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 name each and every year moving forward so that children battling cancer know there is hope. In honor of Hugs for Brady Foundation’s 10th Anniversary, take a look at some of the awesome achievements of our first ten years. Click the tabs to 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 across the country, to help ease the trauma of chemotherapy and bring a little joy to toddlers with cancer Read More Providing computers, TVs, video games, crafts, and a lot more to hospitals Read More Supporting life-saving blood drives Read More Kids with… [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 click here to fill out a form. Make a Donation Donate your Time You can also give by doing your holiday shopping—AVAILABLE ALL YEAR LONG!
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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, he was just so special. I would have loved to watch him grow up as I truly believe he would have made a significant difference in our crazy world. Instead, what Sherrie and I have are our memories. They are beautiful thoughts of a warm,… [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, who will run the new research lab, explains that one of the main goals of his laboratory research focuses on reducing the side effects of cancer therapy including a specific emphasis on neurotoxicity. Dr. Cole seeks to determine why side effects are more severe among… [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 will need the help of volunteers in order to make them successful. If you think that you want to make a difference to beat the beast of pediatric cancer, please, join us. Here are just some of the ways in which you can help; Blood… [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 are now trying to put our son’s life into good use and here is what my beautiful bride is up to: Brady’s Story – told by his Mama Born August 21, 2008. We held our breath until we heard his first cry. We counted his… [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 of Confectionately Yours will be hosting the first Hugs for Brady Platelet and Blood Drive. Sunday’s Blood Drive was such a huge success the American Red Cross is returning to Confectionately Yours to collect more blood along with Platelets. I cannot begin to tell you… [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 had to say about the blood drive: “Once again, I wanted to share my appreciation and sincere gratitude for the wonderful job done with the blood drive yesterday! As I’ve mention, we registered 88 donors and were able to collect 79 productive units of 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 helping us get through this most difficult period of our lives. “8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and treatment of their son, Brady Michael. Hopefully… [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 write about his daily adventures; his medical procedures, his physical condition, the doctors prognosis, and of course Brady’s unbelievable personality. Now that he’s gone, writing (living) is just so much more difficult. Yesterday, Sherrie and I were grocery shopping and ran into Jessica Gondek one… [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 waiting for a casting call from the next Night of the Living flick. It just is so quiet without our Brady. We miss him so much! During a time like this, it is ever so interesting how different people act and react. So many people… [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 am going to continue this journal? I guess, I will try to keep it updated for at least the next couple of weeks. Sherrie is coping as any mother would, which means she is still in shock and I worry about her health. She was… [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 entry into heaven and think only good, no GREAT thoughts of our Brady. This is the obituary announcement that will be appearing in various newspapers: Brady Michael Wells, 23 Months of Kendall Park, New Jersey died at home on Friday, July 30, 2010, surrounded by… [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 Oklahoma City as once again there is a shortage of platelets in New Jersey. As Brady arrived at hospital he began to vomit; perhaps his way of expressing what he is really thinking about this entire situation. Brady came home around 5:00pm and was fast… [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 meticulousness. Everything must be in its place and everyone has unique roles that must be followed. When going for a walk, Brady will select the stuffed animals (by name) that will accompany him, he will choose which hat he wants to wear, which pair of… [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, have the farm come to you. Brady had a wonderful time riding his very large pony (“horse” as he kept calling it) named Willie for about two hours. We went up and down our street and into the wooded path in the park right next… [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 11:00am but George the Manager was kind enough to sell us a happy meal with a cheese burger. We drove over to Grammy & Papa’s where Brady ate his burger and went for a rather long “tractor” ride with his grandfather. Brady took a nap… [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 he is sleeping a good portion of the time. Well, last night around 8:00pm Brady woke from one of his naps and wanted to go for a car ride. No problem, we drove around for about an hour as he quickly fell asleep in his… [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 go back into the house. It isn’t that he whined or as Sherrie would say, “pitched a fit” he just would say over and over “more” along with signing the word “more” with his little hands it was impossible to say “no” to him. Later… [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 had the chance to stop and chat with our neighbor Tony it was really nice to visit a few moments with him, his mom and his daughter. Just really nice people! Brady is still waking up every hour or so but tonight he doesn’t appear… [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 to this pump for his remaining days. He is receiving larger doses of dilaudid and is virtually sleeping most of the time. When he is awake he is in much pain and needs to be given a bolus to calm him down. Last night he… [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 hooked up to a continuous IV pump. This will provide him with continuous pain mediation and enable us to administer a bolus when ever necessary. While his pump system is portable, Brady will not be as mobile as he is now. Brady is now entering… [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 to church but Brady was really not feeling well (temperature around 102˚) and both Sherrie and I were not feeling much better. We managed to stay in church for maybe 5 minutes before leaving and it was none to quick as Brady had a lovely… [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 just before noon with all sorts of delicious goodies. We had the most magnificent afternoon. Katie (Xander’s mom) came to our house to photograph Brady. She is a professional photographer and we just had the most delightful experience watching her shoot Brady in just about… [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 while it was great to see Brady’s former instructor, it was just heartbreaking to see our son struggle just to move around. Nine months ago Brady was running all over the place and now he can hardly stand up; this disease has no soul! However,… [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 team for filling-in for me during this most difficult time. I am “officially” taking a partial leave-of-absence for the next couple of weeks and will be working part time from my home; thank you to all of you for allowing this to take place. Now,… [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 his prescriptions and then we went food shopping. Brady has quite the appetite and ate a roll, six crackers, and five grape tomatoes before we left the supermarket. Then we came home to unpack and get the house organized. Two large boxes of supplies were… [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 worst news in my entire life. Tomorrow morning we are going ahead with the bone marrow biopsy which in all likelihood will show even a greater amount of cancer in Brady’s bone marrow. If the cancer is greater than 75% there will be no additional… [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 items in the entire world if not the hospital. Thank you guys SO MUCH, it was really great to see you. One of Dennis’ coworkers (Joyce) has been reading CaringBridge and had Dennis deliver even more Elmo stuffed animals, books and more Elmo things than… [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 Elmo videos and were fast a sleep by 10:00pm. It was a “good” night. (lol) Today is a blood holiday as no samples will be collected or tested. We will have to be content with the 0.6 white count level recorded for the past 2… [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 in relatively “good” health with the one exception his cancer. This is without a doubt so much more difficult than I could have ever imagined. On the surface Brady is looking and acting like any typical inquisitive toddler. He has established his daily routine of… [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 vital signs are still excellent; with his white blood count now at 0.5 but we are told this is nothing to worry about. The game plan while complicated on one hand is really rather simple: wait and see. And it’s the waiting which is going… [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 the growth of his cancer. This is why I drive the nurses crazy with my need for the morning CBC numbers. While I’m sure the aggressiveness of Brady’s leukemia is determined by many other factors, the slow recovery of his white blood count keeps me… [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 touching. Today is also a very special day, as it is not only Independence Day; it is my daughter Jennifer’s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENN!!! Sherrie and I hope you enjoy the day and we look forward to seeing you soon. Life in a hospital during… [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. It’s just takes over every aspect of your entire world and challenges you every single moment it exist. Pure evil is my only definition for it. Enough venting; Brady is just about as remarkable a child as any parent could ever ask for. Every day… [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 didn’t stay long as Sherrie was no feeling well and I actually managed to convince her to go home for the rest of the day. Sherrie is exhausted and I am a bit worried about her health. She went home around 1:00 pm and slept… [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 reality is Brady can no longer actually walk because it causes him serious pain. It’s been weeks since Brady has actually walked but we can get this resolved once we have his cancer under control. Until then, it’s wagon rides until Sherrie is about to… [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 shape. We picnicked in his crib on such wonderful items like; Munchkins, tootsie rolls, ritz crackers, cheese puffs and diet coke. It was just GREAT! Uncle Frank and Aunt Ellen dropped by to see Brady. They brought his the most gigantic Elmo balloon I have… [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 the way, Brady slept as he was sedated. This was a sign of what was to come and it was not good. Brady did not receive his donor lymphocyte transfusion (DLT). Dr. Nancy Bunin said she could not do this while Brady has graft versus… [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 along with a different type of steroid and it appears to have the temperature under control; since around 1:00pm his highest temperature was 101.4˚. Sherrie and I had a very difficult time with the attending physician; Dr. Glod. The good doctor basically had to be… [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 which hat he is going to wear, (normally the blue one) and he must wear his sunglasses and finally he insists on wearing his surgical mask. The next steps are also of equal importance, his must have everyone of his stuffed animals in his wagon…. [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 prayer as I have never experienced before. It was a very simple but incredibly moving experience. We held hands and Joe led us in pray. Not too long ago; (as a self described secular person), I would have laughed at this but I can only… [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 to be at CHOP (out patient clinic) tomorrow morning (Friday) for a Lymphocyte transfusion. Many people have asked; “What are lymphocytes”, so please indulge me with the following published by MedicineNet.com: Lymphocytes: A small white blood cell (leukocyte) that plays a large role in defending… [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 Brady came back from surgery in great spirits. Sherrie and I were just about euphoric. Then in a nano-second, all our happiness disappeared. The results of Brady’s BMB were not good, in fact, they were just awful. Brady has 20% blast cells in his marrow… [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, and a blood pressure cuff on his arm. The doctor just told me that the blood cultures taken yesterday came back positive for “gram positive cocci in chains”. They suspect that he has a bacterial infection, probably the same type he had in November, called… [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 proceeded to put on his hat, surgical mask and sunglasses. He looked just adorable. He was doing so well, that Sherrie had arranged to have him disconnected from his IV machines for an hour of outside playtime with me. Unfortunately, the worst of time started… [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 certainly did enjoy an evening out with my husband. We walked to a local restaurant and talked about our fears, our hopes, and our dreams. Michael is an amazing man and I treasure our time together. Brady’s nurse tonight is Mary, so the “man cave”… [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 diverse just a little recognition… I like what my friend Kelly Green had to say about my particular situation; “I don’t know any other fathers of almost an 2-year old boy who GET THE OPPORTUNITY to be in a room together, JUST GUYS, for an… [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 times. Brady had without a doubt his best day since he arrived. His vitals are all in good shape and his morphine levels have been cut in half. Sherrie told me she couldn’t get enough food in him, he literally ate for at least 2… [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 to get a whopping 3 hours of sleep last night and an hour nap this afternoon after Grandma arrived. This is the part of the journey which will test the perseverance and strength of anyone. The days just seem to turn from one to the… [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 with hundreds of teenagers and I must say, it was very moving and disturbing. Pediatric cancer is so evil and beyond understanding as it causes so much pain and sorrow. Our friend, Christian now joins Mark and I pray they are at peace and comfort… [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 be measured and the amount of steroids he is been receiving is being reduced daily. So, all and all he is doing well. Prayers, hugs and good thoughts are still an absolute necessity, so please continue them. I will write more this evening… Sherrie’s random… [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 him to retain water. The poor kid looks like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. The steroids along with the chemo both end tonight and then the waiting begins. June 23rd cannot get here fast enough for me. I am just so confident Brady’s bone marrow biopsy… [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 platelets which in turn hopefully mean his cancer will be placed in remission. So, Brady becoming extremely neutropenic (Neutropenia is an abnormally low level of neutrophils in the blood.) is a positive step in his recovery. Yesterday also brought us a little bit of “hospital”… [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 praying, hugging and thinking of Brady. He’s going to beat this horrible disease, he just needs a little help from all of you. Thanks… “8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael… [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 drugs being used: Clolar (clofarabine) is an antineoplastic purine nucleoside analog used to treat lymphoblastic leukemia. The drug acts as an anti-metabolite, interfering with DNA replication. In addition, the drug appears to disrupt the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane, releasing pro-apoptotic mitochondrial proteins, cytochrome C… [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 for the next 5 days and within 72 hours (3 days) we will have an idea of just how this drug regiment is working. The goal is to have everything in Brady’s bone marrow wiped out. This is critical if Brady is going to have… [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˚ suddenly reminding all of us the seriousness of his situation. Today, we start the journey to destroy this demon. Brady is scheduled (thank you Mr. Jones for making this happen) to have his Broviac catheter implanted in his chest (left side this time) along with… [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 his most wondrous glory. He is just an absolutely amazing child; bright, personable, loving, and quick; way beyond his age. His mannerisms are just endearing. He says “thank you” and “please” at the appropriate times. In fact, to add impact, he will also “sign” the… [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 the hospital. He’s such a cute little boy; I just sneezed and out of what I thought was a sleeping baby he says, “Sneeze.” He is so adorable! Well, I should try and get some sleep, until next time please continue to help Brady fight… [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 some decent rest. Not too much to report just hoping for the best. Brady’s friend Jimmy is down the hall fighting a fever as well, I guess it’s all part of the program. So, as I have asked what seems like a million times before,… [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. He needs to be fever free for at least a 24 hour period before they will release him. Sherrie is keeping “things” under control but the stress of this situation is evident. She is without peer when it comes to being a great Mother and… [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 things and Brady was (as always) at my side helping me do everything. He went in the house to have his diaper changed and Sherrie thought he felt warm and sure enough 101.4˚. She immediately contacted CHOP and they in turn instructed us to take… [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 and always, we will be with you. You are now in a place without pain, doctors or cancer. You can run free and know that we are always with you. All our love, Mommy, Daddy and Marissa Please pray for Mark’s family… “8 Years Later—Still… [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 and more labored. This morning our hospice nurse put him on morphine every hour to keep him as comfortable as possible. We don’t have much time left. Mark is at home, surrounded by love and family. He is sleeping and comfortable. Please pray for him…. [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 and ask all sorts of questions. The short story is that it he has to immediately stop taking a drug called Prograf. Prograf helps the body accept the transplanted cells, avoid rejection, and decrease the harmful side effects like GVHD. So basically what they want… [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. Then he looked at her and said “ouch”. And she then confirmed that it would ouch. I love the fact that they always think it will be so difficult to hold him down and routinely he flinches ever so slightly and that is it. Unfortunately… [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 to administer his CBC. All his signs are good and it looks like very soon he will be alternating between RWJ and CHOP for his weekly check-ups; a 15 minute drive versus an hour, yeah! Now the not so good news; Brady’s friend Jimmy was… [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! It’s almost impossible to wipe the smiles off our faces. We still have 2+ months of keeping Brady away from people and he continues to receive upwards of 12 various medications daily. He will continue to have his weekly check-ups at CHOP and there are… [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 than a bone marrow biopsy which actually removes bone marrow. Anyway, the results of the aspirate are just beyond words,”we see NOT a hint of cancer.” While Brady still has a long road ahead of him before we can ensure the beast is beaten, for… [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 words that would come close to expressing our joy, our awesome sense of peace and just our plain happiness to have our baby home and healthy. It is a blessing of mega proportions. We are back to our neighborhood walks, our playing in the yard,… [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 eating and I think he is testing Sherrie’s patience but she wouldn’t have it any other way. He had a check-up on Tuesday at CHOP and everything is OK! He has not had a temperature or any signs of abnormality. He’s truly enjoying himself and… [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 just about every book Brady owns and we didn’t go to sleep until 11:30pm. He is doing just so well. We went to CHOP with our baby and came home with a full-fledged toddler. He’s grown so much! He wants to feed himself, he… [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 continues to learn so quickly it is hard to keep up with him. Yesterday, Sherrie was spelling the word ‘ice’ and Brady repeated her saying; I, C, E and then to everyone’s astonishment said the word ICE! So now, we must be very careful what… [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 I are just ecstatic and I think Brady is beginning to understand he’s going home as well. I can hardly wait to go for a walk Friday evening, even though we must stay away from people it will be just wonderful to have our family… [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 wonderful messages; they mean so much to us. I will post a longer entry tomorrow; until then please keep Brady in your prayers, thoughts and hugs!!! “8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie… [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 true number was 378. This is just incredible news as once the ANC is above 200 Brady is on his way to the next steps to being released from the hospital. There are a number of “things” that must happen before he is released but… [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 to convey our gratitude for all the tremendous support you have given us. We wish you and your family the Happiest of Easters and please continue to think about our son, pray for his recovery and hug someone special for Brady; Thank You!!! PS I… [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 his white blood count is continuing to head in the upward direction – 1.2 today versus 0.8 yesterday. I just got a phone call from Brady’s friend (Jimmy); so cute we spent over 5 minutes talking on the phone. I was mistaken about his numbers… [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; Wow very awful to see and I cannot imagine just how he must have felt. He was thrashing around on the verge of a seizure. But after more morphine and ativan (an antidepressant) he finally settled down and slept the afternoon away. He just woke… [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 his intense rash. I am taking tomorrow off and will be relieving Sherrie and her Mom for the week-end. I will up-date everyone on Brady’s condition tomorrow; until then continue praying, hugging and think about Brady. by Sherrie Wells Brady had yet again another difficult… [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, the rash may itch. An ill child may have a low-grade fever, malaise, or a “cold” a few days before the rash breaks out. The child is usually not very ill, and the rash resolves in 7 to 10 days”. Slap my face if what… [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 causes fever, rash and pulmonary deterioration. Brady is febrile (103.5˚), he has a rash covering him from head to toe much like an adolescent with acne and his breathing is labored. He is being closely monitored and will be receiving steroids to help control the… [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 added to his drug regiment to reduce the amount of fluids he is retaining. This is all combined with spikes in blood pressure, increased heart rates and vomit containing globs of blood. Just another typical Sunday at the Wells’. Throughout this insanity and as we… [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 more to do with me than that nasty drug; he more times than not has hurled on me! I wonder if there is a (not so) subconscious message going on here??? Sherrie and Grandma are home for the week-end. Anyone in the Franklin Park /… [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 at our conference Brady slept most of the time. He appears to be in good spirits as the low dose morphine drip is helping quite a bit. So, far he is recovering exactly as planned and hopefully this will continue going forward. He is still… [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. Here are a few of the “road signs” that await Brady: Germs Until day +90 he cannot go near anyone and he must wear a mask while at the clinic or hospital. Visitors: Maximum of three visitors at once, wearing masks, healthy (We must ask… [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 kept happening throughout the night. By the time morning rolled around I knew that he had to be given morphine. Well, what a difference it made! Within a half hour Brady was himself again, active, playing, and happy. He had asked for a bottle so… [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 the “honeymoon” but be that as it may, I’m enjoying the heck of out having a bouncing baby boy who’s trying to get into everything he can. Yesterday we had an hour off the machines and in the playroom. We absolutely tore up the place…. [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 as this event is going to be; I’m actually sitting on the edge of my seat waiting as if it’s first pitch of game 7 of the World Series. Dr. Bunin just opened the door and told us I managed to deliver an enormous amount… [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” and there was not much of a decision involved in helping Brady. I was inconvenienced for a couple of days and for this I have received untold amounts of praise for which I truly deserve very little. However, there is one person who has made… [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. It started off OK, with me giving myself what I thought was the final injection of Neupogen and then it was off to the aphaeresis department to start the peripheral blood stem cell transplantation process. After a few attempts to find the “right” vein in… [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 of chemo drugs is causing Brady all sorts of problems. Right at this moment I cannot remember the name of this crap (cyto something or other) but does it really matter. This drug caused our baby to violently vomit at least 12 times yesterday. This… [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 pretty good Saturday night but Sunday was a blur. Brady went from severe bouts of vomiting followed by horrific diarrhea and this cycle was repeated too many times to count. Sunday we also had to bath him every 4-6 hours and throughout this he continued… [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 the shower. He was due anyhow, as this has been his third bath today The chemo drug seeps through his pores and needs to be rinsed off so that it does not cause second degree burns. While Michael and I were stripping the bed, sanitizing… [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) to increase the number of stem cells. I will be sticking myself for the next 4 days and the side effect of this drug is achy bones and muscles. I started feeling sorry for myself until I reviewed what’s in store for Brady the next… [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 the trash as I did so today. Well, I arrived home this evening around 9:00 pm and to my surprise on the front page of this newspaper is a photo of Brady and a reprint of the article that appeared in the Home Town News… [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 far, the conditioning chemo has been exactly as Brady’s medical team told us it would be. Brady is in great spirits and health; he shows absolutely no signs of having cancer or chemotherapy. Unfortunately, this will all start to change by Saturday. But for now… [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 today; Brady is doing extremely well and Sherrie told me the lights have been fixed and life continues to be good. Brady spent a couple of hours today in the playroom and he is in great spirits. Today is: Day minus 10. Yes, just like… [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 including; Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse to prevent infections. It’s going to be a fun couple of months. On the positive side of things; we got a room at the Ronald McDonald House at the daily rate of $15.00 and from what Sherrie has told me… [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 to visit Brady’s other Grandma (my 90 year old Mom) she was delighted to see us or more accurately Brady. My brother Richard stopped by and I hope the rest of my Connecticut family and friends understand why we kept this visit so short and… [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 says “ma ma”. We relax, look out into our snow covered backyard and enjoy our morning together. Brady likes licking the jelly off of the toast. Then Michael is off to work around 6:30 as Brady and I stand at the door and wave goodbye… [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 chemotherapy around 2:00am on Tuesday morning and this will continue for 11 days. In a future journal entry I will let everyone know the details of this protocol as it is rather detailed. But for the next 4 days; we are going to be together… [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 to the BEST children’s hospital in the United States; he will be treated by one of the best pediatric hematology / oncology transplant doctors in the world and yet we are scared beyond belief. We have prepared ourselves but at the same time are ever… [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 pairs of shoes; a total of 10 minutes first thing in the morning. Love to shop that way. On a much more serious note; Brady’s friend Lauren will be having her surgery this coming Wednesday, please say a prayer for this very sweet baby. Until… [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 (PBSC). The PBSC results are basically the same as a bone marrow transplant (BMT). The only difference between the two is the method used to obtain the stem cells: the stem cells used in BMT come from the liquid center of the donor’s bone, via… [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 the end of the day. I will let everyone know the results ASAP. Got to get to work… “8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the journal kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and… [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 good doctor chatted about fundraising as Brady remained peacefully sleeping. So, it’s on to Thursday’s CAT scan and hopefully by Friday we will have the details of when we will be headed to Philadelphia. I am going to make this entry a short one as… [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 continues to develop at speeds which are flat out impressive. Last night he was sitting in my lap (having his bottle) and I started singing the ABC song, in turn he climbed off my lap cuddled to his room calling Da-Da. Much to my surprise… [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 who donated; it means so much to kids like Brady. Also, this week end Brady got to visit with his brother Stephen and sister Jennifer as well as his uncle Wayne. It was a lot of fun and we are extremely exhausted. I wished they… [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 folks at Confectionately Yours (a Franklin Park landmark for great food and incredible ice cream) for donating 4 gift certificates which will be raffled off to those who donate blood. Speaking of donations; we have been asked by several people about making donations in Brady’s… [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 happy, smart little boy; each day is another day of learning news words, new skills and he continues to add “signs” to his signing vocabulary. We just have to beat this nasty disease. This weekend my daughter (Jennifer) and my first born son (Stephen) are… [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 lives are rather boring and I really like it this way. Keep the prayers, hugs and good thoughts coming Brady’s way as I assure you he is going to need all of them very soon… Thank you to… Kellie for your love, support, and delicious… [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 a CAT scan to check his right lung. Hopefully the infection will be cleared up and Brady will be at CHOP either Monday March 1st or a week later based upon the CAT scan results and availability at CHOP. Either way Dr. Drachtman is fairly… [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 the next medical event (CAT scan) other than tomorrow’s weekly visit to the cancer clinic. All in all life is excellent! Sherrie and I want to thank Dave Richter of the Hunterdon Walking and Social Club for sending out an announcement to the several hundred… [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, Robin one of Brady’s nurses from RWJU Hospital came by to administer his IV antibiotics and later in the day, Sherrie’s Mom and Dad came over for a quite Valentine Day’s dinner celebration. I think it’s safe to say; Brady truly had a pleasurable day…. [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 good thoughts have contributed to this more than I would have ever imagined. Please continue them so we can get Brady to CHOP for his much needed stem cell transplantation. “8 Years Later—Still No Cure for Pediatric Cancer” is a series of posts revisiting the… [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 of this world feeling. He’s doing quite well and I must say Sherrie and I are really enjoying this. After his evening snack Brady was re-energized with my presence and decided to stay up until almost midnight. When he finally went to sleep it was… [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 the storm but other than a rather slow drive home it was well worth it. Currently, Brady is sleeping in his crib. Last night, I think he played with every toy he owns, read every book he has and I understand for the longest time… [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 we were getting the preliminary results read to us. Our sweet baby has to once again have anesthesia and undergo another surgery. I am so frightened for him. I’m also just downright sad. This entire ordeal is just heartbreaking to me. I want to scream… [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, I think it’s best for me to go to work. I will be back from NYC to meet with Dr. Drachtman at 6:00pm and hopefully he will have the results from pathology by then. We are all hoping and praying Brady’s cancer is in remission… [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 I have a problem (a good problem) but none the less a problem. I really have nothing to write about! Brady is sleeping soundly and is not even connected to his IV pumps. He has no temperature, he is just about done with his fungal… [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 cat scan & bone marrow biopsy 2. Tuesday; Feb 9th 5:00pm depart RWHU Hospital for home –YEAH! 3. Tuesday; Feb 16th Visit RWJU outpatient client for check-up 4. Monday; Feb 22nd Brady admitted to CHOP 5. Monday; Feb 22nd – Wednesday Mar 3rd – “Conditioning”… [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 would be harvesting my stem cells through my blood. The process is called peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). The collection process is called apheresis or leukapheresis to obtain the PBSCs for transplantation. I will be given mediation (injections in my butt by my beautiful… [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 until Tuesday to perform his bone marrow biopsy as we all want him (his blood) to be as healthy as possible. Tuesday will be a day which cannot get here fast enough. This Friday we are off to CHOP. Brady and his Mom will be… [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 better than Brady and me having compatible HLA genes. Here’s what the University of California at San Francisco has to say about histo compatibility: Optimal Donors — Identical Tissue Typing The optimal donor is a histocompatible (HLA) matched relative who is usually a sibling or,… [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 to receive platelets as his count was 45,000. The best part NO diarrhea! Also, the red pimple-like bumps are going away, Yeah!! So, as I say good bye to Brady’s’ septic emboli I too must leave; I will write more this evening until then; he… [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 antibiotic is given intravenously for 10 days and requires Brady to have his temperature taken every 15 minutes of every day he is receiving this drug. Now here’s the part that has me more than a little excited; NO ONE told us any of this!… [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 least I hope it was me and not the Dunkin Donut Munchkins in my hand. Either way he was in a great mood and after our snack, our usual evening walk and a bath, I said good-night to him and Sherrie. Sherrie phoned me around… [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 on a submarine preparing to submerge: DIVE, DIVE, DIVE!!! Now if this happens once or twice it’s no big deal you just hit the call bottom and in a minute or two your nurse is unraveling the kink in the IV lines, the horn stop… [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. I hope this continues through the night and Brady gets a good night’s sleep. I mentioned in previous entries how Sherrie and I are beginning to understand when Brady is in pain and it’s quite fascinating. He will rub his eyes with his hands clenched… [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 so he received an “extra” dose of morphine. He vomited at 4am but has managed to keep his breakfast of banana and yogurt down, so far. And, best of all, right now his temperature is under 100°. As always, we have been watching baby einstein… [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 when Brady is in pain. We have concluded, when he is rubbing his ears or his eyes he is experiencing a headache of migraine proportions. Or, when his legs curled up in a cramped like position then his joints are bothering him. You might be… [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 watching Baby Einstein. But the good news he is afebrile (98.7°), no vomiting and life is GOOD! Now you would think a baby receiving Tylenol with codeine would make for a very sleepy child not Brady; he is just about as hyped up as I’ve… [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 (blood pressure and blood oxygen), respiratory system are all OK. So, all and all life is OK!!! What else can you say? Brady is getting excellent care and all of this “stuff” is to be expected. In fact, one of Brady’s doctors (Dr. Weiss) is… [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 walking so we took him for a wagon ride to see the fish and everyone who said hell-o to him received a wave and kiss blown from our son. At the very end of our ride Brady once again became ill and what little dinner… [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 broviac catheter dressing changed, the bandage is about half the size of Brady’s entire chest and has very aggressive adhesive that requires detachol adhesive remover to get it off him. This bandage is changed weekly and it’s a rather painful process. For the very first… [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 until his Grandparents (Jan & Gary) arrived at the hospital around 5:00pm. It was a wonderful day! Brady was off his IV pumps virtually all day long and this enabled us to go for several walks. In fact, I didn’t get a chance to even… [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 letting this situation go. It just is wrong and so stressful for Brady not to have anything to eat until 3:00pm. If this is not corrected I am going to ask all of Brady readers to connect Stephen Jones President of Robert Wood Johnson and… [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 has he become a super hyper child. He does not want to stay in his crib, he does not want to wear his diaper, he wants to throw everything in his crib out and he runs back in forth like a money in the zoo…. [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 vitals or Karen his nurse needing to give him various meds along with the administering of the truly wonderful eye drops. Chemotherapy has got to be just about as torturous as the medieval practice of bloodletting. During the actual chemo it’s eye drops every 4… [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 it is as evil as the darkest depths of depravity. No child should go through what Brady is experiencing and certainly no child should endure the pain of this journey without a guarantee of a positive outcome. Brady is a fanatic child who deserves a… [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 lots… Brady is napping and I just returned from my first experience giving platelets and it’s really no big deal. Same thing as giving blood just takes a little longer but basically it’s identical. So many people have asked what they can do to help… [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 lucky. Right now he’s having a bottle and just chilling. Sherrie went home early after much insistence but she needs to get as much rest as possible. I cannot state it enough what a fantastic mother she is; she just does everything she can to… [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 on day 3 it’s Mitoxantrone every day for 4 days and finally it’s 1 day of Gemtuzumab on day 8. During this therapy Brady will be receiving eye drops every 4 hours around the clock along with the antifungal voriconazole every 12 hours, metronidazole (Flagyl)… [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 of today’s meeting this evening. In the meantime, Brady is just about as happy, energetic and inquisitive as any healthy toddler. Got to run; please continue to pray, hug and keep Brady in your thoughts… Well, the visit to CHOP went as well as anyone… [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 slept on the couch. Actually he slept a bit more than me but he is just so damn adorable it’s truly impossible to say “no” to him. Sherrie is just exhausted and she too is in need of some good quality sleep and thank goodness… [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 for Pediatric Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Children’s Cancer Group Study 2951 what made this a article of interest to me was the author: Dr. Robert J. Wells. Dr. Wells is the Deputy Division Head of Pediatrics for MD Anderson Hospital in… [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 entire week! We got home around 4:00pm and almost immediately went for one of our neighborhood walks. The sidewalks were covered with snow and the Christmas lights were still decorating many homes. Brady got to see one of his favorite dogs; Bunker and he just… [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 at my wits end. In fact tonight after ferreting out Dr. Drachtman and finding him at home only to be informed he had no word from pathology makes me just want to scream. This is after Sherrie had to personally visit the pathology department to… [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 remission. The arbitrary and ambiguous goal is to have the cancerous blast cells at a level of less than 5%. I know I constantly ask for your prayers, thoughts and hugs but tonight please reach down deep and pray just a little longer for our… [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 was giving him one of his meds he felt very warm and decided to vomit on me; just lovely. However by now I am the King of Vomit and within minutes I had everything under control without the help of anyone. For some reason no… [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 had a dinner of leftovers and watched the end of the Pittsburgh football game. I left the hospital around 8:00pm and unfortunately when I spoke with Sherrie around 10:00pm Brady was once again experiencing extreme vomiting and diarrhea. It’s very difficult to explain exactly how… [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 is really designed for a Pigmy and not 2 people over 6 feet tall. That little gripe a side; I am so glad we both stayed at the hospital last night just in case things continued to be as crazy as they were yesterday afternoon… [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 things considered and is currently taking his morning nap. The hospital once again impressed Sherrie and me with their concern for our son. We awoke this morning to numerous Christmas gifts all wrapped and age appropriate for Brady. Just really a very nice gesture. Speaking… [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 lung) and pneumonia in children younger than age 1 in the U.S. Almost all children are infected with the virus by their second birthday, but only a small percentage of children develop severe illness. RSV can infect you several times during your lifetime. After each… [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 with Dad as the primary target) the numerous antibiotics are working and maybe by Christmas we will be out of isolation. Sherrie and I had our telephone consultation with Dr. Kernan of Sloan-Kettering and as a result of it we have ruled out Settle as… [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 the use of anesthesia and as such, this sedation-free MRI is truly an amazing development. The approach to these MRI scans is based on a patient-centered plan involving a certified child life specialist (CCLS), the patient and his or her family, and preparation sessions to… [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 like a circus seal most likely it’s viral and hopefully is controllable and will not lead to pneumonia. This coughing is accompanied with him laboring to breath and of course the diarrhea and vomiting is still taking place. I told you it was a rough… [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 sweet 15 year old girl rang the bell as she left the pediatric hematology/oncology unit of this hospital with about 20 of her family and friends. She walked outside in the frigid windy cold and snowy air on her way to a “normal” life. We… [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 a Lincoln Navigator SUV – the Sherman tank of SUV’s. Here at the hospital, the nurses are all concerned about getting snowed in on the job because they cannot leave without their replacements showing up. And for me it’s just another day. I have never… [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 members, family, and friends of the Hugs for Brady Foundation were able to stand on the floor in the state capital as the proclamation was read aloud and Assemblymen and the NJ Senator shared a few kind words about the foundation. Many members of the… [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 the chicken pox and possibly the N1H1 flu. Let’s hope this continues for the next few weeks and we can get out of here for our winter (week long) break. The big picture continues to be very traumatizing for us. The doctors really do not… [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 trying to arrange meetings and consults with virtually anyone who has credibility in the pediatric bone marrow transplantation field. She is just astonishing how determined she is to ensure we make the “best” possible decision. Finally, it continues to amaze me how kind and generous… [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. So, the alarm get’s louder and beeps faster and a nurse now has to be called in to shut it off. Meanwhile, Brady still sleeps. The room seems hot and my sinuses are all congested. I wonder if a nurse or tech turned the heat… [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 pizza from a local pizzeria (still not sure how this is possible!)… Pushed the intercom buttons on the wall to have security let us in to see the fish… Snorts really loud when he sees a pig in a book or on TV… Thank Yous!… [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 makes me feel to see Brady off his pumps and running (and I do mean running) around the unit. Today he learned two new words “out” and “walk” and he’s been practicing them all day long. Just adorable is the way to explain it. I… [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 be under control as well as his blood pressure it’s just the damn reaction to the chemo which is causing him problems. I think his situation is a bit exaggerated because he is teething. Sherrie’s Mom & Dad stayed with Brady for a few hours… [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 no different; we had a lovely Mexican dinner and went for a very nice walk around the PSE&G Rehab Center to see the fish and get away from people. This is our favorite place in the whole complex and I must say a very special… [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 interesting website https://www.oncologystat.com and I would like to share one of the articles with you. So, if you’re tired and can’t sleep sit down and start reading for this stuff is sure to put any average person to sleep in a “New York Minute.” Allogeneic… [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 I could have ever imagined. After his completed his transfusion, he was disconnected from his saline drip lines, pumps and all the other hardware he’s hooked up to and allowed to run free. It also allowed Sherrie and me to attend what we are calling… [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 BLOOD AND PLASMA! I know it seems like a simple gesture, but it really does have a lot of meaning. I can not stress this enough. Every time the nurses hang a bag of donated blood for Brady, I literally cry and say out loud,… [Read More]
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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 in need of some therapy to get my head together on this awful disease. You see, today I thought I’d be mister “nice guy,” a true “metro-sexual” who can be a parent who is capable of sharing an equal load with his spouse. Well, I… [Read More]
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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 BMSH bone marrow results from Tuesday, they are still reviewing and CHOP’s pathologists asked for more information to be sent from BMCH to them to determine what the actual blast percentage was after round one of chemotherapy. All in all, it is good news. A… [Read More]
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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 used to qualify stem cell matches; it’s just a perfect find. Should we go the transplantation route we can sleep much better knowing we have a perfect match for Brady in reserve waiting for him. Of course these are the preliminary findings and must be… [Read More]
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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 we wait for the chemotherapy process to do its job, she will begin a preliminary search for a possible bone marrow donor. She is also going to discuss Brady’s case with her team of seven transplant doctors at CHOP as well as Dr. Arcecie, a… [Read More]
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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 to 7%. While this is not where we hoped the results of the first round of chemotherapy would have Brady it is far better than the 27% blasts present in Brady before we started chemo. To truly make this a day we will long remember… [Read More]
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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 – Khadija and it was just marvelous. Earlier today Brady was at the outpatient clinic for blood work and a quick physical exam. We had some disappointing news, his blasts are at 2% and Dr. Drachtman would like to see them at zero. Dr. Drachtman told… [Read More]
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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 extend a very special thank you to Jenn for coming to see Brady on Saturday. It was great spending time with her. She renamed his indoor tunnel/tent to a “little man cave”. I thought this was very funny. To Michael Burkley, as always, you are… [Read More]
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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 into Aunt Ellen and our neighbor Tony and his woof-woof “Bunker.” Great people and an outstanding dog! Later in the day Sherrie and I ran a few errands as her Mom & Dad watched Brady. After that, we all ate left-overs from yesterday. Oh and… [Read More]
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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 a traditional turkey feast. It was incredibility nice to be home as a family. He woke up this morning with his usual playful noises and is now in bed with his Mom enjoying with morning bottle. Brady’s doing so well I really hate to think… [Read More]
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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 touched the lives of so many people in such a short period of time. We are indeed thankful to the 2,500+ visitors to the Caring Bridge Brady Michael blog. We love to hear from you and it has made this horrible experience much easier to… [Read More]
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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 he pretends to take the bunny’s temperature. This was a clever gift from John and Marion and has been very helpful to us in teaching him the “game” of temperature taking. Yesterday, Brady took his own temperature for the technician, and it was accurate! While… [Read More]
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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 be home for Thanksgiving. It all depends upon Brady and his temperature. I just left the hospital and he had just woken up from a nap and his temperature was normal. It’s been this way all day and if it continues through tomorrow we could… [Read More]
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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 to keep you awake to watch over your child and write weird stuff in your blog at 2:00am. I don’t know but if you ever have the misfortune to come to this facility plan to leave with little sleep and a very sore back. Anyway,… [Read More]
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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 few hours of freedom. I have been told they are working on it. So, let’s see. Brady slept through the night and is in more or less in a good state of mind. I’m trying to get him to take a nap and I don’t… [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 body, and shortly thereafter received a second devastating diagnosis of ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). She began treatment for the leukemia, but then experienced severe complications and entered the PICU. Sadly, M’s cancer became quite aggressive, and she passed away on November 3, 2017. Even amongst… [Read More]
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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 to 12% today would indicate that Brady’s cancer was not in remission. So, Dr. Drachtman had another CBC performed and the results of yesterday test reviewed and we were told yesterday’s true number was 8% not 4% still not good. Next, Dr. Drachtman orders a… [Read More]
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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 being weaned off the various antibiotics and is currently only receiving two: Zosyn and Acyclovir. These should be gone by Saturday!!! I found a very good website with some excellent videos explaining AML: https://www.careflash.com/video/acute-myeloid-leukemia. Check it out the graphics and explanations of AML are outstanding…. [Read More]
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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 want him to be able to spend some quality time with Brady. Today’s news is that we are going to go to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a consult on a bone marrow transplant as early as the first week in December. We will… [Read More]
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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 world so hopefully he knows what he is talking about. I sincerely hope he does. Regardless, the results from this induction phase of treatment by no means determines anything definitive but I’d rather have the cancer in remission than not. Dr. Drachtman’s prognostication will be… [Read More]
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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 some seriously bad diarrhea. Poor child just can’t catch a break. It was determined that he can be moved from PICU to hematology/oncology because his “chicken pox” looked much better. The unfortunate news is that we are still in quarantine until the results of the… [Read More]
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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 is just incredible; you create your own radio station and sit back and listen to songs by the artist of your choice combined with similar performers – really neat! www.pandora.com Just a side comment; I wish my son Stephen lived closer to me; he’s such… [Read More]
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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 to get a good night sleep, Brady and I were watching TV and then the fun began. Vomit everywhere! I didn’t know a toddler could hold so much stuff in his stomach. I think Brady didn’t know either because whatever was in there came out…. [Read More]
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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 my life than watching my brave son Brady battle cancer. But the one thing I am learning through this experience is nothing really is what you think it is. I know that’s a bit over the top for a rainy Friday night but I’m feeling… [Read More]
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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 beyond my comprehension as well. She lacks compassion, she lacks attention to detail, she lacks command of the English language, she is sloppy and she has yet to change 1 diaper. While I am venting, I can assure you she will never, never again come… [Read More]
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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 creating a ruckus about the possibility of him having chickenpox. I love the medical profession; at times I think I am dealing with better educated auto mechanics – no offense to auto mechanics! However, chickenpox would explain much of what’s going on with Brady –… [Read More]
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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! It’s been a very stressful day and this will continue I think as long as Brady is in PICU. I am on my way to work so I cannot write too much right now; I will try to get you caught up this evening. Until… [Read More]
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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 team and after much discussion Brady is going to stay put for now. The outcome of all the discussions; Brady has yet another couple of pieces of hardware added to his growing array of crap. He is now hooked up to an EKG machine and… [Read More]
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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 just wrong to watch and is getting Sherrie and I upset to the point of screaming. Brady is on so many different medications I really cannot keep track of all of them. Right now he has morphine, TPN, IL, IVF, Sodium Chloride, dextrose, osmolarity, and… [Read More]
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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 headed in the right direction. My friend and business associate David K. said it best; “This is painful for Brady and agony for you and Sherrie.” In-deed it is just that; anguish and pain. But make no mistake about it our son Brady is a… [Read More]
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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 share that; it is private, personal and not for publication. What you need and want to know deals with Brady. Well, he’s having a real rough time of it. There is nothing unusual about what he is going through, it’s all expected but nonetheless extremely… [Read More]
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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 Yankee game and take care of my son. When the doctor finally arrived, I told him I don’t want Brady in any pain and he told me he wanted to wait to see how the Tylenol he gave him worked before adding any additional drugs…. [Read More]
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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 on her way home and I have “the watch”. Isabell is the night nurse and will not put up with any of my antics. I just love her; she treats Brady like he was her own son. A nice surprise tonight; the Mayor and his… [Read More]
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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 are following the protocol for AML and will continue to do so depending upon the results of Brady most recent cycle of chemotherapy. We will know the results in the next 3 to 5 weeks. Until then, it’s a wait and see scenario. A few,… [Read More]
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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 and I am told it will most likely hit zero very soon. The real good news is; Brady has finished this cycle of chemotherapy. Yea, Yea, Yea!!! Now we wait and see if all this chemo insanity does its job and knocks the crap out… [Read More]
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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 scores are Complete Blood Counts, temperatures, and the amount of time my son can be unhooked from his pumps. It’s just strange how “stuff” happens! It’s 3:21am (really 4:21am) and once again I cannot sleep. It’s just impossible for any human with pulse and a… [Read More]
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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 ago when my mother was home in labor and about to deliver a 13 lb. baby boy. This didn’t happen for another few hours but I cannot imagine she was getting much sleep on that particular night or for several years to follow. You see,… [Read More]
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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 changed. I’m not whining it’s just different. Tonight it’s boy’s night part 2 and Brady and I are having a blast. Do you know it’s “Hell Night” and can you imagine an adult teaching a bunch of high school freshmen girls (one with cancer) the… [Read More]
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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. Only it was his PICC catheter that he pulled right out of his arm. Of course this was after he ate breakfast which meant he could not have it surgically replaced until late this afternoon. Which meant no food or water for him from 7:00am… [Read More]
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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 homemade double coated chocolate covered Oreos. It’s very cool watching him make a total mess out of eating this. Speaking of eating; we must express our deepest thanks and appreciation to the Mayor and his wife for bringing Sherrie and I a truly delicious pot… [Read More]
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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 dinner with my bride in the dark watching TV and it’s almost like normal. I can’t wait to get out of this place. Well Brady is awake and he’s letting me know it’s time for me to get my butt in gear and pay him… [Read More]
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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 his cancer but I have become quite a bit more cynical in the last 2 weeks and I am having difficulty deciphering this medical jargon. So, I will wait and see how this turns out. Brady will have to be amnestied for the MRI as… [Read More]
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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 a difficult night for Brady as he had a horrible reaction to the high doses of Chemo and vomited like never before. Chemo vomit has to be the grossest smelling crap in the world. Right now Brady is playing peek-a-boo with his Mom as he’s… [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 think) an outstanding medical team focusing on his case. His primary physician is Dr. Richard Drachtman who manages the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at BMS Children’s Hospital. Dr. Drachtman is in daily consultation with Dr. Stuart Winters of the University of New Mexico, Dr. Stephen Hunger… [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. We got him into his pajamas and he sat on the couch with me and drank almost 2 bottles of milk. It was just a perfect evening. Unfortunately it will have to last for the next several weeks. Brady is going back to the hospital… [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 kept by Sherrie and Michael Wells during the cancer diagnosis and treatment of their son, Brady Michael. Hopefully these entires will provide an understanding of the journey families face when dealing with these horrific diseases and of the important work the Hugs for Brady Foundation… [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. Oops, nurse just told me Brady’s bed is wet so it’s time to earn my Daddy pay. A little Tylenol and a lap around the floor in Brady’s wagon (see photo) with some of his friends and now it’s a fresh bottle of milk and… [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. She’s just a wonderful Mom. Today we had our exit interview and if things remain under control and Wednesday’s bone marrow exam is “good” we are out of here. Keep your fingers crossed. We also toured the outpatient clinic where Brady will be receiving most… [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 left eye and another bruise covering the small of his back. This disease sucks! How can we possibly prevent a 13 month old toddler from falling? And when he falls he bruises terribly. It’s just enough to break your heart. On the positive side; Brady… [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 the most; Brady is sleeping away on his stomach with his butt stuck up in the air, it’s just adorable to see. It’s been challenging for him to get any sleep; the poor kid would fall asleep and roll over and the damn pumps he’s… [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 continues for the next 4 days so we can go home some time next week; maybe Wednesday or Thursday. Some of the more detail testing results are starting to come in and so far everything is still pointing to ALL. Let’s all hope this continues!… [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 to the hospital with a bacterial infection and 6 days later is fighting for his life. The immediate challenge is trying to understand something I know nothing about: Leukemia. I had no idea there are oh so many different types and then even more sub-types… [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 of chemotherapy. He was anesthetized for about an hour and when he returned from the recovery room started playing peek-a-boo and smiling. His temperature dropped to 96.4 and he actually ate some ice cream and a banana. He was in great spirits and I must… [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 of The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Brady was admitted to the hospital a week ago for what we believed was a bacterial infection and after 6 days of x-rays, blood work, sonograms, CAT… [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 I really don’t want to even think about. The biopsy procedure is simple but requires Brady to be put under anesthesia. I will try to keep you posted on the results; please say a prayer for Brady he needs all the help he can get…. [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 end. My son Brady’s journey in this life was all too brief, cut viciously short by cancer when he was just two years old. So yes, I used to believe that all journeys come to an end. In the midst of our son’s battle with… [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 fill the trailers to the brim with brand new items and send to the children and families of Texas. PLEASE Consider helping in 3 ways: 1. Drop off items at Participating Locations Please consider donating the items children effected by the flooding need most: Diapers… [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 important to look at the bigger picture to help fund research and new treatment options, it is equally if not more important to help on a smaller scale; individuals like Luke who are the faces of our mission. We aim to support children with cancer… [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 for our foundation to receive an ‘act of kindness’ from Bob’s Furniture and to be part of the company’s new location celebration. Our vital work with eliminating pediatric cancer is boosted by our very generous corporate community.” Thank you to Bob’s Discount Furniture for their… [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 come first served basis. Please email gifts@hugsforbrady.org for tickets. Don’t Forget! You can ATTEND THE GAME FOR FREE if you sign up as a VOLUNTEER for the June 24th game.
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 awesome!” – Anthony, age 6. Part of our mission at the Hugs for Brady Foundation is to ease the pain of pediatric cancer patients and their families in every way possible. This includes creating fun and beautiful spaces for patients to receive their treatment…. [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 awarded ‘Outstanding Foundation’ at this year’s event. A huge thank you to Jeanette Corris of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Foundation who nominated us. Our founder, Sherrie Wells, attended the event to receive the award. You can read her speech below. Thank you to… [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 also involved in a research project for the food bank of NJ. By spending a year meeting with different food bank leaders and clients, Heather and her team were able to show greater need to the underprivileged in the state which helped to raise state… [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 Biology at the ICH). “Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust is the country’s leading centre for treating sick children, with the widest range of specialists under one roof. With the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, they are the largest centre for paediatric… [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 flights as well to various camps such as Camp Sunshine and Kids Need More Camp Adventure. In addition to free flights, they also have an auto pilot program. Once a patient lands for medical appointments, they can arrange free ground transportation (if they are in financial… [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 be entered into a weekly drawing to win a Hugs for Brady sweatshirt or t-shirt! We will notify each week’s winner via Facebook and ask for your address. We will mail you your prize. Share Hugs for Brady with your friends and family so that… [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: $ 300.00 per team and roster in by 08/19/16 $ 325.00 per team and roster in by 09/03/16 $ 350.00 per team and roster in by 09/20/16 10 people on the field at a time (including at least 3 females) Wearing team t-shirts is strongly encouraged–… [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 still need sponsors and raffle items… (Donation values should be worth $25 or more) Contact Kin Tang 732-979-2192 (work) or at 732-666-1085 (cell) for more information and to sponsor or donate. Golfers – $125 Donation includes golf, cart, beverages, lunch and dinner, and awards and prizes. Foursomes –… [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 fear that Brady and his family was experiencing. My dad loved all children, but he had a special place in his heart for Brady. When he would come home from work and talk about Brady, his face would light up. Brady was an extraordinary baby,… [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 awareness and donations for kids battling cancer at BMSCH. Both groups were referred to RWJUH by the Hugs for Brady Foundation, which supports programs, research, activities and toy donations for children and families facing a cancer diagnosis. Recently, Jersey Physical Therapy owners, Dr. Marc Rubenstein,… [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… Provided Rutgers University Cancer Institute of New Jersey $100,000 to continue to offer state of the art gene sequencing on pediatric patients. Your donations also ensure NO CHILD IS TURNED AWAY. Hugs for Brady Foundation was spotlighted on NBC’s Today Show for our extremely special Brady… [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 Hospital. Now through December 23rd, we will be collecting NEW pajamas for infants up till the age of 18 at each of the three Jersey Physical Therapy office locations in East Brunswick, South Brunswick and Plainsboro. As expressed by Cheryl Littner, Assistant Director of Donor… [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 really cool app (coming soon!) that you can download to view the tower plus, it’s going to get lots of press and exposure so Hugs for Brady is super excited to be a part of it and raise lots and lots of money to help kids… [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 to continue giving back. For the past few years, Marie, her husband, Joe, and sister, Joan have been donating “Josh Dogs” to NYP through volunteer work with the Kings County American Legion Auxiliary in Brooklyn. Josh Dogs are plush golden retrievers developed to help alleviate… [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 stadium group HUG to celebrate the newest vision of spreading awareness that Kids Get Cancer Too through a social media campaign lovingly named Hugging Heroes. And now, Rutgers is challenging the other Big 10 teams as well as all other colleges to replicate the “half… [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 cancer 365 days a year, not just around the holidays, and we thought BRAND NEW toys were better than candy this Halloween! We want to thank Kari Mastro for the very warm welcome! Kari Mastro MSN, RN, NEA-BC is the Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer of… [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 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they are 20 years old. Every year, an estimated 250,000+ new cases of cancer affect children under the age of 20 worldwide. Two-thirds of childhood cancer patients will have long lasting chronic… [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 and to inspire action to support the fight against it. The campaign is centered on a challenge: participants will record a video of themselves “hugging their heroes,” nominate friends to complete the challenge, and post the clips to social media. Hugging Heroes is NOT… [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 or has fought a battle with cancer is a hero and we will work tirelessly to help end pediatric cancer for good, but we need your help. Every year, over 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer in the US. Our moral compass has directed us… [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 boxes of school supplies for the oncology kids at the local hospital. Every child should have a heart as big as Vidisha’s! “Thank you so much for giving my daughter, Vidisha an opportunity to help kids in need with school supplies. She is always available… [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 beautiful buffet lunch, putting contest, and the opportunity to use the driving range before a shotgun start at 12:00 pm. After a fun round of golf that included beverages and contests on the course, a luxurious cocktail reception was held with a buffet dinner and awards… [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 kind and giving soul (like yourself) and have some fun! RSVP NOW– The event is filling up fast! To take part in this networking event, the fee is only 1 pint of blood! It is advised to bring 100+ business cards Tables and Sponsorship Opportunities are available!… [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 golf, cart, beverages, lunch and dinner and awards and prizes. Foursomes – $500 Donation includes Golf for 4, Carts, beverages, lunch and dinner and awards and prizes after the game. Tee Sponsorships – $1,000 Donation includes Golf for 4 players, beverages, dinner for four at… [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 found HERE. Pediatric patients at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) received an outpouring of love and support from several members of the community this week. Founder of the Hugs for Brady Foundation Sherrie Wells, along with Kedir… [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 at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Robert Wood Johnson Health System 10 Plum Street, Suite 910, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 732-418-8290 (phone) | 732-418-8379 (fax) | www.rwjuh.edu This past October, a donation from Hugs for Brady was used to help to renovate The… [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 team and ROSTER DUE NOW! 10 People on field (3 females) Wearing team t-shirts is strongly encouraged, and a lot of fun! Food and Beverages will be sold while you play! Bagels sponsored by Bagel Fresh Drinks sponsored by Belfor Please mail entry forms… [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 of the exceptional care they provide for the pediatric population. The medical team worked to put the patient and her family at ease for the 6:00am case. The patient was prepared using an MRI Kitten Scanner & engaged in distraction using MRI video goggles,… [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 raised for the foundation through the 50/50 Raffle. Thanks again to our AMAZING volunteers, without you, this day would not be possible. The day was filled with great family events like father / child catch, kids run the bases, an autograph session with the players,… [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 Hugs for Brady. The campaign culminated in Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 25, a daylong nationwide event when 100 percent of the day’s sales were donated to the Hugs for Brady Foundation. Jersey Mike’s believes that making a sub sandwich and making… [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 girl, becoming a mom and having a career helping kids were my biggest aspirations. At 36-years old, I became pregnant with our son, Brady. He was born on August 21, 2008, and was perfectly healthy in every way. Similarly to other first-time parents, my husband… [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 1,000 men get a free t-shirt in honor of father’s day! Get your tickets now! And don’t forget to use the Group Portal Code “Brady” (See below for more info). 11:00am-12:00pm – Father/child catch on the field and kids run the bases 12:00-12:30pm – Autograph session… [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 your tickets please send your full name, dates you volunteered for, and how many tickets you need to sherrie@hugsforbrady.org before midnight on Thursday April 30, 2015. In the subject line please write “BASEBALL”. *Limit of 4 tickets per volunteer. Must register by midnight on Thursday… [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, drink & bring your ID! For information about eligibility visit www.nybloodcenter.org Don’t forget to stop by the Hugs for Brady Foundation table at the game and say hello! We Need Volunteers for Many Upcoming Events… Click Here to Sign-Up Now!
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 of Their Other Locations! Ridgewood Running Co. Morristown Running Co. Westfield Running Co. Summit Running Co. NJ Running Co. – Hoboken NJ Running Co. – Montvale
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 love was put into this foundation. We were positive that this foundation will put all their efforts in finding a cure for cancer and not throwing our money to waste. This is why we chose to donate to Hugs for Brady. We decided to put… [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 will go to help kids battling cancer! Thank you to Dinesh Ramchandani at The MAX Challenge for always supporting the Hugs for Brady Foundation and for embodying what it means to go way above and beyond in helping kids battling cancer! The Hugs for Brady 5K is Saturday,… [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 massages for 5k participants. Use of their steam, sauna, whirlpool, and swimming pool are included. Popular Massage Prices Swedish – Starting at $45 for 20 min. Sports – Starting at $50 for 20 min. Aromatherapy – Starting at $50 for 20 min. Chakra Stone –… [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, for your help in making this donation possible. —– The donated toys were distributed to local hospitals and the ProCure Proton Therapy Center. We are overwhelmed with their amazing generosity to help kids battling cancer!
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. Hugs for Brady Foundation donated $107,000.00 to renovate both an existing playroom and a gathering area. President Sherrie Wells worked in tandem with Gerri Daneman to create a beautiful new space for children of all ages and their families. This spring Hugs for Brady had… [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 this location) Princeton Running Company 108 Nassau Street Princeton, NJ 08542
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 oils that can minimize symptoms, address root causes, and can lessen or even eliminate expensive over-the-counter medications. Pure, therapeutic grade and perfectly complimentary, essential oils are natural compounds derived from plants. “This is a fun, interactive class – sample, smell and learn to take care… [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 a moment to visit their page at www.hugsforbrady.org and find out about all the wonderful things they represent and make happen to help other families’ struggles a little easier. Brady’s incredible and courageous parents run this charity, and they have very little overhead so virtually… [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 that the children in pediatric hospitals often traveled from one end of the hospital to the next dragging a heavy and scary chemotherapy pumping unit. It was very RARE for Brady not to be hooked up to his IV, even if he was not getting… [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 how much enjoyment all of the younger kids got from riding in them. When my grandmother wanted to donate a Brady buggy, I wanted it to go to my oncologist, Dr. Weiss for his patients. He had moved to Maine Medical Center. So last year… [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 permission to use on the Today show and for all HFB marketing. Submit to sherrie@hugsforbrady.org. YOUR CHILD’S PHOTO MAY BE CHOSEN TO BE ON THE AIR!!!
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 of Philadelphia Carlos Raymond Saavedra Foundation Recipient: St. Jude’s Suburban Propane Management Team Recipient: Goryeb Morristown Children’s Hospital JFK Memorial High School Student Council (Donated 2) Recipient: Raritan Bay Medical Center Recipient: St. Barnabas Hospital Affinity Federal Credit Union Recipient: Centra State Healthcare Foundation Monmouth… [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 Brady Foundation to HELP END pediatric cancer for good! The Hugs for Brady Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. All donations are 100% tax deductible. The Hugs for Brady Foundation has over 500 volunteers and only one part time administrative assistant staff… [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 pennies. She told me her name is Danyale and that she is 8 years old. As she handed me the bag and the letter (shown above) and she told me that she has seen pictures of Brady, how cute he is, and that she wants… [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 for Brady Foundation to help children who are fighting cancer. Well over 1,000 attendees participated in the event including Bryan Klein, Founder and CEO of The MAX Challenge, along with fellow MAX owners, members and representatives. Over 22 MAX Challenge center representatives from facilities located… [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 mail entry forms along with a check to: Rich Domotor Attn: Kickball Tournament 32 Tyndall Rd. Kendall Park NJ 08824 Remember to write your teams name in the memo line of the check. All proceeds go to Hugs for Brady Foundation.
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 to the Jersey Diner on Route 130 in South Brunswick Sunday afternoon and ordered fries and a drink, saying he had a long drive ahead of him. As he waited by the register, he picked up a donation jar belonging to the Hugs for… [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 research assistant in New York City when I first heard about the Hugs for Brady Foundation, and immediately knew I wanted to get involved. Brady’s story touched me very deeply, and hearing about other children still suffering from pediatric cancer and how difficult their lives… [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. Richard Drachtman MD Interim Director, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Professor of Pediatrics Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
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 works on diversifying the registry to help more children, by conducting bone marrow drives throughout the country in order to add more donors into the Be The Match Registry. As a result of The Icla da Silva Foundation’s hard work, more children are able to find… [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 proud they decided to join us. Yes, on Tuesday July 10th we were blessed with the arrival of our twin boys; Gavin & Logan. I cannot begin to explain just how incredibly happy and thankful we are. While it took more than 20 hours of… [Read More]