fbpx
Remembering Max, three decades later still looking for the why

Remembering Max, three decades later still looking for the why

Today is a difficult day, the anniversary of the day we lost Max to leukemia in 1991. The pain and feeling of emptiness remain with me, as real and tangible as it was more than 30 years ago. No matter how many years pass, this pain never goes away. It still fills my soul and I am haunted by the question of why would this happen to this beautiful child.

In the past three decades, I have learned that the questioning of why would this happen to our loved ones, is universal. The pain of the loss from cancer is universal and so is the sadness of family members everywhere, no matter the country, the region, or the social situation of a family.

Today the search for an answer to that why helps explain a different why. Why do we move heaven and earth every day to reach one more patient in need of cancer treatment? Why do we need everyone’s help to remove the multiple challenges along the way? Why attempt to do what no one else has been able to do, treat advanced breast cancer in the most challenging places in the world?

The answer is simple, because we can; today, working together, we can alleviate the suffering of so many families and allow them to have more time with their loved ones and the dignity and hope we all deserve. Because children need time with their mothers, and parents need time with their children, and no one should lose a loved one from cancer knowing they could have been saved.

In memory of Max and of all those whom we lost prematurely from cancer, today please join me today in lighting a candle and pausing for a moment of reflection. Let’s turn our pain into action and renew our determination to not let cancer win because someone’s loved one couldn’t access the treatment they need. 

In heartfelt gratitude,

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez

The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 27 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.

Related Articles

  • Cancer knows no boundaries.

    Cancer knows no boundaries.

    43K patients with critical illnesses receiving support; 36M daily doses of treatment donated; 70+ low and middle-income countries where we work; >540 partner HCPs in our global network. Focusing our energy on those who need help the most, we’re accelerating health equity, one patient at a time. #AmplifyOurVoice #ClosetheCareGap #WorldCancerDay  

  • Fighting on despite unexpected standstill

    Fighting on despite unexpected standstill

    This is the story of twin sisters, Kanitha and Kanoksri Kumphai from Thailand.  Like twins the world over, they were inseparable and continued to do most things together well into their adulthood.  Now in their late 40’s, Kanoksri is married with a family of her own, and Kanitha is single. Both sisters were running a….

Give hope this season

Support patients and families facing cancer around the world

Donate Now

This will close in 0 seconds