Act With Humanity

Act With Humanity

March 9 marks the devastating anniversary of the day my stepson Max died after a three-year battle with cancer. Max was 17 years old. I have dedicated most of the last 34 years to galvanizing the global community to help families avoid the suffering of the premature loss of their loved one. In the process, a thriving global network of people helping people emerged as a beacon of hope and light. The work we do at The Max Foundation elevates the common humanity and interconnectedness among all of us, no matter where we live. We are one, we long for the same, we need each other.

This year, March 9 finds us navigating difficult times yet unwilling to accept a global current that wants to convince us to focus on ourselves and ignore those most vulnerable among us.

While trying to find my footing, a news article published recently resonated with me and reminded me that our capacity to act with humanity is still intact. Today my feelings can be summarized in one short message: this is not the time to be a goldfish. I invite you to read my editorial, published in Devex, and share widely.

Read More

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez is the CEO of The Max Foundation. Under Pat’s direction The Max Foundation is dedicated to accelerating health equity by delivering medication, technology, and services to patients facing cancer and other critical illnesses, focusing our energy on those who no one else is helping. Pat lives in Edmonds, Washington, where she raised her four sons.

Related Articles

  • The Max Foundation (Max) Expands Collaboration with Novartis to Include Access to Innovative Treatment for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

    The Max Foundation (Max) Expands Collaboration with Novartis to Include Access to Innovative Treatment for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

    Max to immediately begin process to provide humanitarian access for Fabhalta® (iptacopan) in collaboration with its network of partner hematologists across 53 countries People living with the rare blood disease in low-middle income countries require frequent blood transfusions, experience debilitating symptoms of fatigue and without treatment may progress to more serious life-threatening diseases The Max….

  • UICC announces a new global coalition to increase access to and the  use of essential cancer medicines in low- and lower middle-income  countries

    UICC announces a new global coalition to increase access to and the use of essential cancer medicines in low- and lower middle-income countries

    The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and multiple partners* are establishing the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, a new global partnership to increase access to quality-assured essential cancer medicines in low- and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs) and to help countries develop the capacity for their proper use. It is estimated that less than….

  • Join us November 6th for the International CML Foundation Forum at AORTIC

    Join us November 6th for the International CML Foundation Forum at AORTIC

    The African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer conference (AORTIC), happening November 5–8, 2019 brings together leading cancer specialists from around the world. During the conference, attendees are invited to join The Max Foundation and the International and Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation (iCMLf) for an interactive session for African Physicians Treating CML. When: Wednesday,….