On July 24th last year, our family was living in and out of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Maddy, our namesake at Madelyn James, was recovering from internal bleeding that left her intubated for two weeks straight. Each day, we clipped a new, fresh bow into Maddy’s little curls. Our favorite PICU nurse even purchased a rainbow bow for her to wear, even on her most sick day Maddy was sunshine.

To celebrate Maddy’s progress, we declared this day Bow Day! We purchased bows and handed them out to every single person who came into our room, from the incredible cleaning team to our oncologist and nurses. Everyone signed a bow poster for Mads. We made every moment matter. Every person who came into our room that day was family.

At Madelyn James, we focus on the research around Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) - the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play. These are associated with profound inequities in cancer incidence, care delivery, and outcomes—including stark disparities in survival.

More than 1 in 5 US patients with cancer struggles to meet at least 1 of these basic needs, and estimates are much higher for patients from historically marginalized populations, including those of Black race, those of Hispanic ethnicity, and those living in poverty.

When you give monthly as a member of the Bow Society, you ensure each month we can pay for a family's rent, car payments, and any other bills that might sneak up when you are focused on your child's health and/or are living in the hospital.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 a month from our Bow Society Members. Can you help us meet that goal?

YOU, will receive some signature Maddy “double wave” thank yous:

1. Quarterly updates

2. A new bow each year thanks to our partners at Little Poppy Co.!

3. First glimpse at special events

4. Yearly t-shirt honoring the grit and grace of Madelyn James