BALA CYNWYD, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — The Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation has prepared a special donation of medical backpacks for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
The couple behind the foundation, Jackie and Dan Didio, have been motivated to help children in memory of their own 1-year-old daughter, Madelyn ‘Maddy’ James.
Maddy was diagnosed with infant leukemia. And so, the Didio family moved to Philadelphia to get care at CHOP. Upon moving, they met their new neighbors: Cole and Barbara Friedes.
Both Cole and Barbara worked at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and had a passion for caring for patients.
Tragically, Barbara was struck and killed while riding her bicycle in Center City last summer. The driver was drunk and speeding, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
This new project, ‘Backpacks with Barbara,’ converges the memory of both Barbara and Maddy into a legacy that will hopefully help countless children.
Each medical backpack is outfitted with pouches to carry IV bags and other medical equipment. It will be particularly helpful for patients who require medicine known as ‘Blinatumomab,’ which is administered via a 28-day continual infusion.
A recent volunteer event at Philadelphia Insurance Companies helped prepare more than 250 of these backpacks.
Watch the video above and visit the Madelyn James Pediatric Cancer Foundation website to learn more.
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