Last night at Wellness House, Matt Brown and I had the incredible honor of introducing Dr. Jim Olson, a physician-scientist from Seattle Children’s whose work has been a guiding light for our family for over two years. His innovations—from Tumor Paint to Project Violet—have not only advanced pediatric brain cancer research, but have also modeled what it means to connect institutions, share data, and put humanity at the center of science. 
The evening was filled with emotion—stories, science, and a deep sense of connection. Attendees left feeling inspired, hopeful, and energized. And for our family, it was deeply personal. 
Connection is the thread that runs through everything Dr. Olson and I both do—both professionally and personally. Dr. Olson is a connector in every sense of the word. He’s been linking institutions, ideas, and people for years—often behind the scenes, and often in ways most of us never see. His projects promote a critical idea: open collaboration over competition.
And this morning? Alexander raced him to school. He is a total ham, cheesing it up on the school’s bulldog statue like he was running for class president. It was loud, joyful, and unforgettable. 
And how did we first connect with Dr. Olson?
Well… it started with a declined LinkedIn request. 
But thanks to LinkedIn Premium, I was able to send a direct message—and within five minutes, Dr. Olson called us from his cell phone. That moment told us everything we needed to know: this was someone Matt Brown and I would know for life. (Thank you, AndrewandNaomi Murtagh for not declining me! 
)
To everyone who helped make last night possible: thank you. You gave us a night we’ll never forget—and a morning that reminded us what hope really looks like.
Please let me know if you’d like the recording—it’s worth every minute!
Please take a look:
https://give.seattlechildrens.org/give/722434/#!/donation/checkout
We are #AlexanderStrong. And we are so grateful.
#AlexanderStrong#Beelieve#openscience#childhoodcancerawareness#medulloblastoma#PediatricBrainCancerAwareness#connectionmatterss#gratitude#linkedincommunity#HopeInAction#ScienceWithHeart#citizenscience#FamilyCenteredCare#InnovationInMedicine#HealingThroughConnectionFred Hutch