Our mission is to increase equity in pediatric cancer. One of the ways we can do this is talk about...
Join us in honoring and the life and legacy of one incredible human, doctor and neighbor Dr. Barbara Friedes
Madelyn James Community:
On Wednesday night, July 17, our community lost a beacon of light, love, brilliance and kindness: Dr. Barbara Friedes.
Barbara and her husband Cole were the first people Dan and I met when we moved into our townhouse last March of 2023 in Philadelphia. We still remember being thrilled and honored to move in next door to such kind people. So when we went through “what do you do?” And Barbara told us, “I want to work in oncology at CHOP” needless to say we made an immediate connection. Barbara already knew of Maddy’s story, our story.
When you talked to Barbara you immediately felt her warmth and love and light.
Dan and I most remember how in love Barbara was with her husband Cole. To see them together was like watching a rom com in real life! We would lovingly call them Barbie and Ken when we talked about them.
We were so honored they joined us at our Bow Bash in Philly and we were thrilled when they shared she was selected as Chief Resident of the CHOP oncology team.
We learned that Barbara was most excited about immunotherapy and specifically CART and relapsed patients: just like our namesake, Maddy.
She was already making an impact to find cures and support families, just like ours and the families we support, during her life that was cut far too short at 30 years old.
This week is a special one for our community: Bow Day on July 24th. A day where Maddy was recovering in the PICU and we decided to have a random celebration. We bought hundreds of bows and shared them with every single person who came into our room that day. From the cleaning team who made the room sparkle to our nurses and doctors. This year, we will also honor the life of Dr. Barbara Friedes and the incredible impact she made on pediatric cancer. She loved flowers and in addition to bows, we will share flower patches at CHOPs cancer center and also in DC and Children’s National.
We are mourning Barbara’s loss.
Our deepest love goes out to her husband Cole, and her entire family and friends.
We will be sharing more about how we will continue to lift up and honor Barbara’s life and impact in the coming weeks. And, we will always say her name and remember her incredible spirit as we work with families who she would have wrapped her arms around to find cures: no matter where they came from or how they identified.
You can learn more about our original bow girl, Maddy, and her love of bows here. Our origin story, our why. And, Barbara was and always will be part of the Madelyn James community. You can support Barbara's family directly here.
In love and sadness and hope and light,
Jackie & Dan
