3-Time Cancer Survivor Helps Wish Kids Heal in Maryland

BJ Radhe knows exactly what it feels like to walk hospital hallways toward another round of treatment, which is why he keeps coming back to walk them with kids who need hope most.

The Howard County, Maryland resident was just 23 when doctors diagnosed him with stage four Hodgkin's lymphoma. He beat it, only to face cancer again three years later, requiring a stem cell transplant. Ten years after that victory, cancer returned a third time.

That third diagnosis hit differently. Radhe had a wife now, people who depended on him. But even during treatment, he kept working and spreading good news to anyone who would listen.

For over five years, Radhe has devoted himself to Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. He helps run the annual Wish Ball, chairs the golf classic at Baltimore Country Club, and visits Wish Kids in hospitals alongside Lily, his trusted service dog.

"I think it is a little bit of a therapy for me," Radhe said. "I want to give back, to show people that, 'Hey, I'm here, and if you have questions for me, I'm willing to help out.'"

When 11-year-old Wish Kid Bobby Mork met Radhe recently at a Make-A-Wish open house, his face lit up the moment he saw Lily. Radhe immediately handed Bobby the leash, and the gentle dog stayed glued to the boy's side during the entire tour.

Why This Inspires

Radhe's story proves that healing isn't just about surviving. It's about taking the strength you gained in your hardest moments and using it to lift others through theirs.

The smiles he sees on the darkest days remind him why he keeps showing up. Even children facing critical illnesses carry hope when organizations like Make-A-Wish give them something to dream about.

"Seeing these kids, like just meeting Bobby today, or Sophia, you see that like even on their darkest days, they always have that smile," Radhe said. "They have that smile for what Make-A-Wish has given back to them."

Three cancer diagnoses could have broken him, but instead they built a bridge between Radhe and the children who need to know that fighting is worth it.