Was wondering if Minnesota could

[Pam]

give us an update on Madison? How is she and her family doing?

 

[Minnesota!]

Hi there -

Wow! I saw my name and just about tripped!

I would love to give you an update on Maddie.

Well, she will be turning 5 in about 1 month, which is something she was never supposed to see, so that is a wonderful wonderful thing.

We had her benefit back in December, and enough money was raised to buy them a house, send them on a trip (no Disney - a week at Wisconsin Dells), and get a puppy. Cleo is the dogs name

She had another scan in December or January, I believe, and it was not the best of news. Apparently, the tumor is like 3 mini marshmallows fused together. well, this scan showed that 2 were the same size, but one had doubled in size - from 3cm to 6cm. So, they put her on some more, stronger chemo. I don't have the exact names, but she was on 3 of them at the same time. She went back in March for another scan, and things had stayed the same size, which is a good thing. No growth. However, the poor girl's immune system was so ravaged, she carried a HORRIBLE sinus infection for months. It got so bad she went deaf in her ear. Now, she has been deaf in her right ear since her first surgery in 1999, so the girl could not hear at all. So, in April, she had surgery to drill her sinuses and put tubes in her ears. She recovered very well, and her hearing is back in her good ear.

However, the chemo really kicked her butt. She ended up losing all of her hair - the last big chunk came out on their vacation. So, mom and dad turned to Children's Hospital for a referral to a wig place (Maddie loves hair - she wanted to have really LONG hair). It is going to cost them $1200 for 16 inches. The hospital has a program where they kick in $600. So, it was still way expensive. Well, the wig place LOVED Maddie, and lowered their price TO $600 so everthing was taken care of. Now, Maddie has this wig (it is real hair) that is dark brown and thick as pea soup. It is long and gorgeous, and she loves showing it off.

She was the flower girl in her aunts wedding this weekend. A wedding that momma was afraid she was not going to be seeing.

She has another scan next month. Pray for good news.

So, although she is still battling her cancer, she is doing far more than she was ever told she could.

Thank you so much for asking!!!!!

 

[tkyes]

OK - I'm in tears.

What a fighter Maddie is huh? That's great. I can just picture a cute little thing showing off her thick head of hair.

What a sweetie!!

Thanks for the update Andrea. I'll keep her in my prayers.

Tamie

 

[helenabear]

Thanks for that update! What a little fighter she is. I will continue to keep Maddi in my prayers.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the updpate!

 

[Pam]

Thank you so much for the update! I will continue to keep her and her family in my prayers.

Would you mind PMing me with your address (I believe I sent the last box to you and I lost that address). I would like to send her a little something for her birthday. Thanks!

 

[Serena]

Wow! send me some of those tissues

 

[Minnesota!]

Yeah, she's a special little girl

 

[Big V]

It's so sad when it's a child. Sending my prayers to Madison.