During the fall of 2001, I met a 10 year old boy named Mathew. We met through a buddy program that paired kids with cancer with 1st-year medical students, and Amy and I developed a close friendship with him and his family. I actually learned more about the non-medical aspects of cancer diagnosis and treatment during the 3 years that I knew him than I learned during residency and fellowship. When his cancer relapsed, Mathew said that he wanted to participate in a phase 1 clinical trial because he wanted to give other kids a chance at being cured, even though he knew that the trial's intent wasn’t to cure him.

Mathew is one of the main reasons why I am a pediatric oncologist today. We even named our son after him.

Please help us continue Mathew’s fight against childhood cancer by making a donation to St. Baldrick’s. This volunteer-driven charity raised over $33 million for childhood cancer research in 2012. On Sunday, March 3, I, along with hundreds of other volunteers, will have their heads shaved to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures. Your gift will give hope to infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers. Please click "Donate" to give online, or donate by phone or mail.