battling cancer! If you are a Hugs for Brady child in need of transportation, Patient AirLift Services (PALS) can arrange FREE air transportation throughout the Northeast U.S. for medical diagnosis, treatment or follow-up for kids diagnosed with cancer. They can also arrange compassion… [Read More]
Where in the World is Hermann?
It’s contest time at Hugs for Brady! Here is how you can participate in our scavenger hunt, “WHERE IN THE WORLD IS HERMANN?” Whenever you see the Hugs for Brady Hermann Truck around town… Take a photo of it (please don’t use your phone while driving). Post it to Facebook. Include the hashtag #WhereIsHermann. You will… [Read More]
2016 Kickball for Grown-Ups!
Assemble your squad and join us for the 4th Annual Hugs for Brady Double-Elimination Kickball Tournament! Date: Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 8am Rain Date: September 25, 2016 at 8am Location: Woodlot Park ~ 124 New Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 HURRY! Registrations must be in by 9/20/16 Questions? Please Contact: Rich Domotor Call: 732-322-4162 Email: Queball81@aol.com Entry Fee: $… [Read More]
Golf and Margaritas ~ On the Border Golf Outing
On the Border Golf Outing… Amateurs Welcome! Tuesday, September 27, 2016 The Meadows at Middlesex Golf Course Join us for a great day of golf, contests, prizes, and fun at The Meadows at Middlesex Golf Course in Plainsboro, NJ. This event is hosted by On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and 100% of proceeds benefit the Hugs for Brady Foundation! We… [Read More]
My story is about a baby named Brady…
At 13 months old, Brady was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. During his treatments, one of his many doctors visits was to an interventional radiologist. That doctor was my dad. My dad and Brady had a special bond because my dad was also undergoing cancer treatments. My dad knew all to well the… [Read More]
Pajamas and Toys Delivered to BMSCH
The phrase “it takes a village” is certainly apt when it comes to the multitude of volunteers and supporters who help bring cheer to patients at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Indeed, employees from Jersey Physical Therapy and local On the Border restaurants have been working to raise… [Read More]
Hugs for Brady Year End Highlights
The end of cancer as we know it is coming soon! Every dollar donated gets us closer to the day when childhood cancer will no longer take our loved ones. We would like to start of the new year by recapping all the AMAZING things that happened at the Hugs for Brady Foundation in 2015…… [Read More]
December Pajama Donation Drive
Pajama Donation Drive For Kids Battling Cancer at Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital Going on Now through December 23rd Jersey Physical Therapy has teamed up with the Hugs for Brady Foundation this 2015 holiday season to do a Pajama Donation Drive to benefit children battling cancer who are currently at the Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s… [Read More]
#GivingTuesday – Help Hugs for Brady Win the $25,000 Prize!
Be part of the COOLEST FUNDRAISER EVER! Hugs for Brady will be part of the CrowdRise Giving Tower on #GivingTuesday this year. The CrowdRise Giving Tower is a virtual tower made up of bricks, each of which represents a donation made to charity on #GivingTuesday, the biggest charitable giving day of the year. There’s going to be a… [Read More]
7 Ways You Can Brighten the Future of a Child with Pediatric Cancer
Right now, over 2,000 kids are battling cancer in New Jersey… We started the Hugs for Brady Foundation to help end pediatric cancer for good. Please help us to reach our 2015 goal! PLEASE DONATE TODAY Please consider donating now. Thank you for your generosity!
Brady Buggy® Wagon Generously Donated to NY-Presbyterian Hospital
As a former parochial school teacher for over 30 years, Marie SantaCroce has always had a special place in her heart for children. And that only grew after she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010 and treated at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital where her sister Joan was her stem cell donor. She was no longer able to teach, but wanted… [Read More]
#HuggingHeroes GIANT Group Hug
On October 10th, 2015, during halftime at the Rutgers Football game, we did a GIANT Group Hug on the football field to kick off “HUGGING HEROES” – a campaign to raise awareness for pediatric cancer! Click here to see more photos from this historic event! Over 50,000 Rutgers fans all joined together in a… [Read More]
A Truckload of New Toys for the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital
Happy Halloween! Candy rots your teeth, so instead, we donated TOYS to fill the entire Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Sherrie Wells was on a mission as she and several volunteers collected toys, sorted through them, and lovingly filled an entire truck to the brim. The doors literally had to be “bungeed” shut! Children get… [Read More]
This is why we do what we do…
These facts about childhood cancer are why we work tirelessly to find a cure and to improve the lives of the kids battling cancer today. Childhood cancer research is vastly and consistently underfunded. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the U.S. One in… [Read More]
October 10th – GIANT Group Hug at Halftime on the Rutgers Football Field
Be there to witness the start of something HUGE! On October 10th, 2015, during halftime at the 8pm Rutgers Football game, we are doing a GIANT Group Hug on the football field to kick off “HUGGING HEROES” – a campaign to raise awareness for pediatric cancer! Hugging Heroes is a multi-charity campaign designed to promote awareness for pediatric cancer… [Read More]
Let’s Spread Awareness This Fall
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and we need your help as we continue to make strides in the battle against pediatric cancer. When you see the suffering a child goes through in the pediatric oncology unit of a hospital, it isn’t a sight you will ever forget. To us, every child who is currently… [Read More]
Donations from a girl with a BIG Heart…
Vidisha, an amazing 14-year-old young lady from Monmouth Junction, New Jersey, has been doing great things with the Hugs for Brady Foundation! In the past, Vidisha has volunteered at the annual Twilight 5k and Kids Fun Run and has “loved the fun-filled environment!” Then, this past month, she surprised the Hugs for Brady Foundation by collecting several… [Read More]
Somerset Patriots GO BIG for the Hugs for Brady Foundation – Shocking announcement by CEO
This year’s Somerset Patriots 16th Annual Golf Classic ended with a BIG surprise! The 16th annual Liberty Division Somerset Patriots Golf Outing took place on Tuesday, August 4th at Somerset County’s beautiful NESHANIC VALLEY GOLF COURSE in Neshanic Station, NJ. Each group of golfers was paired up with a Patriots player for the day. Participants had a… [Read More]
More than Just a Blood Drive…
The Palace at Somerset Park will host aone-of-a-kind blood drive and professional networking event. Sponsored by While financial donations are extremely important, children in the pediatric oncology unit desperately need our blood donations. Stop by after work on September 16th, to give blood and help kids battling cancer. Meet and network with people who possess a… [Read More]
On The Border Hosts 11th Annual Charity Golf Classic
Join us on Tuesday September 29, 2015 for a great day of golf, contest, prizes, and fun at Bunker Hill Golf Course in Princeton, NJ. Hosted by On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina with 100% of proceeds benefiting Hugs for Brady Foundation. SPONSOR, DONATE, or CONTRIBUTE to our SILENT AUCTION Donations Include Golfers – $125 Donation includes… [Read More]
Hugs for Brady Helps Donate Toys and more to RJWUH!
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital Receives Donation from the Hugs for Brady Foundation, Toys“R”Us/Babies“R”Us, Hamilton School in Bridgewater, the middle school’s BRIDGE Club of South Brunswick, local crocheted blanket maker, Pat T., and an anonymous South Brunswick business with a HUGE heart! Article was originally posted on RJW University Hospital Foundation News Page and can be… [Read More]
Hugs for Brady acknowledged by the RWJUH Foundation on Lifetime Donor Wall
The Hugs for Brady Foundation has been acknowledged by the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Foundation on their Lifetime Donor wall. This distinct recognition is only given to donors that have given in excess of $100,000. Hugs for Brady’s donations have exceeded that number and we will continue to support this hospital and the beautiful children battling cancer, who spend countless hours… [Read More]
3rd Annual “Kickball for Grown Ups” is September 19th
Hugs for Brady 3rd Annual Double Elimination Kickball Tournament Saturday, September 19, 2015, 8am (Rain date will be Sunday, September 20, 2015) HURRY ROSTER DUE NOW! Location: Woodlot Park 124 New Road Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 Questions? Please Contact: Rich Domotor Call: 732-322-4162 Email: Queball81@aol.com Entry Fee: $ 350.00 per… [Read More]
We ARE Making a Difference – MRI Success Story for Pediatric Cancer Patient
This inspiring story is about a non-anesthesia MRI patient. The patient was a 5-year-old girl who had two prior unsuccessful MRIs at different facilities. It was very important to the patient’s mother that the child complete the scan without anesthesia; the patient’s mother had specifically researched and chose New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital because… [Read More]
5 Year Old Oncology Patient, Alexa, Throws First Pitch
We had a great time at Hugs for Brady Day at the Somerset Patriots Game this past month. Hugs for Brady Day took place on Father’s Day and was proudly sponsored by The Palace at Somerset Park. The Somerset Patriots donated a portion of ticket sales to Hugs for Brady and even more money was… [Read More]
Thank You Jersey Mike’s Subs in Princeton, NJ!
Thank You Jersey Mike’s Subs in Princeton, NJ! Jersey Mike’s Subs in Princeton raised $2,459.17 for the Hugs for Brady Foundation. Hugs for Brady was featured as their local charity for the “Month of Giving” this past March. During March, all were invited to come eat at Jersey Mike’s restaurant and make a donation to… [Read More]
American Academy of Pediatrics Features the Hugs for Brady Foundation
American Academy of Pediatrics Features the Hugs for Brady Foundation in their Spring 2015 “New Jersey Pediatrics” Magazine. This was the first time they have featured a story from a mom’s perspective. Read the article below. FAMILY VOICE Speaking to Families: Suggestions from the Founders of the Hugs for Brady Foundation Even as a young… [Read More]
June 21st is Hugs for Brady Day at the Somerset Patriots Game!
June 21st is Hugs for Brady Day at the Somerset Patriots Game! ~Sponsored by the Palace at Somerset Park~ Take dad out to the ball game this Father’s Day! Get to the ballpark early to participate in all the fun activities and stop by the Hugs for Brady table to buy tickets for the 50/50 raffle! First… [Read More]
Free Somerset Patriots Baseball Tickets!
Register online as a volunteer for one of our many Hugs for Brady Foundation events happening before May 17th and you will receive FREE tickets for any Somerset Patriots baseball game this season to use with your friends or family*! You can also enjoy a FREE FIREWORKS show after many of the games. To claim… [Read More]
May 9th – Blood Drive Before the Patriots Game
Join the Hugs for Brady Foundation & the Somerset Patriots to Donate Blood for Kids Battling Cancer! When: Saturday, May 9th | 2:30 – 7:30pm Where: Donor Bus outside of TD Bank Ball Park before the game! All donors will receive a t-shirt for donating! Make an appointment • WALK-INS WELCOME! Please remember to eat,… [Read More]
May 2nd – Save 15% with Your Race Registration at Princeton Running Co.!
Hugs for Brady 5K and Kids Fun Run Shopping Day May 2nd, 2015 – 10am-6pm Join us for a 5K shopping day. Receive 15% off all non-sale items. Proof of race registration is required to receive the discount. CLICK HERE to sign-up for the 5K! (Discount only available at this location.) Princeton Running Company Visit One… [Read More]
Lemonade Stand for Pediatric Cancer
Hi, My name is Heera Durga. Myself and my friend, Farheen Ali decided to put in our effort to help children with cancer. We knew that Hugs for Brady was the perfect foundation to donate to after we read the story about Brady and watched videos of similar patients. We were instantly mesmerized in how much… [Read More]
Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win a Flat Screen TV!
At this year’s Hugs for Brady Twilight 5K and Kids Fun Run, The MAX Challenge – Fitness for the Mind, Body & Spirit will be giving away a 40″ flat screen TV to one lucky winner! The TV will be raffled off to the attendee with the winning ticket. Raffle tickets are $5 each and ALL PROCEEDS… [Read More]
Special Offers for 5K Participants!
*Both offers below require proof of race registration. Receive 30% OFF all Products* GNC of Franklin Park is giving race participants a 30% discount on all products! Franklin Town Center 3391 RT 27 Franklin Park, NJ 08823 Receive 20% OFF Massages* Koi SpaSalon at Princeton Forrestal Fitness is offering 20% OFF their most popular… [Read More]
A BIG Thanks to Toys ‘R Us!
Thank you Toys ‘R Us in East Brunswick! Your donation will make a huge impact on the kids who are battling pediatric cancer. This past month, Toys ‘R Us donated toys for boys and girls of all ages. —- We would like to say a special thank you to manager Kedir Webbley and his boss Jonathan,… [Read More]
New Playroom Addition… ēno Board!
Hugs for Brady recently donated an ēno Smart Board to the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital Pediatric Oncology Playroom. The ēno board combines analog and digital content, dry erase markers and digital ink with interactive whiteboard capabilities. This past October, Hugs for Brady helped dedicate renovations made to two Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Pediatric Oncology rooms…. [Read More]
5K Shopping Day – March 26th
Don’t Miss the Hugs for Brady 5K Shopping Day at Princeton Running Company March 26, 2015 – 5-8pm Receive 15% off all non-sale items and get your gear for this year’s Hugs for Brady 5K on May 16th. Register for the 5K now! Proof of race registration is required to receive the discount. (Discount only available at… [Read More]
Essential Oils Class – Proceeds Benefit Hugs for Brady
Join Cindy Luisi at Princeton Forrestal Village Fitness Center for a new class… “Take Control of Your Health with Essential Oils” Suggested Donation is $10 Proceeds will benefit the Hugs for Brady Foundation! Thursday, March 26th at 7:00 pm | Saturday, March 28th at 11:00 am Learn how to reinvent your health with essential… [Read More]
A Wedding Registry for Charity
By Lita Bernal Carlos and I have been very fortunate and already have everything we could need in life so we would love to make a difference to other people, especially kids. The Hugs for Brady Foundation has stolen a piece of our hearts in the way that they help kids battling cancer. Please take… [Read More]
WATCH NOW! The Hugs for Brady Foundation on NBC’s Today Show
Click play to see a video of Hugs for Brady being featured on the TODAY show! Hugs for Brady’s 2015 goal is to place a Brady Buggy Wagon in every cancer wing, in every children’s hospital, in the United States. This is only possible with your help! During Brady’s countless visits to hospitals and specialists, Sherrie and Michael realized… [Read More]
Hugs for Brady on NBC’s Today Show!
Don’t miss Hugs For Brady on NBC’s TODAY Show, March 10th at (approximately) 9:40am! The segment will showcase how having access to the Brady Buggy can make a child with cancer’s hospital experience immeasurably better. “When I was in treatment, I was already too big to enjoy riding in a Brady buggy. But I saw… [Read More]
Submit Your Child’s Photo To Be On The TODAY SHOW
PLEASE HURRY! NBC’s “TODAY” show is currently producing a Hugs for Brady Foundation segment to be aired as early as next week! All parents that wish to have their child’s photo in a Brady Buggy Wagon on the air, please submit photos ASAP with your child’s name, age, brief comments about the wagon and… [Read More]
FIFTEEN Brady Buggy® Wagons were donated in 2014! THANK YOU!
A BIG THANK YOU to our 2014 Brady Buggy® Wagon donors! Kevin O’Brien Recipient: Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital The Max of Staten Island Recipient: University Hospital Martin Insurance Company Recipient: RWJUH Hamilton Allstate of Middlesex and Kendall Park Recipient: ProCure Proton Therapy Ocean County Mothers of Twins Club Recipient: Monmouth Medical Center VFW 9111 Recipient: Children’s Hospital… [Read More]
Share Hugs for Brady!
The loss of a child to cancer is one of the worst tragedies a family can face. Brady died at 23 months from non-differentiated acute leukemia. Brady bravely battled the disease for ten months. Every year, thousands of children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Sherrie and Michael Wells started the Hugs for… [Read More]
Pennies are Priceless when Given from the Heart
This is the first year since Brady passed that we decided to put our grief on hold and decorate the house for Christmas. As our 2-year-old twin boys were busy decorating the tree, I heard a quiet knock at the door. When I opened the door a little girl stood there with a letter and a bag of… [Read More]
Third Annual MAX Challenge Olympics Competition Raises Over $36,000 for Pediatric Cancer Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Erin Foster Lanmark360 732-389-4500 | efoster@Lanmark360.com Monmouth County, NJ – August 13, 2014 – The MAX Challenge, the tri-state area’s fastest growing fitness concept, is pleased to announce that its recent Third Annual MAX Olympics held this month at iPlay America’s Freehold location raised over $36,000 for the Hugs… [Read More]
Kickball for Grownups
Double Elimination Kickball Tournament Saturday August 16, 2014 (Rain date will be Sunday August 17, 2014) Location: Woodlot Park 124 New Road Monmouth Jct., NJ 08852 Entry Fee: $300.00 per team Rosters are due by August 1, 2014 Must have 10 People on the field at all times. (3 girls on field) Questions? Please Contact: Rich Domotor Queball81@aol.com Please… [Read More]
Hugs for Brady – 5K Clothing Drive!
Help raise additional funds for the Hugs for Brady Foundation by bringing your bags of unwanted clothing, shoes, linens, and apparel to the Hugs for Brady Twilight 5K & Kids Fun Run event on May 3rd from 3-7pm!
Man steals Hugs for Brady Foundation donations box from New Jersey diner
Police in New Jersey are searching for a suspect who stole a Hugs for Brady donation box from the Jersey Diner. You can watch the whole news report below. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ken Herman at (732) 329-4000 ext. 7475. From WABC Channel 7 News: Investigators say the man went… [Read More]
Sponsor a “Brady Buggy” Wagon Today!
Providing wagons gives children a safe, familiar means of transportation within a hospital. The whimsical animal-shaped wagons are sure to bring smiles to children and adults alike.
Congratulations to Winter Gala Honoree Dinesh T. Ramchandani
The 2014 Pediatric Cancer Humanitarian of the Year Award honors Dinesh T. Ramchandani! For embodying what it means to go way above and beyond in helping kids with cancer, Thank you, our friend & benefactor. Thank you Dinesh, from the bottom of our hearts!
Congratulations to Winter Gala Honoree Kari Mastro, MSN, RN, NEA-BC!
The 2014 Dr. Randy Siegel Pediatric Cancer Medical Humanitarian of the Year Award honors Kari Mastro, MSN, RN, NEA-BC! For all of your time, patience, professionalism, and for all the hugs our son Brady so often needed, we thank you! Thank you Keri, from the bottom of our hearts!
Congratulations to Winter Gala Honoree Mrs. Kelly Green!
The 2014 Ellen Gambatese Volunteer of the Year Award honors Kelly Green. Kelly exemplifies the true definition of generosity. Her contributions have helped so many children battling cancer. Thank you Kelly, from the bottom of our hearts!
Thanks Sponsors!
We want to extend a BIG THANK YOU to all of our Hugs for Brady 4th Annual Winter Gala sponsors!
Mike’s New Look
(My) Hair is gone, maybe some day childhood cancer will be too! “ – Mike Wells (Brady’s Dad)
What it means to be a Hugs for Brady Foundation Volunteer
By Jenny Martin The Hugs for Brady Foundation holds a very real and special place in my heart. It was during my time as a volunteer with this organization that I first discovered my calling through the joys of giving back to the patients and their families suffering from pediatric cancer. I was working as a… [Read More]
From the Desk of Richard Drachtman
With the integration of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey into Rutgers, the faculty will have unprecedented access to basic scientists allowing for increased collaboration with the goal of providing translational research that flows seamlessly from the clinic to the laboratory, allowing for the incorporation of new discoveries to better serve our pediatric hematology-oncology patients…. [Read More]
Why Bone Marrow Donors Are Needed
Every year more than 12,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with blood disorders such as leukemia or lymphoma. A good percentage of those patients are children, for some of those children, bone marrow or cord blood transplant offers the best chance to find a cure for their life-threatening disease. The Icla da Silva Foundation… [Read More]
Meet our Newest Volunteers
At 1:39 Tuesday afternoon the Hugs for Brady Foundation welcomed its newest volunteer: Gavin Michael Wells. Gavin was followed 20 minutes later by Logan Michael Wells. While it’s still too early to predict what these beautiful boys (of course I’m bias) will be contributing I can assure you their Mom; Sherrie Wells is already extremely… [Read More]