Joe McDonough, president of The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Constructive) Basis, has spent practically 20 years supporting youngsters with most cancers and their households. He co-founded the inspiration after shedding his son Andrew, and it has grown into one of many largest suppliers of economic help for households of youngsters with most cancers within the U.S.
In December 2025, McDonough was honored on the
On this interview, McDonough shares the message he hopes households hear when first going through a analysis.
Transcript
When households first face a analysis and really feel overwhelmed or scared, what’s the first message you hope they hear or a very powerful factor you need them to grasp?
Folks have been down this highway earlier than you. Your youngsters are off working round, taking part in video games and soccer and baseball and going to varsity. Fortunately, as a result of funding in analysis, most kids will survive most cancers, notably the hematologic cancers, and that’s hope. When you’re informed your little one has most cancers, most individuals will robotically assume the worst, and lots of people will go to web sites and Google; I say, do not try this. Concentrate on as we speak and acknowledge that there are quite a lot of remedy choices and there are quite a lot of nice hospitals on this nation. We’re very blessed. So, there are quite a lot of choices.
I’m not going to let you know it’ll be straightforward, and I’m not going to let you know it’ll be fast, however it’s a journey that’s going to be form of lengthy. You may go down that highway, and I additionally won’t ever promise anybody a sure end result. My end result is just not what I anticipated it was going to be, however most youngsters do survive childhood most cancers.
When a household involves me at analysis and is in search of a pal, I need to be that pal. I allow them to know clearly that I’m not a health care provider, however I’ve been down an analogous, not equivalent, however comparable, path. What occurs is, when a baby is identified, the household, after all, faucets into their pal and household community, and so typically individuals say, “I do know what you are going via.” No, you do not. You have no idea what they’re going via except somebody has mentioned to you, “Your little one has most cancers.” I’ve heard these phrases, and so what I would like the household to know is that I’m right here as a pal. Sure, we write checks and issues, however I’m right here as a pal. You may speak to me. We are able to communicate the identical language. I’ve been down an analogous highway, although everybody’s is exclusive.
I need to watch out to say that I’m by no means, ever going to say I do know what you’re going via as a result of I do not; everybody’s relationship with their little one is totally different. However I do need them to know, although it’s a form of overused expression, that it is a membership you by no means need to be in, and I would like them to know they’ve somebody they will speak to.
Transcript has been edited for readability and conciseness.
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