14 Years of Miracles, Hope, and Healing
Dear Friends and Champions of MaxLove Project,
As I write this letter, my heart is full of gratitude, wonder, and an unshakeable belief in the power of love to transform tragedy into hope. Today, Tuesday, August 5th, 2025, we mark exactly 14 years since our world changed forever—the day our four-year-old son Max was diagnosed with a brainstem tumor that doctors said could end his young life.
I remember that terrifying day as if it were yesterday. We were rushed in an ambulance from a diagnostic MRI straight to the PICU at Children's Hospital of Orange County for emergency brain surgery. The tumor had grown into Max's 4th ventricle, causing life-threatening hydrocephalus. After a lifesaving surgery in the early morning hours of August 6th, 2011, we received words no parent should ever hear: "Focus on his quality of life. Treatment typically cannot cure this disease."
At that moment, in the sterile quiet of a pediatric intensive care unit, MaxLove Project was born. We made a choice—to turn our deepest pain into purpose, our greatest fear into fierce determination to help other families facing the unthinkable.
The Miracle of Max
I am overwhelmed with gratitude by the miracle of his journey. Our 18-year-old son—who was given little hope for survival—is not just alive, he is thriving. The tumors that still extend from his C-spine through his brainstem to his midbrain have not stopped him from living a full, joyful life. He loves lifting weights, driving his sister around town, video games, and spending time with friends. Most importantly, he embodies everything we work toward at MaxLove Project: proving that with the right support, children can truly thrive against the odds.
Today we're celebrating another huge milestone -- Max moved into his college dorm yesterday, ready to embark on the next chapter of his journey into adulthood as a college freshman!
Max's survival and quality of life didn't happen by accident. When traditional medicine reached its limits, we discovered the transformative power of integrative and complementary therapies. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, evidence-based culinary medicine, functional medicine, and lifestyle interventions, along with essential scientific advances, became cornerstones of Max's care. These approaches didn't just extend his life—they gave him quality of life that exceeded our wildest dreams.
From Personal Tragedy to Global Impact—And Our Fight for Survival
What started as a desperate search for hope in a children's hospital has grown into something extraordinary. Over the past 14 years, MaxLove Project has served more than 35,000 families across the United States and around the world through evidence-based programs that measurably improve quality of life:
Fierce Foods Academy teaches families that food can be medicine, empowering parents and children to use whole, nutrient-dense foods for healing
MaxLove Connect mobile app provides 24/7 expert-facilitated community support where families never face cancer alone
Emotional health programs like Parents Rising and Turning Towards Grief address the psychological wounds cancer inflicts on entire families
We've built partnerships with over 30 children's hospitals and pioneered research published in peer-reviewed journals, including our landmark Ohana Project study. We've been leaders in pediatric applications of the ketogenic diet, medical cannabis, and integrative approaches to survivorship care. We don't just offer hope—we offer proven pathways to better outcomes.
But Max's miracle didn't happen in isolation—it happened because of a community that believes in the power of love, science, and determination.
An Urgent Invitation: Help Us Continue Max's Miracle
We continue to pay forward every ounce of the love, support, information, and connections that have carried us through our journey. As we honor Max's 14-year 'cancerversary,' we invite you to join our mission with a gift of any size. Every contribution helps us create powerful, life-changing impact for children and families facing overwhelming challenges.
We recognize there are countless important causes deserving support, especially today, and we would be deeply honored to have you on our team—helping kids thrive regardless of their diagnosis or prognosis. With Max, we invested all our energy into hope, and thousands of children and families today need that same unwavering support. Join us in making hope a reality.
Here's what your donation accomplishes:
$450 provides a full year of comprehensive support to one family
$100 funds one family's participation in our quarterly Fierce Foods Academy cooking class
$50 provides a month of expert-led support through our online platform
Will you make a gift today to ensure no family faces childhood cancer without the tools, community, and hope they need to thrive?
Please click the button below to donate and make a difference today.
From our MaxLove family to yours, thank you for being a hero when hope needs heroes most.
With infinite gratitude and maximum love,
Audra DiPadova Wilford
Founder and Chief Hope Officer
MaxLove Project
P.S. Max asked me to tell you all "thank you" for helping him get to this moment. He's excited about college, grateful for his journey, and proud to be the inspiration behind an organization that's helping so many other kids and families. He truly embodies our mission: helping SuperKids thrive against the odds.
P.P.S. If you've been considering a larger gift, now is the time. We're exploring matching gift opportunities to double the impact of major donations received in September. Please contact me directly at audra@maxloveproject.org to discuss how your leadership gift can create even greater impact for childhood cancer families.