Good News York by Growth Mode Content - GNY EP.126 | Feat. Jalal Zoghby from the Live Like Liam Foundation

Episode Date: November 24, 2025

Honoring Liam's Legacy: Live Like Liam Foundation and Upcoming Run/Walk Event In this episode of Good News York, host Mike welcomes Jalal Zoghby, co-founder of Live Like Liam, a foundation established to honor the memory of Jalal's son, Liam. The episode delves into the emotional journey of Liam, who lived with DiGeorge Syndrome, and the inspirational impact he left behind with his positive mantra, 'find the good.' Jalal talks about the upcoming Live Like Liam Run/Walk event at Jamesville Dewitt High School on November 29th, aimed at raising funds for several charitable causes such as the Upstate Foundation and Ronald McDonald House. The episode also highlights the foundation’s other charitable activities, such as scholarships and endowments supporting families in need. The event is a community gathering that not only raises money but also helps to strengthen community bonds and continue Liam's legacy. 00:00 Welcome to Good News York 00:22 Introducing Special Guest: Jalal Zoghby 01:01 Liam's Inspiring Story 03:41 The Significance of Number 22 04:47 Live Like Liam Fundraiser Details 05:43 Supporting Families in Need 09:30 Liam's Legacy at Syracuse University 12:37 Founding Live Like Liam Organization 14:32 Details on DiGeorge Syndrome 17:04 Upcoming Events and How to Get Involved 21:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Good News York on Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. Eastern. I am joined by a very special guest today. The co-founder of Live Like Liam, they're having a very special run-walk fundraiser at Jamesville DeWitt High School on November 29th. At 9 a.m., I am honored to be joined by the co-founder, Jalal Zagby. Jalal, how are you?

I'm excellent. Thank you for having. I'm really happy you're here. You guys reached out asking if we could help promote this, and it was a no-brainer. And it's a no-brainer for the obvious reasons, which is it's an amazing cause and amazing story. But one thing I found when I was kind of researching beforehand was that your son Liam, one of his phrases was find the good. And this show is literally, that's what we, that's what this show is about good news York is you turn on the news and it's bad. And we were like, we need to showcase things in New York that are good.

That's awesome. So I feel like this is a match made in heaven. So, Jalal, tell us a little bit about yourself and why you're here today. Yeah, so, you know, my name is Jalal Zagby. I have, we have a, you know, my wife and I, we have, well, we have four kids. We still say four kids. Of course. But unfortunately, you know, we lost Liam January 12th of 2024.

So it's coming up on two years. And, you know, Liam was born with, you know, medical issues. He was born with a defective heart. He had chromosome 22 deficiency, which can give you, like, almost 180 things that can go wrong. And one of the things for him was, you know, his heart was almost like reversed. So he had to go through like three heart surgeries. And there was other medical stuff that he went through altogether, probably about 16 to 17 procedures. But he always had that positivity in him.

He always, you know, bounced back and as if, like, nothing was wrong. He always tried to find the good and everything that he did, you know, or any medical struggles he went through. He found the good and just like, yeah, I'm going to be okay, you know. And he was like, I'd always say that he was a manager on the circus basketball team. Yes. And he loved Circus Orange basketball. Love them.

In top of, you know, the Celtics, the Vikings, New York Yankees. And every time a team would lose. I'm like, oh, Liam, what's going on? He's like, it's going to be okay. He always, like, it's next game they're going to win, so he always found the good. And the way we came with that slogan, a friend of ours who was, because our organization is all based on volunteers. You know, nobody, we just, a bunch of people who just, when we lost Liam, just kind of took us over under their wing, and they helped us establish this foundation. And a friend of ours said, give me three, all of us to give three words that describe Liam.

So we all put out two cents in, and off and he's like, he's like, He just found the good and everything. And that's why we're kind of going, live like Liam, find the good. That's absolutely beautiful. And I mean, especially in these crazy times the last 10 years, it's been harder to find the good. So people like that are inspiring and what keep us going. And the other thing I realized is just how important the number 22 is. Can you tell us about the significant of the number 22?

Yeah, so number 22 is. It's like everywhere we go. It's with us. Liam was born with the chromosome 22 deficiency. Liam passed at age 22. We have, you know, my kids, you know, Liam, you know, 22. Miriam is 21. Sophia's 19.

Nolan, who was 12 years old, actually. He's 12 yesterday. He was born on the 22nd of November. So it's kind of like 22 is just wherever we go. And lately, like, it just seems that you look on your phone. It's 22. you go, you know, our friends who are part of our foundation, they keep saying like, oh my God, number 22 is here.

Like, every time something important is happening, that number just pops up. And I'm not into this, you know, like, but it's just a comforting. Maybe I'm seeking it. I don't know. You know, I know exactly what you mean. I struggle with faith and, you know, is there religion? Is it the universe? But these coincidences happen sometimes, and it makes you start to think maybe there is something.

because it's just, it's, it's amazing. So on November 29th at Jamesville-Dewitt High School, 9 a.m., it is the Live Like Liam Run and Walk. Now, what's great about this organization is not only are you raising money for families in need, but you're creating endowments for the Upstate Foundation for Chromazone Research, Ronald McDonald's. Talk about some of the things that you guys do with the organization. So when we first decided to get this organization, though, and our goal was to hit every place that had an effect on Liam, who made him all he was. And Liam was, you know, he had special needs. So JD High School, JD, from kindergarten all the way to senior, the support that they gave him was amazing.

So what we do is we do a scholarship there to go to any kid who showed perseverance or kindness to others. So that's one. The other one would be they're not at McDonnell at House. Obviously, when we are at strong memorial with Liam's third heart surgery, my wife was pregnant at the time, and if it wasn't off Ronald McDonald's house,

I think it would have been really hard for us. You know what I mean? The floor above where Liam had a surgery, and it was made our lives very easy. So we knew the value of that. Upstate Foundation. Now, we're blessed that financially we can continue with our life,

no matter how many, you know, all these obstacles that, you know, we faced. But when we were in the hospital, we saw so many times where one of them was at the emergency room, and mother came in, she's like, I don't have money to park, but her kid is. So, you know, people couldn't afford food for lunch or for guests.

So we decided to establish this endowment. So that way people can go to families of kids who are sick in the hospital, also some of that to go towards research, you know, chromosome research, especially chromosome 22. And lastly, actually, Then we have the Inclusive U program at Circus University, which is a program for kids with special needs, but they'll have the opportunity to attend college, to have the experience of being a student

and be able to, you know, give them options to go into the world after they graduate. Now, the state covers two years, but the second two years they don't, and it's not, you know, it's pricey, and not everybody could afford having their kids go for the next two years. So we were blessed to be able to establish this $100,000 scholarship that were covered. over five-year period, like $20,000 every year, for that purpose only. And we've done 40,000 so far in just five months. That's amazing.

And then out of nowhere, which was amazing too, Krause reached out to us, the NICU unit. We're going to collaborate with them on something to do with, you know, Liam was at the NICU there. So every place that affected us helped us with trying to help people back. It's such a beautiful thing you're doing. And it really touches me.

You know, I'm not making this about me. It's just so you want to do it. So you know, I understand. We talked a little bit about before. When I was six years old, I lost my three-year-old brother to leukemia. And we went out to Minnesota where I was giving him a bone marrow transplant. And I don't have many memories because I was so young. But I do remember just not too many details.

But we stayed at a Ronald McDonald's. And I just remember how sad and scared and worried my parents were financially and emotionally. And I remember when we got to the Ronald McDonald House, obviously it didn't fix things, but I remember it allowed them to take a breath. And so what you're doing for them, it really hits home to me, and I thank you. You guys stayed at a Ronald McDonald's house?

Who stayed at John? Yeah, I mean, everything was at upstate, but the last surgery was as strong. So we end up going up there. And I'm telling you, as a parent of a kid who's sick, every little bit helps. to ease some of the burdens and some of the worries.

So if we can change 0.01% and make things better, we're happy that we can do that. That means that hits me right here, man. You know, we've had, are you familiar with David's Refuge? Yes. David's Refuge, similar kind of idea. They help caregivers for people who have sick family members. And same deal.

It's just what you guys are doing is so important because, as you said, when you have especially a sick child, people don't, you know, people think of, oh, no, you know, we've got to worry about the health care and the medical and no, how about like, we just can someone, I have to pay bills this month. Can you contact this company? Can you go grocery shopping? And to have that kind of stuff can make such a, such a huge difference. I want to talk a little bit about, Liam and his involvement in Syracuse University. How did that come about? That's so awesome. Yeah, so Liam, when, you know, I've obviously always bleeding orange. Of course, you know, but then we, you know, Coach Behan, you know, we reached out to them through a friend and he was amazing.

So it was, you know, Julie, they were great. We told them, you know, we went through the Inclusive You program. And then, you know, the one time, you know, I took him with, you know, I took him with, you know, he introduced him to everybody. And he felt like it was home for him. You know what I mean? Like, he hated missing any practices. I'm like, what did you do to it? I clapped, I clapped.

I'm like, that's awesome. He goes, but just makes the students feel good, like the players, you know what I mean? So finding the good. He found the good. Exactly. Although his role wasn't that big, but just to be feeling the sense of belonging. Because kids with special needs, they need that. You know what I mean?

And they're aware. As much as you don't think that, they're aware of what goes on. So then after Coach Beham retired, Coach Autry jumped in. And Coach Autry was beyond incredible. because Liam passed away while Coach, Audrey was coach. And, you know, they had their golf tournament one year, and they made a very generous donation for us.

You know, the Behan Foundation's been helping us like crazy also. Julie's been wonderful. And so our orange connection has been great. And, you know, it just helped him, you know, feel that he belongs to people going to that. You know what I mean? So it was really special. That's absolutely beautiful.

Gosh, so much I could ask. When a family goes through something like this, I mean, it changes you, good or bad. You know, what are some of the things that you learn from this whole experience as a family? If you want to talk about that. Yeah, I mean, you know, when he passed away, completely unexpected. Because, I mean, Liam had all these medical and it ended up being a brain aneurysm. Yeah, I mean, I'm like, it was just like we were in. My wife and I were just like, why?

Like, why did this? You know what I mean? But then we had two options. We had the option of say, you know what? It is what it is. We're done, you know, and just not do anything. Or say, you know what? We have the support group.

We have the means to make a difference. And that's what we're going to do. And it's just, I would have never in my, why does imagine that I'd be sitting doing it podcast or I'd be going talking in front of the staff. the Inclusive You program and you know with Canseverrood and all these you know professors it just brought me out of my shell and it just showed me that you know what you can really there's if we want to do it you can do it don't come up with excuses and i'm hoping that would be like an example to my kids and to our friends and their kids that there's it's good to make a difference in this

you know and change things for people around you if you can yeah that's absolutely beautiful and uh i you know i i couldn't agree more um How did, I don't remember if we really touched on this, how did the Live Like Liam organization start? How did, I know you guys said we can make a difference, but I know you said some families kind of gathered around. You want to talk about that a little bit? Yeah, so I mean, very close friend of mine, you know, who he used to call himself Liam's mentor, but he used to take him to YBR to put bets on football games, which was also. But he loved Liam, you know, so very much. And him and I, after Leon Pairs, I'm like,

we cannot let this kid's name go. You know what I mean? And he's like, I'm with you, you know. And then another friend of ours, we told him, and he's like, I'm on board. And then another friend, he's like, I'll help you with the 501 to be a nonprofit. So it's just like these people out of nowhere.

And then all of a sudden, we reached out to like 15 people. We said, we want to start this foundation. We need to, you know, all of a sudden, I guess $15,000 in checks from 10 people. Oh my God. That's how it all started. And then we're like, okay. So then like, what are the events we want to do?

So we did a home run derby, the first home run derby down at JD, Lyndon Fields. And it was nothing more than you pay $22, you hit the ball, you get gift cards, raffle. We had appraising $7,000 in three hours. That's insane. I mean, like, it's as if it's like self-propelled. Like we just put the idea and it just things happen. And it's just been amazing. Like we did our first run.

We had almost 600 runners, you know, the last. year we raised $27,000. We had the support and then every penny we're raising is going to these organizations. We sometimes paying out of our own pockets to buy supplies and t-shirts and stuff like that because we don't want to, that money is not. It's specifically for these organizations. So, so that's what. I mean, last year, more than 600 community members came together. Yeah. I mean, that number alone is out. A couple more questions. The syndrome is called DeGeorge syndrome?

The D. George syndrome. No, I've never heard of that. For those listening or watching, can you explain a little bit more about what exactly that syndrome is? Yeah, so technically it's a chromosome deficiency, chromosome 22. So we became pedical professionals. I'm sure, I'm sure, yeah. So your chromosomes are like zippers. like zippers you know like they connect you know the teeth connect together and on the

chromosome 22 it was like this it was like separated and with that the just like the image they gave us at the hospital but with that 180 things you know like you have droopness of the lip uh pellet issues uh immune system calcium deficiency uh there's so many things to list and one of them is a defective heart you know i mean so with liam leum's heart was as i said was reversed so they had to put conduits they had to take a valve out put an artificial valve so he went through quite a bit like his second surgery was in the hospital for like 28 days but he bossed back no if someone's listening maybe you know and a family member gets diagnosed with DeGeorge syndrome and you're

thinking what I've never even heard of this do you have a recommendation on what the first step should be if you know anyone that gets well I mean to be honestly do you know the nurses are angels of course yeah I mean so when no one no one is my other son when Liam was born you know I mean he we the nurse came to the room it was just we were there for like not even 24 hours and his lips were little purple and she's like something is not right and then we end up they brought you know to the cardiologist and we became very good friends you know pediatric cardiologists was amazing and they started doing some tests and they they found out that so then we worked there's you know, Dr. Sprinson, who does the research on that,

we did blood work to see if it's safe for us to have more kids, and he's like, it was weird, like one in two million get that. And it just happened to Liam. So upstate is one of the best that can help with things. Hopefully nobody ever has to go through it. But if they do, that's the place to be. Yeah, that's where my brother was taken care of. And this was the 1980s in East.

Even then, it was absolutely amazing what they did for us and our family. So we've talked about the bad. This is good news, York. Let's talk about the good Jalal. Live Like Liam Run Walk 9 a.m. at Jamesville-Douet High School on November 29th. Tell us about how people can get involved or register. And also, what can they expect at the Run Walk? Okay.

So the Run Walk, it's, again, it's not a race. Okay, we don't time it. We'll have this year a shot clock just at the end. just, you know, or I'm sorry, a clock, you know, for people to see, like, how fast they finished. It's all on the JD campus. The walk is on the football field. We're going to have music. We're going to have, you know, there's a lot of donations with food. We're going to have a food truck there. And the DeWitts Fire Department's been kind enough. They bring a fire truck. We have the American flag. And just music. And it's just very interactive. You're doing the same loop twice, pretty much.

And everybody wears the number 22. They have the running bibs. It's 22. So, so. So nobody's got numbers. So we give you a t-shirt and we give you that bit. And another detail I love about this is the, the, there's, there's two different mile, there's a mile walk and there's a mile run. The mile walk. Three mile run. Oh, three mile run.

Sorry, yeah. There's the one point 22 mile walk and a three point 22 mile run in honor of the number 22 for Liam. I absolutely love that. And of course, if you want to buy a t-shirt, $22. So yeah, so what with the T-shirts, what we did is we had to place the order, you know, we had a deadline. So we had that if you sign up, you know, you'll get a T-shirt. We missed, whoever missed the deadline, we might have some extras because we did beef up the order a little bit.

Yeah. We have the package pickup on Friday, you know, from 3 to 6 at J.D. High School Main Gym. And then the day of the sign up, you can still, you know, you can still show up and sign up for the run. It's only $22. And if we have extra T-shirts, we're going to donate those. The other thing is with the number 22 is everywhere, you know, all the scoreboards are all lit up with number 22 also. So whatever you go, it's, you know, it's there. So. That's beautiful, man. That's absolutely beautiful.

Before we go, I mean, I'm going to put the link up here because it's a long one to say out loud, but to sign up and register as a runner. Are you guys also looking for volunteers still or are you just looking for runners? I mean, right now, I mean, if we can never have enough volunteers. Sure. because, I mean, it's just, you know, there's a lot to manage. But as of now, I think we're good and volunteers. We just want people to just come join us. It's very emotional, but it's very satisfying, too.

And the vibe is great. Like, we've seen people running into each other that they haven't seen each other in a very long time. So it's becoming more of a community event. It's the second annual, correct? A second annual. And we're hoping to continue it, you know, as much as we can. And again, all the proceeds will go to. to the organizations we're working with.

So we'd appreciate. Ronald McDonald's House. The list goes on. All right. Last but not least, any other plugs you want to get out there? Any other events? Anything about the Live Like Liam organization in general that you want to. Yeah, I mean, we do have, again, our two events, our main events.

And every year there's somebody who is out of nowhere that, like, let's have an event for you. Like last this year in the spring and the fall, there's a place called the neat whiskey bar. Yeah. And I do like my bourbons. So we were there and we just became friends with the owner and they had this beautiful fundraiser for us there. So we will be if that thing was going to happen again. So we'll be letting people know about it. There's really good stuff there.

But we do have our home run derby. And it's a lot of fun. I mean, we had started first with JD people. and people from FM because of the, you know, the close neighborhood together. But this year we had travel softball teams. We had kids coming from different schools. They were participating. And it just, it was so entertaining.

And when you have kids hitting 11 home runs in a row, it's just so much fun. So these are the two main events that we do. And you can find that at, was it live likeleam.org? Live like Liam.org. We're on Instagram, Live Like Liam, FDN. And on Facebook LiveLatLeem Foundation. and we do all our advertising there and share our information. Well, Jalal Zadbi, it was an honor to have you here.

I'm my heart is with you. Thank you. I understand. I do, sadly, I understand what goes on when a child is sick. And I'm so glad that you have the support of friends, family, and community. And you have our support here at Good News York. Thank you. And you helped us find the good today, and that's what this show is about.

So, Jalal Zagby, one of the calls. co-founders of Live Like Liam, Live Like Liam.org. The Live Like Liam Run Walk, November 29th, 9 a.m. at Jamesville, Jamesville DeWitt High School. We've got the link, put it up on the screen. I mean, you heard the story. Please, come be a part of it. It's for an amazing cause and help us find the good like Liam. Liam would have wanted.

And with that, we thank you for joining us on Good News, York. Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. Eastern, Good NewsYork.com on all socials at Good News York. We are sponsored by ads on the go, get ads on the go, and you can follow me on all socials at Mike B TV. We'll be back tomorrow with Good News York. See you down. It's a gentle cruising. You start to see the village, almost like a painting. Join me, travel expert Darley Newman and Uneworld Boutique River Cruises L'Ik Bali to learn about river cruising in France. As we have been selling there for decades, we have been able to create deep connection with the local communities.

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