Max

Max is a sweet, but tough little dude. He has a contagious smile that can light up a room and a giggle to match it. He loves all things for boys – trucks, dinosaurs, building with Legos, cars… you name it!

Max wasn’t acting like himself for a few days and his family thought he had a cold or the flu. They took him to his pediatrician and were told to go to CHOP for blood work. Max and his mom stayed there for 8 days after receiving the heartbreaking news that he had leukemia on December 23, 2015.

What was supposed to be a fun winter with a trip to Sea World turned into a 2 week stay at the hospital to get Max back on his feet and feeling better. They came home on January 1st and have been adjusting to their new way of life at home with his brother Jacob and family.

In the beginning, Max was diagnosed with Standard Acute B-ALL Lymphoblastic Leukemia and started treatment. As of January 27th, his diagnosis has been changed from ‘Standard’ to ‘Very High Risk’ due to tiny molecular levels of leukemia remaining in his marrow after induction treatment, which means he will have a more aggressive treatment plan.  The time frame for treatment is still the same – a very long 3 1/2 years.

Please check in on Max through his care page and send all the positive juju and good vibes you can to help Max and his family fight through this.

Max is the bravest, strongest, toughest little dude out there. He has a super silly, crazy personality and an infectious giggle that puts a smile on everyone’s face. Besides this Max is a true sweet heart and awesome hugger!

We have a new Courageous Knight and his name is Max the Brave!!!  Look out Cancer – you have met your match!

Quote From Max’s Mom:

Mascots for a Cure came into our lives last summer when we were invited to be in a music video shoot along with other cancer warriors and their families.  Although we ended up spending most of the day hiding a scared Max from the Phillie Phanatic, he did fall in love with Jurdie – the Mascot of Happiness.  I was simply blown away by this organization.  Huge smiles were on every kids’ faces along with non-stop laughter, dancing and happiness.  We made a personal connection with Derek the founder who was so sweet to my boys and made sure to make them feel comfortable and enjoy the day.

Mascots bring a joy to people like no other.  I never realized it before that day.  To then learn that they bring mascots to children’s hospitals all over to visit with the kids battling cancer was amazing.  It’s things like this that make patients and families forget you are in a hospital setting with your little one receiving chemo and other treatments.  It makes them forget any bad that they may be feeling and just smile and enjoy the moment.  That is priceless!

The new Twist for a Cure campaign is one we jumped into right away and had Max’s doctors and team of nurses and Child Life join in one day at a clinic appointment.  I hope it continues and they keep the momentum going spreading the word about pediatric cancer.  And I know that Max will always be a part of MFAC in one way or another.  Who knows… maybe he and his brother will create their own mascot one day and join in on the mission of ending this horrific disease and find a cure for these incredible kids.