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Friday, December 28, 2007 8:39 PM CST

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

and


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


Okay, so how was your Christmas?

Mine was AWESOME!!! ROCK N' ROLL CHRISTMAS!!
Kris Kringle rocks!.....OUTLOUD!!

I woke my mom up at 5:45am and the day was just non-stop fun, fun, fun---from my house, to my Aunt Rhonda's, to my Aunt Marie! My mom and me stayed on the road for almost the whole day!

And----I got a huge surprise box of the most wonderful gifts from my dad, which was great! My favorite gift from him are my Christmas socks----they are AWESOME!! I love them and have worn them everyday since I opened them!

I LOVE YOU DADDY!!!(..and Joy!!) Thanks!

My most wonderful gift that I got from Santa is my Barbie Girls (Gold Edition), which is an MP3 player that holds my favorite gift from mom---the High School Musical-2 CD!! My mom copied the CD over to my Barbie Girls and I can carry it all over the place and never be without music!

We play it in the car.
I play it in the house.
I play it outside.
I play it at the store.
I play it in my room...pretty much everywhere!

Did I say it was just awesome!

My second most favorite gift are my twistable crayons!
That is the greatest invention that has ever been made! They are just like colored pencils (thanks daddy!) but they are crayons! YES!!--I don't break them!

And, I almost forgot to report that I saw the heart doctor yesterday up at Scottish Rite. He checked me over really good and did another ultrasound test on me. He said that I checked out "great" and that my heart is "A-ok"! He was so funny---he asked me if he could be my 'agent'. I didn't know what that meant until my mom explained it to me. Hummm.....ya know, I always wanted to be on the TV!

We went over to the hospital and I got a new Webkinz from their gift shop with my bunny and kitty babysitting money (from my neighbor's Brad and Amanda). We also went upstairs and visited our friend, Krystle who is still stucked in the hospital.

Okay, so now my mom has to make an appointment with a lung doctor so we can just be sure these crazy things I keep feeling going on in my chest are nothing to worry about.

I have to run---so much to do! School is only out until next Thursday, so I have a lot of more fun to have before I go back! (and...I saw Miss Sorrow yesterday when I was looking for new sneakers!)...yikes!....my foot has grown so much that I now wear a size 4. I have huge feet, just like my mom who wears a 9.5. Even though I am kinda short at 4'1" for a really-soon-to-be-nine year old (hey!...in five weeks and four days!), for some reason I have these big feet!

And a big THANK YOU to my Grandma who also sent me a Walmart gift card! I'm not sure what I am gonna get yet, but I can't wait to find out! I love you!

I hope everybody had a fantabulistic Christmas and is planning on a supergreat Happy New Year celebration! Thank you so much for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Rylee

Friday, December 21, 2007 10:53 PM CST

HO! HO! HO!
Merry Christmas!!

Oooops, wait!
That is not for three more days!
Well....I'm just "practicing"!

For all you people out there following along with my mom and her school----she got her grades!
And......"A"...."A".....and a "A-"!!
Wooohoooo!! Her GPA for the semester is a great big "3.89"!!
Way to go mom!!

I am so proud of her, especially since two of her classes are art studio classes. She worked so hard on all those art projects---and they turned out really good!

Well, we are still late on mailing our Christmas cards and some other stuff. It's just that we have been so busy doing other things, like....My Bubba Roe had his baby yesterday! She is so tiny! We are all hoping and praying that they get to come home for Christmas!

And, I have been fighting off a cold or 'something' that is going around my class at school. I hope it goes away soon!

And, I am so happy that school is now (today) officially out for the Christmas holidays! Whew! My mom helped out with our Christmas party on Wednesday and then we had a special tribute to our Principal yesterday and I got to sing along with my class. She is retiring and moving away up north. We have a new Principal now, his name is Mr. Gee!

Well, I have to skoot! So many other things to get done and gifts to wrap...heck! There is just not enough time for all the merry-making, cooking, and candy eating that needs to get done around here!

Merry Christmas!
Talk to you soon!
Christmas Elf-Madie!


=================
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:53 AM CST

Hi Everybody!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Me and my mom have been superbusy---that's for sure! Today is my Winter Party at school and then tonight, I am in the Christmas Program at the Montissori School! I can't wait!

Also, my mom says to tell everybody that I have an appointment for December 27th at 10:15am for the cardiologist up at the Sibley Heart Center by Scottish Rite.
Hummmmmmm.......I wonder if Dr. Rastegar is still there? You know, I use to go with my big brother Rhyne to this office to see him! They have lots of crazy machines that take pictures of your heart up there----and they have a great toy chest! I use to love playing in the toy chest---but it was great just to go hold my brother's hand while he had all those tests done for his heart. Now, I'm going for my heart! Isn't that just too weird!

Well, I have to run. I'm an elf today and it's a lot of work, let me tell you! And, we have so many Christmas cards to finish. My mom is not deathly sick with the double-pneumonia like she was last year Christmas (now THAT was just horrible!), so I just love helping with all the merrymaking stuff that we have going on! Okay, so where are there stamps.........

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
We love you!
Mom and Madie-elf Ice'es



============================
Saturday, December 15, 2007 11:53 PM CST

Hi Everybody!

Wow!
I am so excited that it is only ten more days until Christmas!
Yeah!

I am still sad for my friend, Lauren, on the loss of her daddy.
It just hate it. It stinks. It's not fair! Why do people have to drive cars anyways?

Well, I had my clinic appointment with Dr. B up at the AFLAC center at Scottish Rite. My blood tests came back great and Dr. B said I was as healthy as a horse!
Nnnnnaaaaaaahhhhhheeeeee!
He said to go eat some hay out back in the Infusion Room! (he is so funny!)
Actually, they had cookies and cheese and cantalope! YUMMM!!!

But---he did look at the notes and the test results from the Survivor Clinic doctor and my pediatrician. Dr. B agreed with my pediatrician and said that I need to see the Cardiologist first and then have my pulmonary function test done after that. He said the chemo I had could affect my heart, and with my family history of Marfan's disease, the strange and crazy things going on in my chest that I have been complaining about need to get checked out.

I had done a really 'quick' PFT in my pediatrician's office this past Tuesday, but I did not have any good blows at all. I tried about six times, but I just didn't get that stupid house to blow down unless I took an extra quick breath in there! And, I found out that is against the rules of the test and I wasn't suppose to do that! (Oh well....) Dr. B said it might just mean that I have the crazy asthma, which I already know about! Duh! I take Singulair every night and I now use an inhaler when I start to wheeze, so I don't think that is anything new! I think the only thing else that we can do is move to a brand new house with hardwood floors! (which my mom would love, but that ain't happen' anytime soon as she is in school and only works part time!)

Thank you guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Merry Christmas!!
Talk to you soon!!
Your friend, Madie Rylee



==============================
Friday, December 14, 2007 8:53 AM CST

Everyone,

It is with the most greatest of sad hearts that I have to post news of a wonderful friend who has passed away and is now in Heaven.

My really good friend from Camp Sunshine and the Lighthouse Family Retreat, George Garger, was killed last night in a car accident on his way home from work down in Newnan.

This is the family that me and my mom helped out the week at the Seaside Retreat. And, I have know Lauren for a long time from Camp Sunshine. We love this family!

I sit here, crying so badly for this family.
George was the best daddy in the whole-wide world of daddy's that could ever be!

Please go by Lauren's Carepages and leave great words of love and support for them.

We love you George!!

Thursday, December 6, 2007 4:54 PM CST

Hi Everybody!

This is just a really short update to let everyone know that "SPA SYDELL" night at the Camp Sunshine House is this coming Monday night, from 6:00 - 8:00pm. You need to call or email Miss Ann (ann@mycampsunshine.com) if you want to come! Me and my mom will see you there!

AND----Don't forget about the Camp Sunshine Christmas Party this coming Sunday afternoon! Be sure that you have notified Tenise if you are coming so they can get a good number on the 'total' of all us Sweetie Cancer children's who are going to be there!

Have a great week!
Talk to you soon-------your friend, Madie Rylee.


==========================
Hi Everybody!

I had a superfantasitc time at the Lighthouse Family Retreat Christmas party!
Thank you so much, Miss Melinda!
All you volunteer's are just great---it was so wonderful, and I just loved all the cookies....YUMMMMMM!!!

I also got to see my wonderful friends, most expecially, my friend Keegan.

Well.....we still don't have any Christmas decorations or our Christmas tree even put up in the house!
Man!
My mom is working very hard on her Final Exam projects for her art classes, studying for a Speech test, trying to keep the house running and all the other stuff while keeping up with her therapy on her 'frozen shoulders'. She gets really sore from that, for sure.

Okay, so a big THANK YOU for all the Christmas Angels that went by and signed up over at the Cancer Warriors website.
But......WE NEED 10 MORE ANGELS!!
Please, please, please..............if you want to make a difference this Christmas, please sign up for this wonderful group!
I know for myself how hard it is to get through chemo treatment, and trust me, it ain't no picnic! I totally LOVED getting surprises in the mail! And most families have to spend so much money on gas or other stuff that there is not much left over for spending on Christmas.
Please pass it on for any of your friends or church groups to help us out!

And, while you are at the Cancer Warriors website, don't forget to check out our Child of Month!
This month, the Family Fundraiser is for a wonderful friend of mine that I have known for a long, long time. Ethan has been through such terrible cancer chemo and radiation that it has damaged his heart. Now, his stupid cancer is back and he has to have heart surgery even before he can start the treatments! YIKES!
If you can, please go by and make a donation for Ethan, no matter how small. For him, every penny counts!

Thank you guys for all that you do to help us sweetie cancer children fight this stupid disease. You have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.



==============================
Monday, November 26, 2007 3:54 PM CST

Hi Everybody!
I hope you guys all had a supergreat THANKSGIVING holiday!
I had a great time with all my family and friends----even a little bit of shopping!
Me and my mom (and my friends Sydney and Jordan) ran into our school Principal out shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving!
It was 6:30am and we bumped into each other at Belk's!! Wow!

I have some prayer requests that need help right away.
Please say some prayers for a good friend of ours from Camp Sunshine.
Ethan Patterson lives with his Grandma (because his mom has gone to Heaven) and his stupid cancer has come back. He is having surgery today (right now) for the doctor to remove as much as possible because Ethan can't take chemo anymore. His heart is badly damaged from all the stuff he has had already, and it is not working so great for him. He has grown pretty tall (he is 16) and gets short of breath, so his heart can't take anymore radiation or chemo.

Also, please say prayers for my wonderful Colleen! She is pregnant with Teresa's baby sister and she is not suppose to come until April----but she is in the hospital right now with contractions to make the baby come!
YIKES!
We don't want Keely to come yet!
It is waaaaaaaaaay toooooooo early!
Colleen is a really great of our family and she use to babysit me all the time---like a 'nanny' while she was in high school.
We love you Colleen!!

And finally, please say prayers for a wonderful family that has traveled all the way from South America to receive the miracle of life for little girl, Alexia. She has relapsed again, after a second transplant and there is only prayers that can work now. Please go by and leave good words for her mommy and daddy, they really need them now.

I hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving and really enjoyed being with your family. Family is the most important thing of all! My new kitty, Mr. Stubby, is doing very great and I just love him to pieces. He is so funny sometimes, he makes me laugh a lot! And, my mom keeps promising to put up new pictures, so keep watching! We hope to decorate our Christmas tree this coming weekend, so I can't wait for that too! My mom has been superbusy with school homework and stuff, so we just have not had the time. And, she has also been going for the crazy therapy to help her "Frozen Shoulders" to get un-frozen. It is so funny because she has both of them not working, so she can't use one arm to help the other in the pully excercises! But, she can tell a difference already, so that is good news!

I have an appointment for Friday, December 14th at 3:00pm to see Dr. B up at the AFLAC Clinic at Scottish Rite for a "six month" check up since I am off chemo! Yeah! Soon---it will be that I only have to go once a year! Woooohooooo!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon-----your friend, Madie Rylee.





===================================
Thursday, November 15, 2007 10:26 PM CST

Hi Everybody!

I am so excited!
It is almost Thanksgiving Holiday!

WhoooooHoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

And........I'm calling all your 'Angels' out there!
Do you want to help one of us Sweetie Cancer Childrens during this wonderful Christmas Season?
Well guess what, YOU CAN!!

All you need to do is go by the website for the Cancer Warriors and become a Christmas Angel!

I can't even begin to tell you how totally awesome, fantastical, superfantabulous it feels to have a Christmas Angel!
Back when I was on chemo, it was the greatest thing to ever happen to me. That is something that I will, not ever, forget in my whole wide world life!

And, for all the Cancer Families out there.....mark your calendars!
The LightHouse Family Retreat Christmas Party is December 2nd. It's not gonna be at Northpoint this year, so be sure to contact them to find out the time and location. Or, you can email my mom and ask for information.

Don't forget, the Camp Sunshine Christmas Party is gonna be on December 9th, so mark your calendars down for that too!

I can't wait to see all my Cancer Friends again!
I just love them all and miss them terrible.

Well, I have had my kitty for a week now.
Wow---a whole week!
And he is doing supergreat!
He is pretty big, but I just playing with him. He lets me pick him up and tote him around like a baby. His name is 'Stubby' because he has no tail, but I have been calling him "Mr. Stubby-wubby" and sometimes "Mr. Stevie-B". He is the sweetest kitty that I have ever known and just loves to be brushed, petted and FED! Boy! Does he love to eat!! We have lots of games that we play, but he likes 'strings' the best of all. He is just so funny!

Thank you Miss Monica for sharing him with me---I just love him!
I hope to have pictures up soon and I will call you again to give you a 'personal' update.

My mom is off of school for a whole week now-----YEAH!!
But, she is using the time to start her physical therapy for her 'frozen shoulders'. (yes---now both of them are frozen! Ugh!!) All I can say is that it is really painful and she hides it pretty well.

And, I am feeling much better too! My mom take'ed me to the doctor today to get my Flu Shot and it went so quick that I did not even have time to squeeze my mom's hand! The nurse was super-fast and I did not even cry at all!

Well, I have to run. I have so much to get done and so little time---man, where does the time go?? I hope to update again this weekend and have new pictures!! Yeah!!

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we have been getting through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Don't forget to go by and volunteer to be a Christmas Angel! It doesn't take much----and you will be so loved! It's awesome!

Talk to you soon,
Your friend, Madie Rylee

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 9:16 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!

I am feeling much better, so 'thanks' for all the wonderful prayers and great wishes! I have not had a fever since Saturday.......whoohoooo!! That was pretty darn scary for a while there. I have never had a fever in the past five years over 104 when it was not the stupid Cancer Leukemia or Flu! (Whew!)

And today.......I am so excited!

I am getting a new kitty today!!
Yeah!!
I will tell you all about it once I get him home. My mom says that he is gonna be "my" kitty to love and care for, so I can't wait! He is just the most beautiful kitty that I have ever see'ed!

And, I have a new prayer request.
A very good friend from Camp Sunshine and The Lighthouse Retreat is having problems again. Ethan has been fighting Cancer and was in remission for five years, but now his last scan shows "something" on his lung and they are gonna do surgery to get it out. But, what is most terrible is that his heart was hurt by all his chemo and he needs a heart transplant. But, he can't get a heart transplant because of his Cancer.

That stinks, doesn't it?!!

If this is Cancer again, he might not be able to do the chemo because his heart can't take it.

Please send lots of prayers to him and his grandmom, Miss Eleanor. (Ethan's mom died when he was diagnosed five years ago so he lives with his grandmom.)

And, I went to the Camp Sunshine "Thanksgiving Feast" last night!
It was AWESOME!!!
I just loved the Emory college boy's chorus that came to sing! I will post more about them later! And, my mom will post pictures up soon!

THANK YOU CAMP SUNSHINE!!!!

Thank you guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you later!
Your friend,
Madie-Rylee






=======================
Friday, November 2, 2007 8:16 PM CDT

Hey Everybody!

I know, I know.

It's been a long while since I last updated.

But hey, I have been really busy and actually kinda sick. I just have not felt too well the past three weeks, my mom even taked me to the doctor thinking I had a sinus infection. I had some antibiotics and the doctor changed my allergy medicine, even giving me an inhaler for my chest, but I still felt just a wee bit "out of sorts". I even started limping because my leg was hurting all the time.

And then yesterday.............I got really sick!

My mom was getting ready for school when I went to the nurses clinic at 9:15am. School had only been in session for about 20 minutes. I had a fever!

Well, my mom called and got me a appointment at 11:50am with my great Dr. D! But, by that time, my fever was 103! YIKES!! I tested positive for Strep, but my neck hurt'ed really badly to move it. And my tummy was feeling really seasick.......but we got some antibiotics for the Strep and went home.

I take'ed the medicine, but it did not help.
My fever rocked up to 104.2 by 5:00pm, with all kinds of fever medicine and then I started to throw-up! YUKKKK!!!

After my second bath and fever medicine every two hours, my fever went from 104.2 to 104.9! (my mom thinks it was over 105 because she quit looking at it) Nothing was helping, so my mom take'ed me to the ER last night at midnight. My teeth were shaking so badly I could not talk!

I tested positive for a UTI and the doctor said my tonsils were HUGE!! So he gave me some steriod medicine to shrink my tonsils and some anti-seasick medicine and some IV antibiotics with a bunch of fluids because I was dehydrated. And I actually felt so much better! My mom was afraid I had the flu, but we are guessing not because I felt so much better today! My fever only got up to 100.1 today but mostly stayed under 99! Yeah! We are waiting for the phone calls from all the cultures they take'ed.

And the last few weeks have been really busy and lots of fun! I went to the Fall Festival at Camp Sunshine and had lots of fun! It was just great! And Family Camp was just supergreat too! My mom and me had so much fun----she is gonna post some pictures soon!

So now, it's gonna be CHRISTMAS coming soon!
I just love it!
I just love Thanksgiving too! For everyone wanting to eat at Camp Sunshine, please call Ann and make reservations for the Seasonal Sunshine dinner on Tuesday night, November 6th!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon,
Your friend,
Madie Rylee

Friday, October 19, 2007 3:37 PM CDT

Our sweet, tiny friend from Camp Sunshine has had a stroke this morning.

Please send prayers and go by her Carepage and leave good messages of love for her and her mom, Kelly.

She is at "www.carepages.com" and her page name is "AngelChristine".


Thanks!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

(I really, really hate cancer!)

Friday, October 12, 2007 1:22 PM CDT

Hey Everybody!

It's Friday!
WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Me and my mom are heading out to Camp Sunshine's "FAMILY CAMP" for the weekend and I just about can't stand it!
I am so excited!

We will be back on Sunday morning so it is really just one day and two nights, but I still can't wait!

I LOVE CAMP SUNSHINE!!!

:-)

Talk to you soon!


==================================
Tuesday, October 9, 2007 5:22 PM CDT

Hey Everybody!

Christine's mom, Miss Kelly, has posted this plea for help! Please read and see if you can help out, no matter where you live in the United States! My mom can't help because she has a totally different blood type.
Christine is on a heart pump and needs blood to stay alive. Here is her note (Please keep in mind they are an Asian-American Family):

October 09, 2007 at 02:35 PM EDT

Christine is not feeling well today. She is getting another blood transfusion right now. We are not sure why she is having some of symptoms. They sent out her blood samples.

Maybe...she just needed some blood.

I would like to ask everyone to find out if there is a person who would like to donate the blood for Christine regularly. We need to have 3 people to donate blood for Christine every 3-4 weeks.

Christine's blood type is B positive, and will like to test and find most matching blood. The blood bank always do cross matching with Christine's blood, when she gets blood transfusion. If we can find 3 most close cross matchings, then it would be better to get their blood than getting from 20-30 different people.

Would you please let me know. If you are or anyone you know is B type and willing to donate for Christine. You can send me an e-mail to me at

rpgkelly@yahoo.com

This method might help her to not to create antibody so much. Maybe later on, the epogen will help Christine's bone marrow to create more red blood cells, and may decrease blood tranfusions.

Thank you for your prayers. We love you!
Kelly



=================================
Sunday, October 7, 2007 1:22 PM CDT


SPEED WORLD CHALLENGE DRIVERS!......................
.............START YOUR ENGINES!!!!!


WOW!
What a great race it was on Friday!

All those cars lined up and shot out on to the track in what they call a “standing start”, which is just about the “cooooolest” thing you can see for a car race!

The rain that was coming down made it even more crazy, if you can imagine! (And....the stupid rain made my legs and hips hurt too!)

And, our wonderful Chili Pepper Racing Team with Dr. Jim at the wheel was doing superfantabulous until the wet road tricked him into sliding into a bunch of gravel rocks!
Yikes!

But, it was a great race, and I even got to hand out the winning trophy in the “Winner’s Circle” after the race!
My mom promises to put up pictures really soon!

And then on Saturday, I even got to meet Mr. Panoz (he owns the Road Atlanta and Panoz Racing Team) and they asked me to hold up the “5 Minute Warning” sign before the Petit Le Mans started!
AWESOME!!

You guys can watch the race next Saturday, on October 13th, on the SPEED CHANNEL beginning at 2:00pm. Watch (and listen!) for me and all my great friends from the Lighthouse Family Retreat! I think the first race at 2:00pm is gonna be from Friday, then SPEED CHANNEL is gonna run the Petit Le Mans at 3:00pm. You will have to check your local listings to be sure that is right time, but I am pretty sure about the times and you can also check on them at the SPEED CHANNEL website.

And, did I say enough about the SPEED CHANNEL?
THEY WERE AWESOME!!!
I got to meet all the announcer guys and sit in the tower while I waited for the World Challenge Race.
THANK YOU SPEED CHANNEL!!

Okay, so what is not so great about the weekend is that I found out that Dr. Jim and his wife Amy Jo lost their little son to Cancer last year, right after I had see’ed him at the Petit Le Mans last year. Hatch was just two months old when the stupid Cancer came to him. Sadly, no nasty chemo medicine would work for him.
I hate that.

Dr. Jim and Amy Jo have created their own group to raise money for us Sweetie Children’s fighting the stupid Cancer, called the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer “. All the money is collected by them and then given out from the foundation.
They are the sweetest couple that I have ever know’ed!
Please keep them in your prayers ‘cause this is a very tough month for them.

My mom says that “Diagnosis Day” is like the worst day of your whole life ever and that you can't ever forget it no matter how much you try.

She says that is the day that our old life just stopped and went away.

Of course, you want to cry for a month, but you can’t do that!

Lots of times, there are people to help-----lots of people to help!
We love every one of them!

And----just like this weekend, we helped our wonderful Chili Pepper Racing Team raise over $32,000 for all us Cancer Kids!
WooHooooo!
That’s a lot of help!

Well, I am pretty darn tired from getting up so early the past three days, so I am gonna go take a nap.
My mom has mid-term’s to get ready for this week too.
And, we go to Camp Sunshine’s Family Camp this weekend!
WooHoooo! I just LOVE it!! I can’t wait!!

Don’t forget that Spa Sydell night is tomorrow, Monday night, October 8th!
Please call or email Miss Ann if you are gonna go!

And, “Please. Please, Please” go by the Care Pages (www.carepages.com) and visit a really great friend of mine, “AngelChristine” who needs lots and lots of love and prayers while she is fighting to keep her heart going! You guys have sent do much love and prayers over to them, that it looks like Miss Christine might even get to come home pretty soon!
How Amazing!
Now, she just needs to keep the machine working for her heart until she can get off the horrible chemo and get her heart transplant!
It is a miracle in the making, for sure!

Thank all of you guys for your great prayers for me and my mom while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Ry


PS......DON'T FORGET TO WATCH NEXT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13TH AT 2:00PM ON SPEED CHANNEL!!

Monday, October 1, 2007 9:30 AM CDT

GENTLEMEN!.............................

START YOUR ENGINES!!

VVVVVVRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!...........................



It's coming!



The 10th Annual Road Atlanta "Petit Le Mans" race is coming!

And "guess who" is gonna be a Grand Marshall this Friday?.........


GET READY!!







XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Monday, September 24, 2007 9:20PM CDT

VVVVRRRRROOOOoooooooooommmmmm…….


It’s coming.
The 10th Anniversary of the Petite Le Mans at Road Atlanta is coming.
And, our very most wonderful Lighthouse Family Retreat is the official charity for the event! (That's me up at the top picture with Miss Melinda back in 2003 when I first came to the race!)

Mark your calendars to come to the races and buy one of the raffle tickets that give you a chance to win a great motorcycle with lessons! Our great Chili Pepper Racing Team is the sponsor for the charity ride to raise money to help in the fight against Childhood Cancer!

And I’m gonna be there!
Yeah!
Please make plans to come join us!

And, don’t forget about the wonderful group of people called the "Cancer Warriors" who are now taking donations for a "Cancer Child of Month"! Her name is Krystle and she lives with her grandma and her grandpa who are really, really, really old! (but, they love her sooooooo much!) Only thing is, her grandpa had a car wreck and now they don't even have a car! (Plus, he got hurted badly!)

Krystle has her Cancer to come back to her and she is still fighting a terrible lung infection where she can’t talk so much. She is gonna be up at the Scottish Rite hospital for the next six months to try to get rid of it. I think that is just so much harder for a teenager to have to live with---I know for a fact how horrible the chemo can be! Heck, they are suppose to be going to the Homecoming Dance, the Prom, studying for the SAT and applying to colleges, not fighting the stupid Cancer just to be able to live another day!

Her family really needs help, for sure! If you can, please go by and donate $5 or $10 because I know that every penny of it will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you guys so much!
Okay, so a lot has been going on for me. I have to go for a eye exam at the eye doctor because I kinda had a hard time reading the eye test at school. But that’s okay, I think glasses would be great, just so I can see good!

And, I had a tooth filled at my wonderful Dr. Huber dentist. It was pretty scary, but she is just great! Bad news is that I need to have two more fixed.
Rats! (and yukkkkkk!)

I am doing really great at school!
I think I might make the Honor Roll----I am trying as hard as I can with all my brains! I can’t wait until the report cards come out on Friday.

And!
I am going to the Camp Sunshine Family Camp in October!!
Wooohoooooo!!
I am going the second weekend, for October 12th (I think?)
If you are interested in going, you can call Michelle at Camp Sunshine because she tell’ed me that she still has some cabins open for both weekends!
Call Now!
It is gonna be SUPERFANTABULOUS!!
Call or email Camp Sunshine today!

And, also this weekend is the wonderful fundraiser and lunch for all the Atlanta Cancer mom’s---called the Quiet Hero's Lunch lunch. It is being sponsored by Chris Glavine (she is married to Tom Glavine, the baseball player!) because she wants to help all of us sweetie Cancer Children's so very much!!! (Thank you Miss Chris!) Please go by their webpage and check out all the items that you can bid on for the raffle. And, you can even sponsor a Cancer Mom! All the proceeds go to help out our SUPERFANTABULOUS group of people at the “Cure Childhood Cancer”.

Thank all of you guys for your great prayers for me and my mom while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Ry

Friday, September 14, 2007 10:03 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!

I wanted to post one "quick note" to be sure everybody knows about a new way to help Cancer Kids here in the Atlanta area.

A wonderful group of people called the "Cancer Warriors" is now taking donations for a "Cancer Child of Month" to be helped out with money that is collected from everybody.

My mom knows the people for this organization and we know for a fact that "ALL" of the donations go directly to the family that needs all the help that they can get!

AND---this is the great place where I had my wonderful "Angels" who would send me great surprises in the mail while I was on the horrible chemotherapy for two years! I just loved to run to the mailbox every day to see if I might have a great surprise waiting me! I can't explain how wonderful and excited it made me feel! And above all, it made me feel very loved!

This month, the child is somebody that I know! She is very good friends with the most wonderful Tyler Copley AND my future husband-to-be, Keegan. (She loves Keegan too, but he is a bit young for her!) Her name is Krystle and she lives with her grandma and her grandpa who are really, really, really old! (but, they love her sooooooo much!) Only thing is, her grandpa had a car wreck and now they don't even have a car! (Plus, he got hurted badly!)

Krystle has her Cancer to come back to her and she will be in the hospital up at Scottish Rite for the next six months to try to get rid of it. I think that is just so much harder for a teenager to have to live with---I know for a fact how horrible the chemo can be! Heck, they are suppose to be going to the Homecoming Dance, the Prom, studying for the SAT and applying to colleges, not fighting the stupid Cancer just to be able to live another day!

Her family really needs help, for sure! If you can, please go by and donate $5 or $10 because I know that every penny of it will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you guys so much!

I will update the webpage this weekend with some new pictures and other information on other ways you can help out during this month of "CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH"!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Ry


--------------------------------

Thursday, September 6, 2007 11:30 PM
Okay, so it's September now.
Do you know that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?

Well, it is.

Here is a picture of me right after I had been to clinic and started the crazy part of my treatment called "Delayed Intensification" in September, 2003. That is a great big word, so we all call it "DI". And, the most important thing about "DI" is that no one....and I mean NO ONE PERSON can get through "DI" and still keep their hair!

In this picture, my hair had started to fall out in great big handfuls, so we went to get it all shaved off by my wonderful Miss Jackie. In about one day, I will be totally bald.

Since this is "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month", my mom and me are gonna put up a bunch of different information about all the fund raising that is going on right now, so check back often! We are gonna update the pictures and post links!

Remember, I got through the stupid Cancer Leukemia treatment with the help of a bunch of wonderful people and groups who were there to help us.

Now, it's our turn to help them!

Talk to you soon!




================================
Monday, September 2, 2007 2:03 PM CDT

Hi Eveybody!

Okay, so it's been a while since I last updated to let everybody know what is going on for me.
I have been pretty busy, but it was really a very sad week with my Aunt Rita going to Heaven.

I still don't know why people have to die, especially from the very STUPID Cancer!*$!!

Well, my mom wanted to post a picture of me at my baptism two weeks ago. Here is me with Pastor Sandy. My mom says this is the best picture because it shows my "REAL" personality and how excited I am to be getting baptized for Jesus! And, of course, Pastor Sandy can be funny too!

Here is a link for a very powerful video that someone sended to my mom. We can't watch it without crying---mostly because I just totally love the song and the group called "Lifehouse". If the link does not work, you can cut and past the web address.

Lifehouse Skit on GodTube

If you can't view the video from the link above, here is the website to cut and paste:

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

And, I have been so busy with school!
And mom has been busy too!
She totally loves her Art Classes and I have been watching her......she is very good!! I am so surprised! Man! Her teachers are great to be teaching her how to do that stuff!

Well, I have to run.

Thank you to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Have a great week!

Talk to you soon!

Your friend, Madie Rylee.

P.S...........It's Coming!

Annual Charity Motorcycle Ride at Road Atlanta!

More Details Later!!


================================
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 2:03 PM CDT

Hi Everybody!

My mom is missing her sister, Rita.
My Aunt Rita passed away on Tuesday.
I had see'ed her at the wedding back in July and she was doing pretty good. Aunt Rita's breast cancer had come back and she was trying some new nasty chemo medicine to try to make it go it away.

But, it didn't work.

**************

Rita Bumpers, 53, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007, after living with cancer for 10 years.

Memorial service: 11 a.m. Friday in Biggers Funeral Chapel.
Inurnment: Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Memorials: American Cancer Society, 3301 West Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas 76107.

Rita Bumpers was born July 21, 1954, in Georgia. She was a registered nurse at Lifecare Hospital and a retired captain in the United States Air Force Reserve. She was a former member of the 20th Medical Service Squadron at Carswell Air Force Base. As a member of the 20th Medical, she was activated for service during Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

She loved traveling, movies, flea markets and spending time with her grandchildren. She touched all she met with love and will be deeply missed.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors: Loving husband of 16 years, Roy Bumpers; daughters, Linda Carter and husband, Barry, and Laurel Metts and husband, Nathan; grandchildren, Abigail Carter, William Carter and Sara Metts; brothers, Richard Ice, Ron Ice, Ray Ice and Randy Ice; sisters, Renee Durkin, Ramona Ice, Regina Ice and Rhonda Moehrke.

********

Okay.....so how many times do I have to say it..........

i hate cancer....

I Hate Cancer.........

I HATE CANCER..............

I H-A-T-E C-A-N-C-E-R...........!!!!

Thursday, August 23, 2007 7:08 PM CDT

MADIE: "Mom, why does God make people die?"(tears streaming down her face, tissue on her eyes, voice trembling)
MOM: "Sweetie, we don't know. Only God knows."

Eight tissues and ten minutes later......

MADIE: "Well, I know he never gonna get sick again in Heaven. He is all healed up. He will be singing lots and lots, anytime he wants to. He will be the best Angel that Heaven has ever had!"
MOM: "Yes, he will be."

*************

Please send prayers to the family and friends of Jon Allmett, our great singing and music guy for Camp Sunshine. We are going to celebrate his life on Saturday, and you can find more information on Jon's webpage. Be sure to click the link for "music" and you can hear a few songs from his CD called "Some Trees Grow Banana's" that we are all just crazy about!


Love is.....Higher Than The Mountains
Love is......Deeper Than The Ocean
Love is........Wider Than The Miles.....Between You And Me-e-e-e-e-e-e-!


WE LOVE YOU JON!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:34 PM CDT

Hi Everybody!

Wow!

I have been sooooooooo busy that I have too much update in a small time!

So, I just will do a little bit 'cause it is so late tonight and maybe write some more later tomorrow.

First, thank you guys so much for sending good thoughts and prayers to my great friend, Christine! Her heart is doing lots better and the doctor's are even talking about letting her go home with two IV lines.
Thank you guys!

And........I LOVE SCHOOL!

My school started on Monday and I got Miss Sorrow for 3rd Grade!
Yeah!
I wanted to get her as my teacher so badly!
And, I am so excited because I have two great friends in my class----Sydney (from down the street!) and Nathalie from Mrs. Hodge's class last year! Woohooo!
IT IS GONNA BE A SUPERFANTABULOUS YEAR!

And, I went to "Spa Sydell" at the Camp Sunshine House on Monday night. It was just so wonderful, as usual!
We love you Miss Sydell! (and Arthur too!)
I take'ed my friend Mikeala who lives near me and actually had the same Cancer Leukemia just like me! She is a year older than me, but she just finished her chemo a few months ago and we both go to the same school and summer camp! She has never been to the "Spa Sydell" night and she was so excited! It was great!

AND!
I am getting baptized at Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain on Sunday between the morning services!
I am so excited----I just can't wait!

Well, I have to run.
Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon,
Your friend,
Madie Rylee
:-)


=============================
Thursday, August 9, 2007 9:34 AM CDT

URGENT!

My really great friend, Christine from Camp Sunshine, is back in the ICU with her heart having all kinds of problems. She needs lots of prayers really fast!
Please go by her CarePage and leave lots of good words for her mom.
Her pages are:

http://www.carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=AngelChristine&uniq=827791&extrefid=tlcupdate



And, thank you to everybody for going by and leaving great words for my long-time friend, Tyler Copley. He is doing really good learning how to do stuff all over again with his new leg! And the best news is that he does not have hardly any pain and can SLEEP! Heck, I know that has to be a great feeling!

Well, I’m off to my school for registration today. I get to meet my teacher and see who else is in my classroom. I can’t wait!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee

Saturday, August 4, 2007 11:00 AM CDT

Hello People!

It's been a really busy week for me, that is for sure!

I did go to the Survivor Clinic on Wednesday, and "yes" it really did take practically all the whole day at the hospital!
I had a bone density test done, I had a heart EKG done, I had a heart Echo test done, I had six bottle of blood taken out of my arm, I saw the Survivor Nurse, I saw the Survivor Doctor and I saw the Clinic Psych-Fellow doctor. I was suppose to see the Clinic Social Worker, but she was busy and we had to run for my bone density test.
Whew!

I got this huge notebook with lots of stuff in it to read!

And that freezy spray hurt worst'ed than the arm poke!
Next time, I'm just gonna get the arm poke! It is over a lot faster!

We don't have any of the test results back yet. My new doctor says they will send everything back in one letter next Tuesday.

But....(hey! you guys knew there would be a 'but', right!)...after seeing the doctor and telling her about all my problems that I am kinda mad about, she wants me to have two more blood tests and something called a PFT which is a Pulmonary Function Test. She agreed and said that I was totally suppose to be able to swim the pool at Camp Sunshine just like all the other Cancer kids who get the green bracelet! So, they are gonna call me when that PFT test is scheduled. And, she didn't want me to have to get the arm poke twice, so I am gonna have the other blood tests done when I go to my physical exam at my Snellville Pediatrics next Friday on the 9th!

Also, the Psych-fellow doctor wants me to start on medicine to help me think more clear and not be forgetting so much. My mom is suppose to talk to my wonderful Dr. Deganian at Snellville Pediatrics about that. It seems that lots of Cancer Kids who have had Cancer Leukemia have to take medicine like that. And, I also have to see the eye doctor every year, which I do anyway. A lot of Cancer Leukemia kids have problems with their eyes.

Well, my mom see'ed her arm doctor and he said that her shoulder is not torn! Yeah! But, she has something called a "Frozen Shoulder", even tho'ugh it is not cold at all. What that means is that the joint has become all glued together! YUK!! No wonder it hurts her so badly! She has to do some therapy on it to help get it back to normal and see the doctor again next month.

My mom and me took some books and magazines to Tyler and Connie at the hospital. He looks really good! Thank all you guys for going by and leaving him good words of support! It means so much to all of us Cancer Kids!

And I saw Momma Audra and Keegan while we were there! What a great surprise! He was getting ready for his dental surgery and we ran into them at the hospital after we finished lunch over in the cafeteria.

I love you Keegan!

My mom is gonna post pictures from the CURE picnic really soon, so be watching!

My mom take'ed her final exam on Thursday and we both went up to see the school yesterday. It is SO BIG! The college is all over the place downtown Atlanta and the library is a huge 10-story building! I could not believe it! And, we even rode the MARTA train, which was just great---I loved it! We went to the school bookstore and my mom got me a new Georgia State University blue t-shirt!

GO PANTHERS!

We stopped at the Dekalb Farmer's Market on the way back, which was my first time being there. It is so huge---I was just in shock at all the food! Totally fantastic!

Well, I have to run. I have lots of shopping for back to school stuff because this is the tax-free holiday weekend people!
Go out and shop, please!

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer journey all in one piece. You guys have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee


====================================
Sunday, July 29, 2007 1:26 PM CDT

Hello People!

Okay, so my mom has put up new pictures from my trip to the wedding and the farm in Nebraska!

Wow---all you can see for miles and miles is corn, CORN, and even more C-O-R-N!!
But, hey, I totally love corn!!

My mom take'ed about 582 pictures, but I was so busy having fun and running around at the wedding that there is not much of me just by myself. As a rule, my mom does not like to post pictures that have other people or children's in them without their permission, so she tries to use pictures of just us. And for some reason, her camera was acting up funny and not working so good. (She is gonna take it in the shop to get it looked at) but, I tell'ed her that she has just taken too many pictures, that's all! When you take a thousand pictures a week like she does, it is bound to wear out!! (ha!ha!---well.....she does take about 200 pictures a week, I guess. That is for sure--she is a "picture taking nut"! I dread the day she gets a video camera or learns how to use the Photo Shop picture fix'in on the computer! Yikes!)

Well, I have to run! My mom will post other pictures of the CURE Family Picnic soon. Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Leukemia journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend,
Madie Rylee


===========================
Saturday, July 28, 2007 9:26 AM CDT

Hello Everybody!

Okay, so I forgot a few things to tell you on my last update.

I have a really good friend from Camp Sunshine, Christine, who is 3 years old and has been having a terrible time on the badly chemo for her stupid AML Cancer Leukemia. It is so bad, it has broke her heart and it doesn't work right any more. She had a chip put in her heart, to make it beat normal, until she can get a brand new heart transplant. Please say extra prayers that this chip-machine (pacemaker) will work for her. She has a Carepage (www.carepages.com) and it is called "angelchristine". I know her mom would love to hear some good words while they are stucked in the hospital waiting to go home.

Thank you guys! You all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.



==================================
Friday, July 27, 2007 1:26 PM CDT


Hello Everybody!

I had just a "Marv-Oh-Liss" time at the CURE Family Picnic last Saturday! I totally loved to see all my friends from clinic and Camp Sunshine! And, I had the best time, ever! Thank you CURE!!

Well, I was reading some of my friend’s “news-pages” last night (yes--I read their pages *and* I read my guest book entries!) and I was thinking……there might be some stuff that you don’t know about me or that I have not tell’ed you about in a while. I like to post just the really good stuff on my news and I don’t ever like to post a lot of the sad stuff or the yukky stuff that happens to me because I don’t like thinking about it.

It's True.
I am 8 years old, and I even tell my mom to “zip it”.
I wave my hand in front of my face and say “I don’t want to talk about it.”
It’s kinda like being a real important person on the TV, when they wave their hands and say “no comment” or “go away”.
Yeah, it’s like that.

My mom knows me----and I know her.
“Okay, mom. That’s enough! I don’t want to talk about it anymore, okay? I’m fine. There is nothing wrong with me, it just bugs me little...now go away, okay.”

I think it’s ‘cause I worry too much and I can’t stop my brain from thinking about things unless I get re-thinking on something else much more happy. That is why I love the TV!

Yep.

Things like……let’s see……my mom hurt’ed her shoulder the first week of June right before her college school started and she would scream every time she tried to use it the wrong way. (People, I’m talking ‘SCREAM’, not in a good way!) That scared me really badly, so I made her “pinkie-swear-promise” to see the doctor. Now, finally, after three appointments and 8 weeks later, she is gonna see the doctor again on Monday morning to find out what the heck is going on. She had the MRI test done on this past Monday morning and she was telling me about it. She had black marks on her arm and shoulder with “x” marked all kind of ways---and a bandaid over the spot where the needle had gone into her shoulder for the stuff they used on the picture taking machine. Normally, I am all about wanting to see what the heck they did, but this time, “NO!”---“I don’t need to see it! Don’t take that band-aid off, please!”

“Let’s stop talking about it, okay!”

I think it’s ‘cause I go on Wednesday, August 1st next week for my very first “Survivor Clinic” appointment. SNAP!
I’m worrying.

I am pretty sure they are gonna do an arm poke and take blood out of me.
Eweeeeeee……SNAP!
I’m worrying.

Yesterday, there was a message on the answering machine from them (Scottish Rite) saying that I had an appointment at 11:00am on August 1st for the radiology department. “What the heck is that for?”-----I was pretty scared!
My mom says that they might be doing a chest xray or a heart echo-gram to compare from the first one when I was 4 and had just got sick with the stupid cancer leukemia. I got the “panic” look in my eyes again…I’m worrying.

At the CURE Family Picnic last Saturday, my mom talked to other mom’s about Survivor Clinic and they said the appointment lasted all day!
People! ALL! DAY!
What the heck are they gonna do to me for the whole day?!@#*!! SNAPSKY!!
I’m worrying.

My mom is great and she keeps telling me to not worry so much. She is gonna be there to help me. She said it will be like going to see Dr. Deganian at the Snellville Peds, when he checks me over for my school physical. Like when they check my hearing and my eyes.

I do have things that worry me, well, maybe just ‘bug’ me a little bit.
I don’t like it that it ‘bugs’ me because I normally don’t care. It’s just a little teeny tiny bit that just ‘bugs’ me, not even enough to talk about it, but maybe to the doctor.

I don’t like it that I can’t swim the length of the pool. I was so mad at Camp! I want that white bracelet so badly!!! My lungs won’t hold enough air and then my arms get tired too. (I take Singulair and Allegra, but that still is not helping as much as I want it to!) I wanted to cry because it made me stand-out weird and be different! But---I did not cry! But, it still bugs me to no end. Maybe next year! I’m going to ask the doctor about it.

I don’t like that I am always so kind of tired, my legs and arms start to ache after so much of using them. I can’t even stir a cornbread cake mix without my arm aching and wanting to stop. But, I still make myself do as much as I can---like the rock wall climbing we had at Camp Sunshine and CURE Family Picnic! It’s all about taking your time and resting in between. I’m going to ask the doctor about it.

I don’t like it that my feet are almost a size different from each other right now! That just stinks! Now that bugs me a lot because I just LOVE shoes! Let me tell you, it is all about the shoes, girl! I tried to take one suitcase full of shoes to Camp Sunshine for the week but my mom would not let me. My mom says that my feet will catch-up get better and that I just grow at different times. It’s still pretty weird. I’m going to ask the doctor about it.

I don’t like that my chest is all caved-in weird where I had my port surgery done. I look weird and that just bugs me. My mom says that problem will get better as I get taller, but I’m going to ask the doctor about it, believe me!

I don’t like that I have been having something kinda like dizzy spells, not a lot….but some. So now I worry that I might have the stupid seizures like my older brother, Roe. He has epilepsy. But, I also have problems remembering stuff. It gets worser for me if I am excited or extra happy or tired. When my mom picked me up from Camp Sunshine Junior Camp Week, we had to go back three times because I “forgot” different things that I had packed. I have to really, really think about stuff to be able to remember it. It’s pretty weird because last week I even forgot what day of the week it was right after my mom had tell’ed me! I’m going to ask the doctor about it.

I don’t like that I have been SO TIRED so many times!!
I hate being tired so much. I want to play ball this fall and I can’t if I am so tired! I’m going to ask the doctor about it.

I have to stop worrying so much.
I try really hard, and when my mom catches me worrying, she makes me think of other things and how great it is to be going to the 3rd Grade! Yippee!
I am so glad that she made me stay in school the whole time I was sick. I love school!
And school is starting back in like two weeks!
I can’t wait---it is going to be so great.
I totally love, LOVE school! I can’t wait to find out who my teacher is going to be and who my friends are going to be in my class---it is just superfantastic, for sure!

Since I helped to babysit my cousin Emily at the wedding two weeks ago, my mom got me a new Webkinz!
Yeah! I got a Pug Dog and I have named him Rex.
I love to play that game on the computer! It is so fun!

And, please keep my friend, Tyler Copley in your prayers for the 31st. He has decided to have surgery to get rid of the stupid cancer that is in his leg. He is gonna be really bored in the hospital for a few weeks, so please go by and leave great words for him and his mom, Connie.

And, for all the Cancer Families that want to go to the beach, please don’t forget to go by and sign up for a retreat! You can find the link down at the bottom of my page here. You will totally love it and it is just the best experience that you can ever have!

My mom has her college final exam in her English class next Thursday! Yeah! After that, we have a whole week to just us girls. I can't wait for that to happen!

Well, I have to run for now. My mom has pictures of everything that we have been doing this summer, so she is hoping to post those as soon as she can. Thank you guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer leukemia journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Your friend,
Madie Rylee

xxxoooxxx

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 9:59 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

I just wanted to post a short note to remind all my friends from clinic and Camp Sunshine that this Saturday is the CURE Childhood Cancer picnic at Briscoe Park!
Yeah!!
You can get a ride on the bus from the hospital, but you have to make a reservation first.
I hope to see everybody there!

And, me and my mom got back from the wedding in Nebraska at 2:00am on Monday night!
Man! That was r-e-a-l-l-y late!

I had some fun with my mom, but again, it was a whole lot of work babysitting my cousins.
A. HUGE. AMOUNT. OF. WORK.
I made my mom promise that I don't ever want to do that again!

We have pictures that my mom take'ed, so we promise to post them as soon as we can.

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece. You guys have Angel wings coming, for sure!

Your friend,
Madie Rylee


===========================
Monday, July 2, 2007 1:59 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

I can only update for a really quick, 'cause me and my mom are so busy this week! Well, my mom is the one who is busy. She has a mid-termed test tomorrow and lots of homework. School is really fast when you go in the summer. I'm not sure if I like it?

I got back from Camp Sunshine on Saturday morning. It was the bestest, greatest time of my whole life! I had a FANTASTIC time, that is for sure! I learned Karate (aye-YAH!! Don't mess with me!) and I rode the horses, I made ceramics and I made a tye-dyed shirt. I climbed the highest rock climbing wall they had (twice!) and I was not scared at all one tiny bit because I even got an award for it! THAT WAS GREAT!

Camp was just THE BEST, EVER!!

The only thing that I didn't like was that I still can't swim across the pool without stopping and resting. (SNAP!) So, I had to wear the stupid 'white' bracelet and not the 'green' bracelet that means you can swim anywhere in the pool and go down the slide. I was the only one in my cabin of friends with a 'white' swimming bracelet for the week. RATS!

I take'ed a bunch of pictures with my camera, so I will post some pictures as soon as we get them developed.

Well, we have to have long dresses for my Uncle Randy's wedding to my Aunt Sara on July 14th, so my mom has decided to sew them. I love to sew, and she might let me help! (Sa--weet!) Sadly, my mom "broke" her sewing machine making a ruffle on a baby blanket, so we are waiting to get the machine back from the shop. I hope it's quick 'cause I can't wait to sew.

Oh, another news for me is that I have an appointment for the AFLAC Cancer Survivor Program at 8:30am on August 1st. I'm not so sure what goes on with that appointment, but I am gonna complain about being tired lots, out of breath and not getting to wear the 'green' bracelet at Camp Sunshine! It's not fair. It is very frustrating, let me tell you!

Well, I have to go. My mom needs the computer for her school work. I'm gonna run over to Sydney and Jordy's house and practice my swimming. I promise to update more later! Happy 4th of July! I hope everybody has a great week! Thank you for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer journey all in one piece. You guys have Angel Wings coming, for sure.

Talk to you soon.
Your friend, Madie Rylee.



===================================
Saturday, June 23, 2007 9:59 PM CDT

Hello People!

Sorry that it take'd so long to update since the last time.
Lots has been happen'ng---for sure!

Me and mom got back from the LightHouse Retreat a few weeks ago. It was lots and lots of work, and I am not joking about that part!

But, even with all the work, we still managed to have some fun too!
See the picture of me up at the top? That is me at the Luau that we had at the big pool! It was tons and tons of fun....I just loved it!

And hey!
I forgot to say that I got my hair cut!
This is the first hair cut for me in the past four years!
My hair grow'ed so long, that it was kind of hot for me. So, I'm trying a new hair cut--I have never had one like this before. (Sadly, it is still kind of hot for me! And too short to put up in a pony tail---rats!.....er...snapsky!)

Like I said, the Lighthouse Family Retreat was lots of work---more than I had expected. (heck--lots more than I expected!)

But, it was pretty fun to be the cleaning, Elf-Fairies and I just loved to see the surprised look on our family's faces! That was cool!

Believe me, I now have a whole new respect for the volunteers who make my wonderful Childhood Cancer camps or retreat work so fantastic!
YOU GUYS ARE SUPERFANTABULOUS!

Also, my mom got hurt on the Friday of the retreat. We had Beach Olympics on on that Friday (because the stupid, insane, crazy "red" flag was out on the beach the ENTIRE time of the WHOLE WEEK!! (Snapsky!)

Anyway, we had waded into the ocean up to our knees.
Really.
ONLY up to our knees!
People. Let me tell you.
ONLY TO MY KNEES!

And then.....A big wave was coming up over me. (close your eyes and picture the huge wave on those "surfer" movies when you see people "wiping out" on their surf-boards!)

And my mom reached out to hold me up so I would not get knocked down and drownd-ed! When she did, the wave knocked us both over and my mom's arm went behind her back, where it's not suppose to go! OOppps! We both got covered in water and my mom was hurt'ed so badly she could not get up. (Snapsky, again!)

But, after a bit, her arm felt a little better.
And, it was great to be sharing a house with two nurses!
WOW! That is one of the perks of being the volunteer helpers!

Anyways, we got back from the retreat and my mom started back to school at Georgia State University for the summer. She has two classes this summer. And, she has been going to school the past two weeks, even with her arm hurting like crazy and not letting her sleep.

One morning, she screamed really loud and cried for a long time when she tried to do something and it scared me really badly. I made her "pinky-swear-promise" to see the doctor and she did! Then, she had to see another "special" Or-tho-ped-ick doctor and she finally got xray's yesterday (on Friday). (man! why does it take so long to get in to see the doctor?!) They can't be sure, but it looks like she might have torn'ed her rotator-cuff (that's a fancy word for your shoulder!) or it could have been dislocated. My mom has to go for another test called a "MRI" to be sure to find out what is broken and not working right in her arm. Again, she has to wait for the appointment. (what is up with the waiting??)

AND!

I go to the wonderful Camp Sunshine Summer Camp tomorrow!
YIPPPPPEEEE!!!!

If you want to write me a note, you can send letters to me (Madie Ice) at this address:

Camp Sunshine
c/o Camp Twin Lakes
1391 Keencheefoonee Road
Rutledge, GA 30663

And because the mail is sometimes slow, you might want to send it early in the week or even a couple of days before camp begins!

I can't wait to see all my friends!
After all, isn't that what camp is all about?
I get to see all my friends and have superfantistical fun doing all kinds of neat stuff.

But, thank you guys so much for keeping all my friends in your thoughts and prayers these past few weeks.
My good friend, Abby was so great to know that the spot in her head was not the stupid Cancer coming back!! Woohooo!!

And, don't forget to keep my future husband-to-be in your prayers as well! Keegan is going to be at camp too! I can't wait to see him again---I miss him lots!

Also, please keep my friend from Camp Sunshine in your prayers too. Christine is fighting the stupid Cancer Leukemia AML and the chemo had damaged her heart. I just really hate that! (of course, I hate Cancer anyway!)

Well, I have to skoot.
I have so much to do and finish packing!
My mom promises to put up more picture's from the retreat really soon.

And, oh yeah!
If you want to see the wall mural pictures that my mom and Sara painted at the daycare, here is the link for the artwork, at Big Art Studio. My mom drew the original design, and then put it up on the wall. She and Sara painted on it a lot! It is really *BIG*! And very pretty. It's hard to see it on pictures because it is so big, going down the hallway.

And, I can't wait for camp tomorrow!
We all get on the bus and leave at 1:00pm!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we make it through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie-Ry
:-)

Saturday, June 2, 2007 3:39 PM CDT

Come on down......
Come on over..........
Come on in....................
TO THE LIGHTHOUSE!!!!!!

YEAH!!

Yep!
Did you see the picture up at the top?
That is me at the Seaside Beach in 2004.

For some reason, I just love the Seaside Retreat most of all.
I know it will always be my most wonderful vacation memory.

Of course, I don't like to remember or talk about the many times I got sick and threw up during the trip. And, of course, not counting that it took us 8 hours to drive down there and 9 hours to drive back to Atlanta because I had to stop so many times and be sick.
Blech.
Yuk.
Ick.

But!
This time, is gonna be great!
And, do you what is different this time?

Well, of course I am a whole lot older.
Duh!
In this picture I am only 5 years old and now I am 8.
No. It's not my age (but that does help)

Give Up?
We are going as "Family Helpers" and "Volunteers" this time!

I can't wait!

I just love the Lighthouse and want to make it super special for all my friends who are coming to get away from everything that is Cancer.
I could not have made it though all the yukky, blech-y, nasty chemo for over two years without the Lighthouse Retreat. Now that is medicine that is really good for you!

I love you Melinda!

And besides, how can anybody not want to help a bunch of Sweetie Cancer Children?! Thank you Seaside! We love you too!

And, of course, I have to ask if you have a minute to please send tons of prayers to my friend Abby who just relpased with stupid cancer brain tumor. She is doing totally great---even getting to go home a few days after her surgery! Yippee! I am sending prayers that she gets to go to Camp Sunshine in a few weeks too! That would be just awesome!

And, my other friend, Christine, is doing much better too! Her mom Kelly got to bring her home from the hospital too! She still has to take lots of medicine for her heart, but she is doing very good! Again, I just hate that stupid Cancer Leukemia AML! It is just terrible!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.
:-)

p.s....my mom starts back to school on June 11th!



=======================================
Saturday, May 19, 2007 12:09 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!

Well, I have been really, REALLY busy these past few weeks, let me tell you!
And, it does not look like I am going to be slowing down any time soon!
Man, my summer calendar is just about full already!

And, this week is my two year anniversary of stopping all the chemotherapy for the stupid cancer. And the best part is that the stupid cancer has not come back!
YIPPPPPPEEEEEE!!!

Now that I am two years off of all the chemotherapy, I am now “officially” considered to be a CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVOR!
Okay, so what does that mean?
It means that will begin to go to the AFLAC Childhood Cancer Survivor Clinic and that I will be getting a whole new set of doctor’s! I will still see Dr. B about once a year, but I don’t have to go see him every three months like I have been.

Okay, so I hear you guys asking “What is the Survivor Clinic”?
Well, I’m not sure since I never been before, but I have heard that they will check me for side effects from all the chemo therapy. This would be things like me getting the Chicken Pox even though I had the crazy vaccination shots! And like me having trouble remembering things, not growing tall, always (and I mean ALWAYS!) staying sick with a stuffy head, little cuts and scratches that don’t heal, the pain in my hip and legs, along with my sciolosis in my back. My mom says they will test me and monitor me for the next eight years.
Wow! That is a long time!
But, I am a survivor!

Last week, I went to the Gwinnett County Relay for Life at the Gwinnett County fairgrounds. It was great! I got to climb up a rock wall and my take’d pictures of me. She is gonna put them up as soon as she can.

And, I went to the doctor, AGAIN! I had got hurt at my Montissori school when I walked into a pole that holds up the playground shading roof for all us kids to play in the shade. My shoulder and arm still hurted a lot, so my mom take’d me to see the doctor. I had a terrible sinus headache from my allergies, so the doctor gave me medicine for that and has started me on a nose spray for allergies too! And, I had to get a x-ray for my collarbone because she thought it felt “funny” and might have been broken in my accident at school. And, the bruises were so bad---my mom and the doctor could not believe I just “walked” into the pole, but I really did! Honest! So, the doctor checked my blood counts to be sure my platelets were not getting low again. They were at “190”, so that is great for me! And, the x-ray at Scottish Rite showed my collarbone was just fine! Yeah, again!

Did I tell you that my Bubba Rhyne also broke his collarbone when he was 8 and in the second grade? See! I told you that we are soooooooo much alike! Even though he is 16 years older than me, we are just exactly alike! It’s kinda weird.

Last Monday was Spa Sydell night at the Camp Sunshine House.
I just totally love Miss Sydell!
She is so wonderful to help all us Sweetie Cancer Children to feel better.
Thank you Miss Sydell!

And last Sunday was Mother’s Day!
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

I got cards for all my “mom” people, like my Aunt Rhonda, Aunt Marie (I painted her a bird house!) and my step-mom and my Grandmother! (I sent my Grandma a butterfly!)
I begged my mom to take me to the store and I got the lady at the counter to help me.
I used my allowance money and I got my mom the most beautiful necklace and bracelet!
She totally LOVED them!

Then, my Bubba Rhyne take'd us to lunch! We ate at Chili's and it was just delicious. I had more food than I could eat. My mom has pictures that she will post as soon as she can.

And last Saturday, I went to my Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Butch’s house for their “neighbor” party! They wanted to meet all their neighbor’s in the new subdivision and we got invited because my Aunt Rhonda wanted at least one person there that she would know (and could help)! It was tons of fun, for sure!

HEY!
Did you see my Uncle Ray Ice on the Montel Williams show Thursday morning?
They had called him two weeks ago and wanted him to fly out to California to be on the show, but he was having his neck surgery and could not make it.
I know he really wanted to go, but he just had to have his neck fixed. He was sad to not make it on the show.
I love you Uncle Ray! You are the best police detective!

My best friend, Juleah is having a birthday party today!
I can’t wait, it is gonna be tons of fun!

This summer, my mom has so much stuff going on.
She got her grades from her first semester at the big college and she has a “3.5” GPA!
Yeah! Way to go mom!

She is signed up for two classes this summer that start on June 11th.
Wow, that is gonna go really fast.

And, she has been working as a substitute at my school!
It is just the greatest thing to have her there!

And, my mom is almost finished working on the wall mural at the daycare downtown by the Georgia Capital.
It looks totally fantastic!

And, we are gonna go to the Lighthouse Family Retreat and work the week of June 3rd. I know lots of my friends that are going. Can you say "EXCITED"! God is blessing us, that is all I can say. That is going to superfantabulous, for sure! I still need to buy a few things to wear for the beach because I am getting big, and my dad sent childsupport money today, so I am going SHOPPING! (Thank you daddy!)

And, I am going to the Camp Sunshine Summer Camp the week of June 24th.
Hello? That is just about the most best week of my life, for sure!

And, we are going to my Uncle Randy’s wedding the weekend of July 14th. That is in Nebraska! I am taking my cousin’s Nathaniel and Emily on a plane to be there with their dad, my Uncle Randy! Emily is the flower girl! That is gonna be just a blast! Because I get to see all my other Uncles and Aunts that I have because my mom has four brothers and four sisters! Yeah!!

And, I know somewhere in there I need to go see Dr. Blanco for my sciolosis and make an appointment for the Cancer Survivor Clinic. And, oh yeah, a checkup for my Third Grade! I can’t believe that I am going into the Third Grade! Woohoooo!!

Thank you guys so much for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer journey all in one piece.

And, thank you too for keeping my friends in your prayers. They need all the prayers that they can get. Please don’t forget to go by Tyler Copley and leave him a great note as he is graduating this week! Yeah!!! And, my other friend from South America, Miss Sweetie-Pie Princess Alexia is doing so fantastical on her “second” transplant, we are all so blessed! Only God could be the reason for her miracle, that is for sure!

And, I have another friend who is fighting a stupid infection in his body and in his central line. Please go by and leave some great words for Eric and his mom. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor early this year and has been fighting really hard. His mom and dad could really use words of encouragement!

And, please pray for our really good friend from Camp Sunshine House, Christine.
She is three years old and has been fighting the AML Cancer Leukemia. Sadly, the badly chemo has destroyed her heart and she needs a heart transplant. Her family is so sad right now. They are from Korea and her mom is the most wonderful lady and we love them very much!

Thank you guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Ry

p.s…..I know that we are praying for rain, but let me tell you, my legs and hips have not hurt one time! Not. One. Time. People, this is like a miracle for me! I feel ‘normal’ for once in my life and not begging for the heating pad! Woohoooo!
p.p.s......next time, my mom says that she is gonna type in the arm movements and my hands waving all around when I talk, like "pop ups". I told her to get on to "You Tube" and just run a video update! But, we need to find a video camera first! I would be able to video tape all my updates and you guys could follow me around everywhere I go! COOL!!....That would be even better, for sure!

Saturday, May 5, 2007 11:05 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!

Okay, so I don't have time to post a "real" update yet, but I promise to work on it today! (pinky swear)
I have been so crazy-busy, just like my mom....just wow!
My mom had her final exams this week (she thinks she made a "100" on her Film History exam! She made a "96" on her Art History test!) And, she has been painting the wall mural too!
And, to top it off, my mom worked as a 'substitute teacher' yesterday for the very first time, ever! Yeah!
She filled in for a Resource Teacher at my school and he has asked for her to come back next week too! (see! I told you my mom is just a great "natural born" teacher!)

But, the reason for this post is that we just got the word that the Atlanta newspaper is going to cut out covering the arts and cultural events here in Atlanta! How stupid is that?!

Can you imagine reading the AJC without the Arts and Cultural section in it????

Please go to this link and sign the petition for them to stop thinking so crazy like that. We need more coverage, not less! Well, unless of course they are gonna launch a new paper called "Atlanta Arts" and print it everyday! Now that would be great!

http://www.petitiononline.com/AJCArt/petition.html/

Hum.....I wonder what they do in New York or Los Angeles or Hollywood? Do they have a Arts newspaper? Or, do they make a Arts magazine each day? What do the tourist visiters read for their cities?......it's something to think about!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.



====================================
Tuesday, May 1, 2007 9:05 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!

Thank you so much for your prayers for my uncle Ray! He is doing really great---kinda sore, but good! The doctor's had to replace two disks in his neck at this shoulders because they had been damaged so badly from the car wreck. The doctor said that he was just months away from being paralyzed! Yikes!

Hey!
Are you doing anything exciting this summer?
Would you like to offer your time helping all of us Sweetie Cancer Childrens?
The wonderful Lighthouse Family Retreat needs adult volunteer help for several retreats this summer.
If you are interested in helping out, you can get more information on their website at Lighthouse Family Retreat..... or call my mom on her cell phone (404-428-8964) and she will get someone from the Lighthouse to call you back. (But--she has final exams this week, so leave a message if you need to!) We specially need adult volunteer helpers for the Retreat #2 (me and mom are helping on this one at Seaside!) and the Retreat #3!

I have some pictures from Camp Sunshine Family Retreat and will get my mom to post them as soon as possible. It was a fantastic time! I just had a blast!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece!
You guys all have angel wings coming, for sure!

I love you!
Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee



================
Friday, April 20, 2007 8:05 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!
I have a big favor to ask....

Please say prayers for my wonderful Uncle Ray!

A long time ago, he was in a terrible accident in his police patrol car (he is a Dekalb County Police Sergeant). He hurt his back. Now, it has become really bad and he needs to have one of those bone disks in his back replaced with a metal one! Wow! That is never gonna break, huh?

Uncle Ray is going to have surgery today up at the Hospital. He might be in ICU for a day or two while the doctor's watch him from the surgery. Please say prayers for his doctor's and nurses to take supergreat care of him and that he has not much pain at all!

Thank you so much for thinking of my Uncle Ray!

I will talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie-Ry


=======================
Thursday, April 19, 2007 3:05 PM CDT

Hi Everybody!!

I had a superfantastic Easter! It was great--I will have to tell you all about it!

But. First.
I am so excited that me and my mom are going to Camp Sunshine Family Camp tomorrow!!
WHOOOHOOOOO!!!
I have been trying to pack for a whole two weeks now!

The last time me and my mom went was last Spring, and you can see me in the picture up above.
I had the bestest time----I totally love CAMP SUNSHINE!

I really, REALLY hope to see lots of my friends.
But the best part, is that I get to go with my wonderful friend, Keegan! And, of course, his Momma Audra and all the girls, and of course Liam too!
(I LOVE YOU MOMMA AUDRA!)

The Sweetie Cancer kids get to do all sorts of great stuff, like fishing, gold-panning, arts and crafts, putt-putt, baseball, bingo and tons of other great things!
And, I really miss my friends, so this is gonna be super!

Have you been checking up on my friend, Tyler Copley? He is fixin to graduate from the High School! Woohooo!! His leg is getting better, but him and his mom still need prayers to heal the stupid cancer so that it goes away FOREVER!!

Please don't forget to go by and check on my other friend, little Princess Alexia. She has now been 8 days since her second transplant up there at Duke University and she is starting to fell kinda yukky. This is the only chance that she has to beat the stupid cancer leukemia. They have come up here to the United States all the way from South America! Please go by her guess-book and leave lots of great words and love for her and her mommy (and daddy)!

Well, I have lots of news, that is for sure!

I am over the terrible Chicken Pox, and my legs were feeling much better. But now, they have started to have the crazy pains again---running around all over my legs and knees. At the Easter Egg hunt at my Aunt Rhonda's church, The Point, I had a FANTASTIC time! But first, I was jumping in the "jumpy thing" which is like an inflated house (you guys have seen those right?) and I hurt my foot!

It was terrible!
I was crying and crying!
Well, my mom called the doctor's and they said to try a few things. And it worked! I think that my muscles and bones are just not back to normal yet from all the chemo, so I am still gonna have to be careful for a little while.

And, I got to go the Relay for Life, Hockey Gladiator's game two weeks ago! My mom and me were given tickets from Gary Martin Hays, since I am an "Honored Hero" for my wonderful Centerville Elementary school. We got to the game pretty early, so I got to go down and watch them practice.
I LOVE HOCKEY!!!

It was so great!
One of the players picked up a hockey puck with his stick and bounced it over the wall right at me!
So, I got to keep the practice puck!

I LOVE HOCKEY!
It is so fast----and quick----and lots of punching----and lots of high-sticking----and lots of fighting!
I just totally love to scream my lungs out!!

Well, my mom has been getting ready for the end of school semester. She has been studying like crazy 'cause she wants to make a "A". And, she and her friend Sara have been working on the art mural at the Capital Child Enrichment Center. It is almost ready to start painting! I can't wait to see it!

And, oh yeah!
Me and my mom are going to volunteer this summer for the LightHouse Family Retreat!
If you don't know what that is, let me tell you!
I can't even begin to tell you how incredible it is.
Miss Melinda takes all us Sweetie Cancer Kids to the beach!
(and of course, our families!)
The webpage is linked below if you want to see more about it. But, me and my mom are gonna go and help out with all sorts of stuff. I can't wait to be Melinda's little helper and be in charge of games and stuff!
Or....maybe help with the arts and crafts?
Or....maybe help with the food and set the tables?
Or....maybe help with the laundry and make surprises for all the kids?
I just can't wait!!
I know that I had the best time when I went as a Cancer Child, and it meant the most important thing to me!
I will never forget that!

Well, I have to skoot.
I have so much packing to do---I hope that I can get it finished. I have my "Webkinz" all packed!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece. We love you!

Lots of hugs and love!
Your friend, Madie-Ry

XXXOOOXXX

Monday, April 2, 2007 8:59 AM CDT

SPRING BREAK!!!!

Yeah!!

Except, that my mom has to go to school.

But, she got her 'Substitute Teaching' workshop last Friday and she can now be a real 'Substitute Teacher'!
Yeah!
Way to go mom!
I love you!

p.s.....the little Angel is for a friend of ours from clinic (Austin Vickers) who passed away yesterday. It was very unexpected and everything happened really fast. Momma Audra is very, very sad. You can leave a message for his family at the Caringbridge pages, and visit "austinvickers". Austin, you are much loved!

====================================
Thursday, March 29, 2007 10:59 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!

Well, I have to say that Dr. Deganian was "right"----AGAIN!----I have the stupid Chicken Pox!

I waked up Tuesday morning with a bunch of new 'pox spots' on me! (say that three times really fast!--ha!ha!)
They itched like CRAZY!!!
I was holler'in for my mom about every 30 minutes. Well, not quite that much.

The worse'est ones are when I try to sit. Those actually hurt'ed the most, let me tell you!

But, today I am feeling LOTS of much better! My mom has used lots of creams and lots of baths. I have been taking the virus medicine (a-sigh-glove-air) that Dr. Deganian gave me, and we think that has helped out a whole lot too!

My mom said I could go back to school tomorrow because my 'spots' all have little black scabs on them and I have not had any new spots show up since Tuesday. (even the one on the end of my nose! Man! I looked like Rudulph the Red-nosed Reindeer!)

Yeah! I can go back to school!
And that is really great because being stuck'ed here at home is making me crazy. I even read my Chapter Book and wrote my spelling words! Hey, there is only so much Blue's Clue's and Backyardagin's that a person can watch in a week. And I think I have reached my limit, for sure!

But....I go back to school for only one day-----'cause next week is SPRING BREAK!!
WoooHoooo!!

And then I get to see the Gwinnett Gladiator's on Saturday night! (Don't forget to come and make a donation for Relay for Life!)

And then Easter!

And then Camp Sunshine Family Camp on the weekend of April 20th!!! (me and my mom are going with Keegan's family!! I just love him!)

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Lots of hugs and lots of love!
Talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Ry


==================================
Monday, March 26, 2007 11:59 PM CDT

Hi Everybody!

Okay---so, my foot (not my leg this time) hurt'ed really bad all of sudden last night.
My mom got me the heating pad and a nice hot bath, and that worked great!

So, because I have been hurting for over a week, my mom call'ed my wonderful children doctor, Dr. Deganian. I went to go see him today at 3:30pm.

It was so funny, he walked in the door and asked "Hi Madie, how are you doing today?"
And I said to him "Not real good. My legs have been REALLY hurting."

But, the part I didn't tell you earlier is that I had a few spots on me that my mom was thinking were 'bug bites'. They really itched and I had scratched them. I even got more of them at school today!
YIKES!

Dr. Deganian checked those spots and even called NP Beth in to look at them.
Do you know what he said next?

CHICKEN POX!

Dr. Deganian thinks that the chemo wiped out some of my Chicken Pox vaccinations and that I don't have enough to keep the stupid Chicken Pox away from me! He thinks that is why I only have a tiny few of the spots.

So, I'm home from school and my mom is home from school for a few days. I got some medicine that I have to take three times a day and we are gonna see if that helps.

Dr. Deganian and NP Beth said they are going to say "maybe Chicken Pox" and that it is safer to treat me like I have them.

I was so upset, I started to cry at the doctor office because I just totally LOVE school and did not want to miss any of it! Dr. Deganian said to wait a couple of days and see what happens next before going back to school.

I have to be all well by Saturday because that is when me and my mom are going to the Gwinnett Gladiator's game!
I just love to watch the hockey and I have been invited to watch the game by Gary Martin Hays!
He is working to raise money for "Relay for Life" between the games.
Him and some friends are riding Big Wheels for two days between the games.
He is very serious about stomping out the Stupid Cancer, for sure!

Well, I have to run.
I will keep you posted on the crazy spots. And, he agreed that the pains I have are the crazy "growing pains".
But, it was good thing that my mom take'ed me to see him today!
My mom is so smart---and she just 'knew' something was not right!

Thanks for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!

Lots of hugs----Madie-Ry!


----------------------------
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 8:59 AM CDT

Hi Everybody!

Wow---we are sure having a heat wave here in Georgia!
I can't believe the weather has been so warm!

And, my leg is doing lots better too!
My mom won't let me jump rope yet or take us to the park to walk, but it has not hurt-ed in about three days now. But last night, my teeth hurt! And the night before that, my head hurt-ed!

My mom still thinks that it is growing pains because I have been eating like a horse! (can you say that about such a little girl as me?)

An example is yesterday.
We had the chorus special at school last night, so my mom picked me up from my before/after school and she got me the McDonald's six-piece nugget Happy Meal! (I just LOVE to eat McDonald's!)
Then, we got home after 8:00pm and I was starving!
I ate 2 boiled eggs while she fixed me some chinese soup. (normally, I eat strawberries or blackberries at night before bed, but my mom had made tuna-fish salad and she kept these for me! YUM!!!) Then I ate half the cup of the chinese noodle soup!

Well, I guess I am going through some kind of growing phase, huh? But, these 'phantom' pains are just weird, especially 'cause they really do hurt like crazy! But then, they go away just as fast.

I also have a big favor to ask.
I have a really good friend, Tyler Copley, who I have know'ed since I first got sick with the Stupid Cancer. He reminds me a whole lot of my older brother, Rhyne! Tyler's birthday is two days after mine, so we are a lot alike!

Well, he is having a really tough time right now. He was off his chemo while his leg was trying to heal and he is thinking about starting back on the chemo. Him and his whole family can really use your prayers. Please go by and visit him and leave some great words in his guess-book for him and his mom.

Thank you guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible cancer journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!
We love you!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Ry


-----------------------------------
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 8:59 AM CDT

HEY EVERYBODY!

It's the first day of Spring!
Woohoo!
And it has been so wonderful and warm here in Atlanta!..Well, acutally SNELLVILLE!---where "Everybody is Somebody in Snellville!"
I have been outside practically every day. I just LOVE it!

Thank you to everybody who helped with the St. Baldrick's fundraiser that was on St. Patrick's Day last Saturday.
You are a huge help in the fight against this stupid Childhood Cancer!
Thank you!

And, the bestest news of all!
My very good friend, Little Princess Alexia from South America is in REMISSION!!!
The terrible stupid Cancer Leukemia is not found at all inside her bones and she is able to go ahead with her second transplant!
WOOOHOOOOO!!
Well, not "great" that she has to get a second transplant, but "GREAT" that she can be able to do that!

This is the perfect example of research money actually working towards a cure! If us Sweetie Cancer Children didn't have research places like the wonderful Duke University, my great friend would not have any chance at all. So, whenever you are asked to help raise money for Childhood Cancer, please remember to give with an open heart!

Are you guys watching American Idol?
I am!
I just love, LOVE it!
I have always watched it and don't miss a day---well, except for tonight anyway.
Why?
Because my wonderful uncle (and my mom's brother), Ray Ice, is going to be on COURT-TV tonight at 9:00pm! Yeah!
He is a Dekalb County Police Seargent and the COURT-TV people came down and filmed him for a whole two weeks while he was working. They filmed a few months ago and the show is ready to be put on the air!

He helped with the Shannon Melindi case, where she was missing and the judge sent some man to prison for hurting her.

I can't wait to see my uncle Ray on the TV tonight!

But, I guess I will still have to sneak over to American Idol to see who is going to be sent home.
It's hard for me to figure out who is going home because I just love all of them this year!
And that Sanjaiya....he reminds me a lot of my bubba Roe!
They are both very tall, lots of dark hair and dark eyes with a big smile!
They all are just wonderful!

Why can't we have 10 American Idols?

Well, I also went to the AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorder Clinic up at Scottish Rite last Wednesday and saw NP Sara. I had not see'ed her in a whole long time, so we had a lot to catch up on.

I had a supergreat visit---it was wonderful!
My counts are great!
My mom will post them on the page in a little bit.
And Sara also said that I could go to the "Survivor Clinic"!
YEAH-GREAT!!
I'M A CANCER SURVIVOR!!

Sara said I can schedule my appointment for June-July this summer.
And, she said I did not have to come back to see her or Dr. B for a whole 'nother year from now!
Can you imagine that?!

Well, there is a few things going on that my mom wanted to write about.
We have been walking extra at the park and I have started to jump rope a WHOLE LOT!
I guess I have hurt my leg because it is just giving me a really hard time.
Sunday night, it hurt like the dikens----I was crying.
It came on really fast, and my mom gave me some ibuprofen for it.
On Monday, we went to the park. I played with my friend and we were have a great time. Until my leg started to hurt again.
By the time I got to the car, I was crying!
My mom gave me some ibuprofen for it and it worked great!
But, by dinnertime, I had to ask her for some more medicine to make it stop hurting.

My mom said it was "growing pains" because I have been eating like a horse and being so crazy-busy playing and running. She told me to rest my leg by not jumping rope for two days.

It did not hurt at all yesterday, but.....I got a big fat headache right after dinner! I ask'ed my mom if it is possible that my head is growing and I am having 'growing pains' in my head???

She just laughed and said I was too silly! She said it was just a coincidence that the pain moved from my leg to my head! She said it is most likely Spring flower/tree/grass allergies that I have! (which I have a lot!)

But, she gave me some medicine to make it stop, and it did!

Do you guys know what today is?
It is the four year anniversary of my Cancer Leukemia diagnosis!
I was admitted into the ER on March 20, 2003.
I had my first blood transfusion that evening.
I had my first platelet transfusion right after midnight on March 21, 2003. That was the day that the doctor's came and talked to my mom about my Cancer.
The doctor tell'ed my mom, "Your daughter has Cancer Leukemia."

I think that I would have died if I had not see'ed my wonderful Dr. Deganian.
On that night, my platelets went down to "3", even after I had a platelet transfusion.
I remember getting the yellow platelets every morning and every night for about four days.

I had my surgery for a port, spinal tap (aka-back poke) and bone marrow test (aka--hip poke) on March 22, 2003.
My mom remembers that I was black and blue all over! Everywhere the doctor's had touched me was just BLACK!

And I remember to this day that the people all in green came to get me!
I was crying and very scared! (those green people still kinda scare me!)

I have had lots of stuff done to me over the past four years, that is for sure!
I hope to NEVER have to do all of that again!

Thank you guys for all your wonderful prayers and good thoughts of healing to help me and my mom get us through this terrible Cancer Leukemia journey all in one piece!

You guys have no idea how much we appreciate each and every one of you!
We love you so much!

Talk to you soon!
Lot’s of hugs and love,
Your friend,
Madie-Ry

Sunday, March 4, 2007 11:52 AM CST

HEY EVERYBODY!

The St. Baldrick's fundraiser is on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th. And our very own, most wonderful, Dr. Rapkin is going to shave his head for Childhood Cancer! YEAH!! He is part of the AFLAC Team and they are raising money for Childhood Cancer research that we need so desperately. Please go by the webpage and make a donation in his honor today! And, of course, you can always come to the Tavern and drink lots of green ale or dance with a Leprechaun! (We love you Dr. Rapkin!)

My very good friend, Little Princess Alexia is from South America and she traveled all the way to Duke University for a transplant in early 2006 that saved her life! Now, her stupid Cancer has come back and she is having a few problems with the very blecky, nasty, horrible chemo that she has to take. This is her last chance at trying to kill the Cancer. Please go by and leave good words for her mommy and daddy while they fight this horrible fight!

Me and my mom have been so crazy-busy that I just can’t believe it is already March here in Atlanta! MARCH MADNESS of course is all over the place and we just love it! I love sports, and just love basketball! Even though I am short, I still love to throw the ball---hey! I love any kind of ball----as they say, “just do it”! Get out there and play!

As you know, my mom had take’ed me to the Big Apple Circus at Stone Mountain Park a few weeks ago. We finally have copied the pictures off the camera and posted a few of them for you! They had dogs that were just terrific!
So, I just had to buy one for me to take home!

Also, I got invited to go play at Jillian’s by the CURE Childhood Cancer people!
There was an Atlanta Thrasher player, Illya Kovelchuck, who was sponsoring us kids to have the best time EVER! I had the greatest time! I totally loved the bowling and playing all the video arcade games!
Thank you CURE!!

Well, my mom is on her school “Spring Break” this week.
What is up with that?
How come that crazy school can’t be out the same time as me?
Anyways, she is still staying so busy that it is not funny!
She is studying or writing papers all the time.

My mom also has a new class-mate. Her name is Sarah.
My mom says that her and Sarah are going to try to paint a wall mural at one of the Georgia State University child enrichment centers that is somewhere downtown. My mom and Sarah are working on different sketches to present to the director. I think they will find out next week if they are going to be chosen to paint it. My mom is very excited because this will be her first adventure as an artist! Wow! I will keep you posted!

And, I have more great news!
I think my mom and me will be helping at the LightHouse Family Retreat this summer.
We have always gone as a ‘family’, but this time, we are going to be able to help.
We signed up for the Retreat #2, which is the week of June 4th. This is the only one that we can go to because my mom has to go to school this summer to try to ‘catch up’ with her drawing classes (because she is already a Junior!) and wants to be ready to apply for her degree program by December.
I am so excited---it is going to be fantabulous!
I will let you know as soon as we find out if we can go!

Well, I have to run (and play)!
My mom and me are going to my Aunt Rhonda’s so that we can eat dinner.
My Uncle Ray lives across the street from them, and my Uncle Randy and Aunt Sara are in town this weekend visiting them. We are all going to eat at Aunt Rhonda’s!
YUMMMMMMMM!!!!

Talk to you soon!
Lot’s of hugs and love,
Your friend,
Madie-Ry

Sunday, February 18, 2007 1:23 PM CST

Hi Everybody!

Okay...again, I don't have lots of time to update because my mom is studying for three tests this week!
YIKES!

But, I have to get on and post a note because I am so mad that steam is coming out of my ears!
My mom can't believe how upset I have become over it.

What is up with that Britney Spears?
I saw her picture on the home page of our computer Comcast and asked my mom how come she lost her hair?
Did she have Cancer too?

But....noooooooooooooo.
She just went crazy and decided to shave her hair off! I think it's just because it was Valentine's Day and for the first time ever, she didn't have anyone as a sweetheart for Valentine's Day.

Because, otherwise, why would she shave her head, just for fun?
And us Cancer Kids don't have a choice!
We lose our hair because we don't want to die, for Heaven's sake!

If she thought she had to do it, why didn't she do it for St. Baldrick's and raise about a trillion dollars for Childhood Cancer research?????
I mean, can you imagine if we could have got Britney Spears to shave her head for charity!! The money would have poured in for us Cancer Kids!
What a headline that would be!

Now, it's just a wasted opportunity!!

I am going to send her a strongly worded letter!

Talk to you soon,
Your friend,
Madie-Ry


==================================
Friday, February 16, 2007 6:23 PM CST

Hi Everybody!

I know....I know......I have not updated with news of all the stuff that has been going on around here.
It has just been so crazy-busy!

Right now, I only have one "VERY IMPORTANT" update to post.

I have a very good friend that I have knowed for years, and actually, I have posted her webpage here a while back. Little Princess Alexia is from South America and she traveled all the way to Duke University for a transplant in early 2006 that saved her life!

She has been "Cancer Free" for almost a whole year now....well.....up until about two weeks ago.

The very horrible, terrible, awful, blasted, meanie-monster, stupid cancer has come back! (UGH!)

Please go by Alexa's webpage and leave great notes of hope and love in her 'guess-book' for her and her family.
They are rushing like maniacs to get their house closed-up and fly up here to the United States to Duke University again to see if there is a new treatment plan she can start on.

And, please send strong prayers to Heaven that the horrible Cancer Luekemia will be gone forever and never come back!

Thank you guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you again soon.
Your friend,
Madie-Ry.

******
p.s........
I hate cancer!
I HATE CANCER!
I REALLY, REALLY HATE CANCER!!!
(Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!)

Friday, February 9, 2007 7:55 AM CST

Hi Everybody!

This is going to be just a very short update for this morning. I have to run to school, and then my mom is running up to the hospital to help out Momma Audra......because my great friend, Keegan started to run a crazy fever again!
UGH!!!

I have not see'ed him in a while, but he is back in the hospital with another fever and NO BLOOD COUNTS!

Please send prayers for his bone marrow to start working again and make the blood that he needs. He needs platelets, red cells and white cells.

Well, got to run!
Have a great day and I will talk to you soon!
(I had a SUPERFANTABULOUS birthday!....wait 'till I tell you about it!)

Your friend, Madie-Ry

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Hi Everybody!

I have been super-busy this past week, for sure. And, my mom take'ed her first tests ever at school! She was studying like crazy because she had two tests on Thursday. But, she feels really good about them.

Anyway, I wanted to post a note to tell everybody about the Bone Marrow drives that are going on at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta this week.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!
The test is very easy, and it will mean a great deal to those of us sweetie children who need the transplant to cure the stupid cancer or other blood disease.

Here is the link for the information on the day and times for the Bone Marrow Drives at each Children's Healthcare of Atlanta locations.
The one at Eggleston is tomorrow!
And, the one at Scottish Rite is on Thursday, February 8th, from 7:00am to 2:00pm. (Hey! That is two day's after my 8th Birthday!)

I think my mom is going to the one at Hughs Spalding on Wednesday, because she is already downtown at Georgia State and that is right around the corner from GSU at the big Grady Memorial Hospital.
Everyone, please think about going to get tested!
You can save someone's life!

Well, got to run!
This is a busy week for me too!
My birthday is on Tuesday, February 6th. I CAN'T WAIT!
My mom says we might have a party later on this month, so stay tuned for details!

:-)

Lots of love--talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie-Ry



====================================
Saturday, January 27, 2007 10:00 AM CST

Hi Everybody!

Yeah, it's Saturday!

My mom and me have lots of things planned, but we always stay so busy on the weekends. It is hard to "catch-up" with so much stuff, that is for sure!

My mom's birthday on Thursday was supergreat fun!
I bought my mom a small birthday cake from Kroger with my own money that I had got from babysitting the bunnies and kitty next door fro Christmas.
And my Aunt Rhonda treated her to a wonderful birthday dinner at Red Lobster. My Uncle Butch brought a dozen red roses! The roses are just B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!

And, as my mom is the most wonderful mom in the planet, she has been 'sharing' all her flowers with her friends!
I asked her "why" she wanted give away all her pretty flowers, and she said that flowers have to shared, especially roses. She said the more you cut them of the rose bush, the faster they grow! And, my mom says that giving flowers makes you feel good!----and she is right! I gave one to my teacher, and it felt great! Then, I gave one to my friends mom (who takes me to school lots of time), and boy was she so suprised! That felt great too!

Well, my future husband, Keegan has gone back in the hospital for his nasty, wicked, blecky, poisony, ARAC! That nasty stuff always gives him a fever and he feels just totally horrible for several days. I know, I only got shots in my arm with it and it put me in the hospital! I can't imagine getting it for 24 hours! YIKES!

And, now Keegan is having pain in his chest pretty bad! Dr. George is gonna have a chest exray done to see what is going on for him. Please send all the prayers that you got to him and Momma Audra. We want the pains go away and that there is nothing badly going wrong for him.

Well, you are not gonna believe, but my mom has three tests scheduled next week! (Okay....I know what we are doing this weekend!) She still loves school and keeps telling me that it is the greatest thing ever!

We are still trying to get our insurance stuff taken care of (between COBRA, student insurance, PeachCare), and let me tell you, I totally hate this 'budget' thing! Who invented this stuff? Well, to be truthful, we were on a budget always before, but now we have to be really thrifty!

Thank you to everybody who has gone by and wished Catie's mommy and daddy good thoughts and prayers. And now, she has a baby sis! Baby Isabelle Claire was born-ed yesterday, the day after my mom's birthday! What a great day! Now my mom and me can finish the baby quilt that we have been working on for her. (Shhhhhh....it's a surprise)

And this past week, my mom has been teaching me how to use a sewing machine! I just love it!
We both sit at the table together and sew.
Even though my machine is a tiny one, it really works.
I have already made two pillows and a blanket for my dolls,

Thank you to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we struggle though this stupid Cancer journey all in one piece. Right now, my mom is fighting off a cold and sinus infection, so we can't go visit Keegan (my mom hates that!). But the best news is that the doctor listened to my mom's chest and said it sounded great! YEAH!! That is the first time since October that my mom has not been wheezing or sounding all gunked-up! (that did not go un-noticed by her doctor!) She can't believe that my mom had to quit work to get herself all better!

Well, got to run! (like the wind!)
I promise to update with more pictures soon!
Lots of hugs and love to you.........Madie-Ry

Friday, January 19, 2007 9:24 AM EST

You know, I hate it when the Cancer comes to us sweetie children. It is not fair!

I hate it when my friends have to leave and go to Heaven. I just cry and cry.

But, I know that my friends are in Heaven and can watch over me all the time. It is great too because they don't have the Stupid Cancer anymore!

My friend Catie-bug has gone to Heaven, to play with my greatest friend in my whole-wide world that I have know since I was born-ed, Justin. But, she is also with my other Cancer friends Ethan, Stephanie, Claire, Cam, and Coulter.

Please go by her guess-book and leave great words of love and prayers for her mommy and daddy. Catie is expecting a baby brother or sister next week, so they need all the love that they can hold on to right now.

Thank you to everybody for the wonderful prayers, you guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon,
Your friend, Madie-Ry



==================
Monday, January 15, 2007 1:41 PM EST

Hi Everybody!
I wanted to put up a really "quick" note to tell everybody to please, please send prayers for a very great, long-time Cancer friend of me and mom. We met Cutie Little Miss Catie when I was first got sick with the stupid cancer back in 2003.

The "Little Missy" is having lots of problems with her lungs right now, which my mom can totally relate to!

Please go by Catie's guess-book and leave lots of great words for her mom and daddy!
She needs lots and lots prayers right now! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure.

I have been really busy, going to Camp Sunshine and last Saturday night, my mom take'ed me to see the Gwinnett Gladiator's at the Gwinnett Arena!

It was CURE Childhood Cancer night and also a terrific "Annual Teddy Bear" night. Lots of us kids came to the game and when the Gladiator's scored the first goal of the night, we all threw a stuff bear or animal over the glass and on to the ice!

It was great fun!

I also met Miss Patty and her son Casey. I just love them! We spent a trip to the beach at the LightHouse with them! And....we even spended one Camp Sunshine Family Camp too! We are all hoping to be able to go to the Camp Sunshine Family Camp together this Spring too. It will be just a fantastic time, that is for sure!

Well, my mom started school on Monday, January 8th. She says it is going really great so far, but she has a lot of walking to do to find her classes all over the downtown Atlanta campus. She tells me it is very huge. She loves all her classes, but most specially the Art History class. The book for the class is really big, and it has lots and lots of wonderful art pictures in it. Heck, it's like going to the museum or something!

Sadly, my mom picked up some kind of 'bug' from school or riding the MARTA train (she thinks) and had to go back on antibiotics last week because her throat was so sore, but she is feeling tons better!

And oh yeah, please send prayers for my Bubba Rhyne. He was riding around on a motorcycle yesterday and it fell on top of his left leg. He is pretty sure that his foot broke, so he is going to the doctor today. I'm guess'in that he is gonna have to come stay with us for a while, maybe. Of course, I love my Bubba Rhyne! And I miss him terrible! So, that would be just great if he came for a few days!

Well, I have to go---Lots of hugs and love----talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie Rylee


----------------------
Tuesday, January 2, 2007 9:41 AM EST

AAACCCCKKKK!!!

Well, my mom see'ed the doctor again this morning and guess what?
Her chest is still mess'ed up!
She is wheezing lots and the doctor wants her to use the nebulizer machine four times a day for the next four days!

Please send good thoughts and prayers that my mom's lungs get all better and that this medicine does the trick!
Thank you guys!
You all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Your friend, Madie-Ry


========================

Monday, January 1, 2007 8:41 PM CST

“HELLO PEOPLE!” and
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I hope everyone had the bestest Christmas that they have ever had, ever!

My Christmas was just full to the top of all kinds of surprises and the best love of all my friends and family.

I GOT A PIANO!!!
Woohoooo!!!

My most wonderful Aunt Marie gave to me the most beautiful electric piano keyboard that I have ever see’ed! It is exactly like the one that I play with all the time at Walmart. I just love, LOVE, L-O-V-E it!
I have been playing every night, and it even has a microphone on it.
It is so great, I feel like I am playing on stage or like a DJ at a wedding!
Now, I just need some lessons and I can be on TV, just like Hannah Montanna!

I also got lots of other great things which I totally love!
My daddy got me the greatest clock/alarm/radio---I love it! (Thank you so much Daddy!)
My mom got me a super stereo boom-box that plays CD’s---I just love it too!
I’m still trying to figure out the “Dance, Dance, SuperNova Revolution” dance game. There is a lot of jumping around on that game, for sure!

And, I have a few friends that are needing your prayers pretty much during this holiday season. My wonderful friend, little Miss Cutie herself Catie has been fighting the Stupid Cancer in her head for almost her whole entire life. She is now on a new round of badly nasty chemo that we are all praying is gonna stomp out that stupid Cancer. What is more worser, she is going to have to get the terrible transplant soon. Please go by and leave good words for her momma, especially ‘cause they are having a new baby sister or brother soon! Miss Jenny is hoping they are not here in Atlanta when the baby comes---but you just don’t ever know!

Also, please keep my future husband-to-be, Mr. Keegan Ice-Puckett in your thoughts and prayers this week. He is going into the hospital for his blecky-nasty meth-oh-tricks-ate, which just about makes us all have no blood counts! I know I had horrible fevers and no blood counts when I was just on the pills! And he has to get the high-dose in his port, at the hospital! YUKKKK!! Please send lots of love and prayers for him and his Momma Audra!

And, my mom is still working on the Christmas cards.
We are so sorry they have not been mailed yet, but she has been feeling kinda sick lately. My mom is thinking the new-moan-yah might be back because she is wheezing more, but it might just be a sore throat. She has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Please keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers that everything is still going okay for her.

Well, school starts on the 3rd!
I can’t believe the Christmas holiday is over so fast!

And, I go to the AFLAC clinic on Friday.
My appointment is for the afternoon, so please send good thoughts for great blood counts for me! I can’t wait for May to come---I will be able to go into the “Cancer Survivor Clinic” because it will be my two-years off Chemo! YIPPPEEEEE!!!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Lots of love,
And

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Your friend, Madie-Ry.

Monday, December 25, 2006 11:54 PM CST

Dear Santa,

I know that most children (and some adults!) write to you during the few short months right before Christmas, so this letter will most likely take you by surprise. Although it is partially sent as a ‘Thank You’ note for the most awesome Christmas ever this year, I am also squeezing in a few words for just a small request (or two).

Please know in your heart that this letter is by no means one of the ‘obligatory’ notes of mundane gestures or posturing of the expected “thank you’s” that I am sure most often arrive to you as an after-thought, right before the Easter Bunny is scheduled to make his much heralded annual visitation. No, this letter has heartfelt joy strung with pearls of tears sprinkled along the typed words that actually were kept as part of this note.

Thank you so very much for the wonderful sounds that filled our house today!
Even the small whispers at 1:15am, asking if you had already visited, were a sweet surprise to my ears. I loved hearing the delightful squeals, peeling through the air, one after the other, each one louder than the previous. And the sound of very bad “hotel lounge” organ music wafting through the air coupled with the youthful-sounding and always polite DJ inviting me into our “living-room-turned-disco” gave me huge smiles and tickled my ears throughout the entire day.

It was an experience I will treasure forever.

While this year was really great, it was also very difficult.
Much like the year 2003 when Madie was diagnosed with Cancer, this past year has been challenged with health problems, but this time they were for me.

As you know, I had a nasty spill late Spring and broke my rib.
That accident led to my having a partial collapsed lung, resulting in pneumonia.
I did see the doctor that one time, but sadly, I ignored subsequent symptoms until they became over-whelming for me and I had no choice but to slow down and rest back in October. Well, actually, it became life-threatening for me. It was "touch-n-go" for a couple of weeks!

I am on the mend, each day getting better and better. I still have a way to go and get “winded” after exercise, but everything is moving forward. If possible, can you please send me great health this coming year?

My other request, (remember, I said there were two!) is for my little girl.
I noticed the past two months that she has been much tired and complaining of strange aches along with other symptoms. I believe they are all part of the Flu shot vaccine she had some weeks back, so I have not been worried. Of course, I was not worried until today. She has complained of dizziness quite a bit. She has complained of “hot flashes” no less than about six times. She has been looking very, very pale and white.

Also, while helping her with her bath tonight, Madie noticed that she had several bruises on both legs. Tonight was the first time I have heard her count her bruises on her body for the first time in two years. A long time ago, when she was on chemotherapy, we use to count the bruises to see if there were new ones. That meant that her platelets were falling to lower numbers and we might have to watch out for the terrible petechie, which meant a possible platelet transfusion. I remember at diagnosis that she had 20 bruises, just on one leg.

Now, I know all kids get bruises and I was not worried, so I spoke soothing words and reminded her that she was playing a lot today with her cousins along with all of their Christmas toys. She had been on the floor, playing with her new Princess Dolls, which would easily account for the various bruising on her shins and knees. All kids get bruises on their shins.

And, thinking about how it is so unfair that it even happened tonight, I have a wish to make for this coming year. Santa, please send both my daughter and me, a year filled with no more worries about the horrible Cancer Leukemia making any attempt for a “come back” into our lives. We both are making our best effort to never think about it, and I truly hate that it is the first thing that pops into my head, (and now “her” head), when we see odd things happening to her body. I think we just need help to realize that in a normal world of all our friends, neighbors and relatives, the diagnosis of Cancer is the extraordinary and not the normal ‘go to’ diagnosis when we have health problems.

I know that Madie will be sent over to the “Childhood Cancer Survivor Clinic” in May, 2007. I know the clinic will be a huge help for both of us to transition to a life after Cancer. But, in the meantime, do you think that you can help us?

And, finally, my last wish for this coming year is that it just be the most wonderful, fantastical year of my life! I have quit my job of the last 31 years and will be going to school full-time to finish my degree. I am both excited and fearful about the prospects of starting a new life and career! I know that not everyone gets a second chance like this---so Santa, please help me to make good decisions and place me feet along the right path which will provide me the most opportunities for a Superfantabulous and healthful life for the next 31 years!

I actually had not meant for this letter to become so lengthy as I know your time is precious and fleeting. Madie and I both talk an enormous amount because we have so much in detailed thoughts to explain, so please overlook that one fault that we have, okay? (thanks!)

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
See you next Christmas…………….Regina and Madie Ice

Thursday, December 21, 2006 7:26 AM CST

Hi Everybody!

I hope you guys are having a wonderful-special Christmas Holiday this year!

I have been extra-busy and just having the most fantabulous time ever! I will have to post pictures and let you guys know what I have been up to!

But, right now, I only have time for a really "quick" update.

My "future-husband-to-be", Mr. Keegan Ice-Puckett (he is totally changing his name to "Ice" when we get married!), has come back to the hospital!....again!
He got out for about one hour on Tuesday night and had to go right back in! YUKKKK!

He had the icky tummy and the badly fevers, so the doctor said "Come Back!". (Sigh......)

Momma Audra almost cried, she was so sad about it.

So, my mom and me stopped at the grocery store last night and bringed Keegan and Momma Audra lots of munchies and stuff!
And oh yeah, some glitter, glue and Christmas Lights!
Hey---it's Christmas and you got to have the glitter and blinking Christmas lights!

So now, Keegan's room looks good for the holidays and they are not sad anymore!

I love you Momma Audra!

The very BIG news that I have to tell you is about my mom.

After 31 years of working at SunTrust Banks, Inc. here in Atlanta, she has turned in her resignation letter!

Yep!
My mom has made a HUGE life-changing decision to go back to College full-time!

My mom had been trying to go back to school at night, but after being so sick with the badly "new-moan-yah", she realized that she could not work full-time (i.e.....12 hours a day with the long drive!), go to school at night, and take care of me and the house!

So, my mom has changed her classes all around and she is gonna be going to Georgia State full-time, beginning January 8th!
YEAH!!!
I can't wait!!
More time for me to spend with my mom!

And the best thing is, my mom can finish her 4-year degree in about 18 months if she goes full-time during the summer!
That is just FANTASTIC!
She is sooooooo excited!

My mom was accepted into the Art Major, which is what she just totally loves, LOVES, L-O-V-E-S!
So, we will see what happens!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece.
You guys have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Lots of love----
Merry Christmas!!

Your friend, Madie-Ry


================================
Saturday, December 16, 2006 8:26 AM CST

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

I am so excited, I can't wait 'till Christmas!
This is THE BEST time of the year, for sure!

Well, I need to say first of all, to ask everybody to send good thoughts and prayers to my future husband-to-be, Keegan. Momma Audra called last night to say she was on the way to the ER with Keegan for a hospital stay because he was running a fever. YUKKKKK!
We are prayering for just a stupid "chemo fever" that comes with the ARA-C yukky-blechy-extra-poisony chemo because that stuff is just "wicked-nasty" on your body!
We don't want him to have any line infections or flu!

And, you are not gonna believe it!
But my other friend, Tyler Copley, has a crazy infection in his leg surgery and is in the hospital too!
Please go by and leave good words (or call him!) because he should not be stucked in the hospital AT CHRISTMAS!!

My mom is still trying to work full-time.
The first two weeks back at work were just horrible!
Each day, my mom got sicker and sicker.
It was really hard for her to breathe and she felt like she was drowning in a big swimming pool.
Finally, she called the Pull-man-all-oh-just back and tell'ed them what was going on for her.
They changed her lung medicine around and she is now on the Advair 500/50 instead of the 100/50. That has been working just great! Now, we are just worried about lung damage that might not ever go away!

My mom has been very tired from her lungs not working so great, so it has been hard to get the house decorated for Christmas.
But! We have the Christmas tree finished! And it is just beautiful!

And! My Uncle Randy and Aunt Sara are in town for Christmas! They live out in Pasedena, California. But this week, they are helping to paint our house on the outside. They have been working hard all week (and "no"....my Uncle Randy won't let my mom help even though she is breathing better now!) and it is almost done and looks so great! For people who know our house, you know it has always been that dark grey-blue---well, we are changing it to a light tan color! Lots of primer and lots of paint are making it look like a totally different house!
I can't wait to see it finished!

We are so excited for Miss Christina! Please mark your calendars to be sure and listen on the 16th at 2:00pm! Miss Christina’s group is so wonderful and they do so much for us Sweetie Cancer children’s! I love my “Angel Angela” who I got through the “Cancer Warrior’s” when I was on the terrible chemo. It means so much! Please take a minute to go over to her webpage for the Cancer Warrior’s to see if you can help during this wonderful season of giving!

And, Miss Christina has all the Chemo Angels for all the Cancer Warrior children's, and that means a great big THANK YOU to everybody out there who has been helping!
I wish I could tell you how important the Chemo Angels are for one of us Sweetie Cancer Children's.
You have great big Angel Wings coming, for sure!!


Lots of hugs,
Your friend, Madie-Ry

p.s…..don’t forget to email my mom if you want a Christmas card from us this year!

Thursday, November 30, 2006 8:25 PM CST

“HELLO PEOPLE!”

First, I have to say to everybody that you can’t forget to get your Flu Shot!
I had to get mine today---YUK! My arm is really hurting, but not too badly.
My mom says it will keep me from getting really sick this winter from the Flu.
When we saw Dr. Deganian the last time, he mentioned that the Flu is coming and was now in North/South Carolina. YIKES! It’s coming fast!

And, also a great big “thank-you”, “thank-you”, “thank-you” for keeping my mom in your thoughts and prayers for this past weeks (ah..er….months, I think?) since she was diagnosed with the stupid ‘new-moan-yah’.

My mom went back to work this week, on Monday.
BUT---she is sooooooo tired. We have to leave the house by 7:00am and we don’t get home until 7:00pm, so that makes for a very long, LONG day! Blech!
I can’t believe it takes her so long to drive to work downtown! It is just terrible!

She is keeping a close eye on her lungs, as they hurt kinda this week. I guess going from doing nothing, while sitting on the sofa and napping 3 times a day to working 8 hours a day along with driving 4 hours a day----well, that is just a BIG CHANGE!
I just really wish my mom worked closer to home!

And, I am sending a big “MERRY CHRISTMAS” to everybody!
I can’t believe Christmas is coming up so fast----it is just sneaking up too fast for me!

My mom got a great email from our SuperWonderful “Cancer Warrior’s” President and
Founder, Miss Christina. My mom had just read on her daughter’s webpage that Ashley’s doctor’s had said she was “cured” from the stupid cancer! What a true miracle that is! But the bestest news came in the email from Miss Christina!

Here is her mail:
**********************************
I just hung up with The Make A Wish Foundation and 94.9 Lite FM here in Atlanta have requested to have our daughter, Ashley, interviewed on live radio about her incredible miracle survival story after being born with cancer, and her beautiful Wish Trip to meet Cinderella. They told MAW they were very impressed with Ashley's interview when we very taped a couple months ago for the upcoming radiothon. I am so excited for her! I am so proud of how far she's come since the day we were told she had cancer at 4 weeks old and watching this courageous girl fight it for 48 grueling weeks. She's an absolute MIRACLE CHILD and a gift from God! And to see her wish come true almost a year ago, to go to Disney and meet Cinderella, brings tears to our eyes every time we remember her lit up face, knowing she beat the odds just 5 years ago! And now she has been declared CURED of Rhabdomyosarcoma - the beast of all beasts!!!!!!!

OK, the details: On December 15th and 16th, all day long, keep your radio dial on 94.9 FM. They are doing a radiothon to raise money for the MAWF and Ashley's interview was recorded and will be played over and over throughout the radiothon. BUT, at 2:00PM (time will be confirmed next week), she will be interviewed LIVE on December 16th by the Radiostation. Then, we go to their HUGE Holiday Bash to celebrate with other wish families who have children who are miracles as well.

Mark your calendars and keep your radio dial tuned to 94.9 on December 15th and 16th, and definetly at 2PM on the 16th!

I know some of you got this email are not in Georgia. I just knew you'd love to know about this news!
Warmest Regards,
Christina Lillig
President/Founder
www.cancerwarriors.org
“Also, mother to 5 year old, 5 year Rhabdomyosarcoma Survivor – NOW CONSIDERED CURED, Ashley Marie” www.caringbridge.org/ga/ashleylillig
SPREAD THE WORD
“Send a wrapped gift and card to a Child with Cancer this Christmas!”
Email christina@cancerwarriors.org for the sign up form!”
WE NEED CHRISTMAS ANGELS LIKE YOU!
***************************************
We are so excited for Miss Christina! Please mark your calendars to be sure and listen on the 16th at 2:00pm! Miss Christina’s group is so wonderful and they do so much for us Sweetie Cancer children’s! I love my “Angel Angela” who I got through the “Cancer Warrior’s” when I was on the terrible chemo. It means so much! Please take a minute to go over to her webpage for the Cancer Warrior’s to see if you can help during this wonderful season of giving!

Also---don’t forget that this Sunday is the Christmas Party for the Family LightHouse Retreat! I can’t wait to see all my friends and spend time singing Christmas Carols and having a superfantabulous time! Last year, I got to talk to Santa “AND” Mrs. Claus too!!

Also----don’t forget that if you are a Sweetie Cancer Children and want to attend the Camp Sunshine Christmas Party on Sunday, December 10th, you need to send in your RSVP or contact the folks at the Camp Sunshine House to let them know you are coming! They need to know by December 4th.
I can’t wait to see all my friends again!

Thank you guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece! It has been just terrible, but with the kind words and loving support from our friends and family we have been able to make it through the really tough times! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure! And of course, Santa knows too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Lots of hugs,
Your friend, Madie-Ry

p.s…..don’t forget to email my mom if you want a Christmas card from us this year!

Friday, November 24, 2006 9:11 PM CST

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hello Everybody!

I am sending great thoughts and warm hugs to everybody, in great hopes that you guys all had a super delicious Turkey Day with your family! I sure did!

Well, the first news is that all my mom's tests came back 'okay'. That is a great blessing!
But, because my mom is still using the inhaler 3 - 4 times a day and is still so tired, her doctor wanted her to stay home from work one more week.

Okay, how else can I say it?
I actually really hate it that my mom is still so sick.
Don't get me wrong, because she is doing lots better!
She actually drove up to my Aunt Rhonda's for Thanksgiving.
She actually helped cook the dressing and she actually went over and looked at my Uncle Ray's new house. (He is buying the house across the street from my Aunt Rhonda! Very cool!)

You would have thought she was almost back to her old supermom self!
We had a supergreat time on Turkey Day!

We got home last night and my mom went to bed, and she sleeped....and she sleeped......and she sleeped!
In fact, my mom take'ed two naps today!
She was just worn out from Turkey Day festivities.

And today is the most important shopping day of the entire whole year! We are normally up before dark, leaving the house in search of the perfect Christmas surprises for our familly and friends.
But not today.
For my mom to stay in bed late on today, that is really the whole story.
And the only trip we made today was to the Target store at 2:00pm for fabric softner so she can do laundry that has piled up sky high and a loaf of bread! (Of course, another nap was in order when we got home!)
And, she has not baked her Pumpkin Pie yet!
I know that my mom is really sick if she has not baked her Turkey Day Pumpkin Pie and eaten it almost all gone during the whole weekend! She has done that every Turkey Day weekend since 1985!

Okay, so "how long" does it really take to get over this crazy "acute pneumonia" thing????

Anyways, she is feeling better and stronger, just not back to her old 'crazy' wonderful super-mom self that I just love.
I see part of it peeking out, but she is not back to her old self just yet.

Thank you to everybody who has been keeping her in your thoughts and prayers while she is getting over this stupid 'pneumonia'.

Now, here is an update for me!

I am doing really great!
I forgot to tell you that last week, my mom made it to my teacher conference with Mrs. Hodge. I am doing really good---mostly the best in math because it is pretty easy for me and I just love it.
I love to read too, and I am just a little bit ahead in the reading, but writing is pretty hard for me to do.
I am working on it!

I am babysitting this weekend too!
My neighbor's have gone to Ohio, so I am babysitting the bunnies and their kitty. I just love the kitty---she is so wonderful and very sweet!

I hope to see all of my friends at the LightHouse Family Retreat Christmas Party next Sunday, December 3rd!
I can't wait---it is going to be a great fun!

Well, I got to run.
I am working on my letter to Santa and another letter to Mylie Cyrus, who plays "Hannah Montanna" on the Disney Channel. I just love Mylie! I want to grow up to be just like her! Hopefully, with my electric guitar and piano from Santa, I will get a good start!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon!

Your friend, Madie-Ry

Friday, November 17, 2006 9:53 AM CST

Hello Everybody!

Wow!
It's the Friday before Thanksgiving!
I am sooooooooooo excited!
'Cause this day is the beginning of the Holiday Season for me and my mom!
Normally, we will have the lights on our house by now, but sadly, my mom has been sick and we have not done anything yet.

:-(

One good thing is that my Bubba Rhyne got our Christmas tree out of the attic and it has been in our living room for over a week now!

:-)

It is a beautiful tree, complete with pine cones! We got the tree back in 2003, when I first got the Stupid Cancer. Because of the Stupid Cancer and the risk of germs or bacteria, the doctor's do not recommend "live" Christmas trees.
So, my mom got the bestest 'fake' tree that you can buy! We found it at the Home Depot's Home Expo. It does not have any lights on it (so you can wrestle--oops, I'm mean decorate!) with lights yourself! And it has pine cones on it! It looks SO REAL!! We fake out all our friends and family each year when they see it! They all swear it looks like a real 'live' tree!

Okay, so now I will give you a quick update on my mom because, oblivously, she is not back at work yet. Duh.

My mom had her "pull-man-air-y" function test on Tuesday. She has not used the nebulizer since October 30th, so my mom thought she was doing really good with her breathing, using the inhaler about 3-4 times a day.
She is still very tired and gets out of breath when we go to the grocery store. But, overall, she has improved a huge ton better!

But, during the test she used the nebulizer and noticed a huge difference in her breathing!
But, Dr. W said the test results did not show a big difference before and after the breathing treatment. And he said her lungs were 'almost normal'.
Hummm.....what is 'almost normal'? And how come she is not 'normal' while using the inhaler 3-4 times a day and being on the Advair?

Anyways, she went and got a new xray on Tuesday too. This one was taken up at the Gwinnett Medical place.
You are not gonna believe what the Radiologist said!
Are you sitting down?

He said my mom has a new "new-moan-ya" now, on the other side of her lungs!
WHAT??????
He recommended that my mom get a CT scan on her chest to help better see what it really is doing in there.

Okay, so Dr. W looked at the xray and tell'ed my mom that he thinks it is not the stupid 'new-moan-ya' and that it is not really anything to worry about. But, he said there 'could' be something going on, but not sure. He agreed that my mom needed the CT scan on her chest to be sure there is nothing to worry about.

My mom went up and had the CT scan done yesterday, the 16th, on my Bubba Rhyne's birthday! (He is 24 years old now! Wow--that is really old!)
The lady said that the test report would be send to Dr. W on Friday or Monday.
So now....we wait.

All the tests my mom had last week were for her tummy. She has been on so much different kinds of strong medicines that it was making her tummy hurt badly and even bleed! YIKES!
Of course, we don't like bleeding--that is always a bad thing!
Mostly everything looks okay, but the doctor did send something to Texas for the people there to check and see if it is something that can turn into the stupid cancer. That test takes four weeks, so she has an appointment with Dr. K on December 7th.

Okay, so my mom is still home from work because if she has the 'new-moan-yah' again we don't want to give it out to more people!
Duh!
That would not make any sense, so she is staying home until we know for sure that it is not anything contagious.

All I know is that I just hate it!
My mom gets tired so easy, it is very frustrating for me.
I love to shop and go places---we can't do much of nothing!
We have tried to squeeze in some shopping last weekend for my Christmas dress and shoes, but my mom got so tired---we had to keep stopping and taking breaks!

And now, if my mom is really sick (PLEASE NOT AGAIN!), I can't even go see my great friend, Keegan, who is up at the hospital for his chemo! We don't want to spread germs up there---that would be just horrible!

Please say prayers that my mom's lungs get all healed up and her breathing goes back to normal really quick!

Next week is Thanksgiving!
YEAH!!
We are suppose to be so busy----we normally go to my Aunt Marie's and Uncle Jerry for "lunch" turkey!
YUMMMMM!

This year, we are also going to my Aunt Rhonda's and Uncle Butch for "dinner" turkey! And, my Uncle Ray has promised to make scallops on the grill! DOUBLE-YUMMMMMMMMYYY!!!
If my mom is too tired to drive, she is gonna make my Bubba Rhyne drive us!
We can't miss that!
Whooohoooo!

I can't wait to see all my friends at the LightHouse Christmas Party on December 3rd up at the NorthPoint Community Church. It is gonna be so much fun!

And---I will see all my friends from Camp Sunshine at the Camp Sunshine Christmas Party on December 10th! It is always a supergreat time!

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!


=============================
Thursday, November 2, 2006 8:53 PM CST

“HELLO PEOPLE!”

First, thank you guys all so much for keeping my mom in your thoughts and prayers for this past three weeks since she was diagnosed with the stupid ‘new-moan-yah’. Me and my mom have slowly come to realize that it is pretty wicked stuff and some people even die from it. I know that I never said, but my mom got pretty close to being that sick.
It was really scary, and kind of weird because I was not the ‘sick’ person in our house.
Very weird, let me tell you!

Well, my mom is still having breathing problems.
She does sound better, but she gets short of breath from walking or talking too much. And of course, she just totally hates that part! She just loves to talk---and read to me---and help me with my homework---and help me with my spelling---and tell crazy jokes---and just laugh and laugh and laugh!
But, now, because of the stupid ‘new-moan-yah’, she has to stop because she can’t catch her breath. I just hate it.

As of today, we know that my mom is going to be out of work until November 15th.
She goes in for a CT scan on the 7th and another test on the 9th.
Then, she has a “Pull-man-air-y” Function Test on her lungs that is scheduled on the 14th.
She is going to see the “Pull-man-all-oh-just” doctor on the 15th, and he will say if she can go back to work or not.

Please say prayers that my mom’s lungs are not damaged beyond repair and that she will once again be able to be my normal “super mom” to me and my brothers.

MOM!!
GET BETTER FAST, OKAY!!

Okay---now on to important news for us Sweetie Cancer Children's!

Next Tuesday, November 7th, is the Camp Sunshine Family Night where we celebrate “THANKSGIVING”!! Please make plans to come and celebrate another wonderful year with all our friends! Call Miss Ann and let her know if you can come!

And, beginning on Monday, November 6th, it is the St. Ives Golf and Country Club Charity Event to benefit our wonderful “Family LightHouse Retreat”!
The Pro-Am will draw golf professionals from throughout the Southeast, especially the Atlanta area and we need your help to make it a huge success!

We still need Tournament Sponsors and Players: If you are interested in helping us find sponsors for our golf tournament or pulling together a team to play, please call Melissa at 678.455.5115. Click here to view our Sponsorship Levels or visit St. Ives Country Club to learn more about the course. Click here to view the Tournament Schedule. To sign up as an individual or a team, please complete the 2006 ENTRY FORM.

We also need help from our Lighthouse Families!!! We need families to join volunteers out on the course to cheer on our golfers, provide refreshments and share their Lighthouse retreat stories. If you have any friends or family members that are golfers and might be interested in playing in the tournament, please call Melissa right away at 678.455.5115.
I hope to see everybody up there, having a fantastic time!

My mom had planned to take a day of vacation from work so we can go, but she might not be able to drive that far (again---that STUPID NEW-MOAN-YAH!). So---guess what?? MY BUBBA RHYNE IS GONNA TAKE ME!!! He just loves golf and is very excited about bringing me up there to talk to all the wonderful people who are helping out our superfantabulous LightHouse Family Retreat!

And just think, it is a great way to take a vacation day, have fun (even if you don’t play golf!) and help all us Sweetie Cancer Children’s get a chance to go to the beach! There is also going to be a silent auction of lots of things that you can bid on. It is going to be a superfantabulous time for everyone, so hurry and register today!

And----THE FESTIVAL OF TREE'S IS COMING!

The Festival of Trees, Atlanta’s premier holiday event, benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Visitors can stroll through 154,000 square feet of decorated trees, wreaths and decorator vignettes created by the city’s top artists and designers. This extraordinary event has become a tradition of Atlanta’s holiday season while raising much needed money for quality services and facilities for patients at Children’s. Be sure to mark your calendars for this spectacular event for the whole family. You will not want to miss it!

Okay, so I have another friend that is having a pretty stinky time with the stupid Cancer coming back to her. Please go by and leave good words for my wonderful friend, Cutie Catie. Catie is going to be at the hospital for more chemo and then a transplant. Please go by and leave lots of great words for her and her mom in her guess-book.

And, also keep in your thoughts and prayers my future husband-to-be, Keegan. He just got out of the hospital and his counts are bouncing back up, finally! It is just a really tough cancer road and I know that Momma Audra can use lots of great words in his guess-book. And, Momma Audra called to say that Keegan was even on the radio today! The STAR 94 radio station is having the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta radiothon called Cares For Kids, and Keegan got to speak to everybody! How wonderful! I hope they raise lots and lots of money because every penny is greatly used by all us sweetie childrens! Please go by and make a donation today if you can!

Well, I have to run.
I have been practicing for my spelling test and I think I am gonna do just super!
Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.

p.s.....to my wonderful 'Angel Angela'....I just LOVED my card! And yes, I just love Halloween! You are so sweet!

Wednesday, November 1, 2006 10:41 AM CDT

Hello Everybody!

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Halloween.
I had a superterrific time!

Since my mom is sick, on Monday, I went to the Kroger "Moonlight Madness" with our great friends, Miss Tammy!
She helped to fix my makeup and I have a picture to put up soon.
Thank you Miss Tammy!

Then, last night, my mom drived me up to the Calvary Chapel "Fall Festival" that was totally 'saw-weeeet!
I had a blast with all my friends---I had the best time ever!
My mom got tired and had to sit down a lot, but between Miss Linda and Miss Tammy, I had a fantastic time.

Okay, so my mom tried to go back to work on Monday.
BIG MISTAKE.
She learned a very valuable lesson.
Do not try to go back to work when it has only been 2.5 weeks after been diagnosed with Acute Pneumonia.
Lungs don't like that.

So, my mom is home again for another week while her lungs heal up.
She sounds lots better, but is on lots of medicine too.
She goes to another doctor today, at 1:30pm.
Please say prayers that everything heals up quick!

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for the sure the truth!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.


================================
Sunday, October 29, 2006 10:41 PM CDT

Hello People!

Thank you so much for the wonderful prayers and great thoughts being sent over to my mom!

She is better, but still sounds just terrible wheezing and crackly-type noises coming from her chest.
She gets tired very easy.
In fact, we went to church this morning and she had to come home and rest. (and she didn't even drive us---Miss Tammy drove us!) Sadly, I didn't get to go to the Camp Sunshine Fall Festival because my mom was just too wiped out!

My mom is gonna try to go in to work tomorrow.
The doctor said she could try to work half-days, but to stay home if she is short of breath or gets dizzy.
I guess we will see!

Thanks again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

HAPPY HALLOWEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!


=======================
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:41 AM CDT
Hello People!

Okay, well, this is going to be a short update to let you guys know how my mom is doing tonight.

My mom got a call really early from the "Pull-man-all-oh-just" and they said to please come as soon as possible, but, first, go by the hospital and get all the xrays that she has ever had done since she fell down and broke her rib back in April.

So, my mom got all that stuff and got to see the doctor. He said the 'new-moan-yah' is not showing on the xray, but that she has lots and lots of the 'inflammation' and that stuff makes it hard for her to breathe. He tell'ed her it is bronchitis, at the very least. It might even still be the stupid 'new-moan-yah' but that it just doesn't show up on an xrays.

So, the doctor put my mom back on another week of antibiotics. (Even the pharmacist looked at my mom pretty funny and asked a bunch of questions when he filled the Avelox again!)

And, the doctor gave my mom another lung medicine called "Advair". It is really cute! It's purple, which is just about my most favorite color! He tell'ed my mom to use it two times a day and for two weeks, along with her other breathing treatments.

So, the plan is now to use all the lung medicines every day for the next two weeks. Then my mom has to come in for some lung testing! She has an appointment for November 14th. He said she could go back to work on Monday, for half days. But, he said it was also only okay to work if she felt okay to drive and not short of breath. NO STRESS!!

And, of course he said to call right away if her breathing got worser!

Personally, I'm scared.
My mom looks better, but she sounds just terrible!
She is trying really hard not to let me worry, but I can't help it.
Please send prayers that her lungs will heal up and be all back to normal pretty quick!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece! You have Angel Wings coming for sure!!

Your friend, Madie Rylee.



====================================
Monday, October 23, 2006 11:41 AM CDT

Hello People!

Okay, so, we are going to update the webpage with my mom's stuff because it is so much easier than her talking to everybody. Okay?

First, my mom got worser over the weekend. Last night, my Bubba Rhyne put her in the car and take'd her over to the ER at Eastside.
I was happy because I got to stay another night with my best friends in the world, Syd and Jordy!! I want sisters so BADLY!!

Okay, so the doctor's gave my mom new medicine and it worked GREAT!
She can breathe good now, but she gets out of breath really easy, mostly if she talks too much! (Ha! Ha!---this is just "killing" my mom! She loves to talk more than me! Wait! No---I love to talk more than her! Yep!)

And the great news is that the ER doctor's let my mom go home!! YIPPPEEE!!!
They said all the blood tests were super---she does not have a "sym-bowl-ism" in her lung (?)--(I think that means a blood clot stuck in there?) and her heart EKG was also SUPER!
She is definitely not her age on paper! (ssshhhh! she is going to be 50 in January!)

Okay, so, my mom see'd her doctor this morning and they said she needs to be out of work for another week.
And, she has to see a "Pull-man-all-oh-gist" in the next two days. They will call her with the appointment time.

So, right now, everything is good and my mom is actually BETTER!! But, she has new steriods and new "Neb-you-lies-er" breathing treatments to try to keep her breathing good.
She is still very tired---REALLY tired!

Thank you to everybody for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece.
We really appreciate it more than you can ever know! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.

P.S.....I heard the "CURE Off Treatment" party at Six Flags was superfantastic! I'm kinda sad I did not get to go----but, hey! There is always next year! I love you guys!



==============================
Saturday, October 21, 2006 8:41 PM CDT

“HELLO PEOPLE!”

First, thank you guys all so much for keeping my mom in your thoughts and prayers for this past 10 days. She is slowly getting better, but still not my ‘super mom’ like I always had before. She has a ‘barky’ cough like a seal and her chest makes noises, but she swears to me that she is better. She is on lots of medicine and gets short of breath if she talks a lot. (And you know my mom---she talks a lot! So she just really HATES this!)

She had xrays done again on Thursday, and they said the new-moan-yah that was in the pictures before is gone! Yeah! (Actually, I am worried because she still sounds terrible!) My mom goes back to the doctor on Monday morning at 8:30am.
I promise to keep you posted!

‘Cause my mom is so sick, weak and can’t breathe good, we had to cancel the Camp Sunshine Family Camp.
She was very sad----Well, me too!
We waited six months to come to Fall Family Camp!
It is always so great—and Miss Kerri always has great fun stuff planned out. Me and my mom especially really like the crafty stuff and painting.
Man---I just hate that, I missed seeing all my friends! They are like our ‘family’ and I really miss them all!

So, since I couldn’t go to the Family Camp, my great friend and neighbor, Miss Tammy Vowell, invited me over to my first ever “Sleep Over” with my girlfriends, Jordan and Sydney. Jordy and Sid are twins, and we are all in the Second Grade. My Aunt Rhonda says we all look alike! And, we actually do look like sisters! We play, sing, cheer and dance together!

Tomorrow is the CURE “Off Treatment Party” at Six Flags Over Georgia!
Of course, my mom CANNOT go! (She can barely walk to the mailbox!)
My Aunt Rhonda and Cousin Bobby were suppose to go with us, so now we are waiting to see if my Aunt Rhonda can drive us over there. Actually, if my mom can’t go, it won’t be as fun. My mom and me have soooooooooooo much fun together, it would just not be the same without her being there.

My mom is such a nut, she makes everything so FUN!!
My Aunt Rhonda is fun, but not as superfantabulously crazy fun as MY MOM!!
Heck, my mom can make a puppet show out of food! (She really “IS” crazy! One time, she tell’ed me she made a movie in high school with playdough!—ha!ha!)
And, another time she got my future-husband-to-be Keegan to eat in the hospital by throwing cheerios in the air and having him catch them in his mouth!
He ate the entire bowl! (See! She is very crazy!)

MOM!!
GET BETTER FAST, OKAY!!

Don’t forget to check on my friend, Sarah. She is fighting the stupid Cancer again and can use lots of great words for support and encouragement!

And, another friend that I have, that my mom and me have known since I first got sick, is Tyler. Tyler and me have the same birthday!! Well, not exactly the same day, but very close! He reminds me of my Bubba Rhyne! He has been having lots of problems and it looks like he has some problems with his leg. Please send lots of prayers that there is NO CANCER in his leg and that his doctor will figure out the best way to help him to get better!
We love you Tyler!

Hey, do you like to play golf?
You do?
Would you like to play golf with golfing professionals, right here in Atlanta?
Would you like to play golf AND make a huge difference for a family that is fighting the Stupid Childhood Cancer? (How awesome is that???)
Well----step right up and sign up quick!
It is time for the St.Ives Golf Tournament) to view the link on the LightHouse web page to learn more about our Sponsorship Levels or visit St. Ives Country Club to learn more about the course. You will find information about the Tournament Schedule and how to sign up as an individual or a team, please complete the 2006 ENTRY FORM.

We also need help from our Lighthouse Families!!! We need families to join volunteers out on the course to cheer on our golfers, provide refreshments and share their Lighthouse retreat stories. If you have any friends or family members that are golfers and might be interested in playing in the tournament, please please call Melissa right away at 678.455.5115. I will be there after lunch on Monday, November 6th! (hey! That is my Uncle Ron’s Birthday!---and he just LOVES golf!)
I hope to see everybody up there, having a fantastic time!
My mom had planned to take a day of vacation from work so we can go. It’s a great way to take a vacation day, have fun (even if you don’t play golf!) and help all us Sweetie Cancer Children’s get a chance to go to the beach!
There is also going to be a silent auction of lots of things that you can bid on. It is going to be a superfantabulous time for everyone, so hurry and register today!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Do you see the picture up at the top?
That is a picture that I take’d all by myself! It is the 'Wee Ones' from the great Pumpkin Patch down on Hwy 78 at the Snellville Methodist Church.
Since my mom could not go, she gave me her camera and told me to take lots of pictures!
So I did!
I thought this one was very good---I just love the little 'baby' pumpkins.

And, if I say so myself, it came out great!
What can I say?....my daddy is a graphic artist (and plays the drums), my mom is a great artist and very gifted, my Grandma Ice was a concert pianist, my Grandpa Ice played the trumpet in high school and the Army Band, and my Uncle Randy is a video artist! (I get all my talent naturally!)

I have some more pictures, and my mom is gonna try to post them up as soon as she can. (Heck, she is so tired that it took her all day to type this update for me!)

Well, I have to run!
I promise to update soon about my mom. Please keep her in your prayers for her lungs to heal up quick. She is pretty upset because she can’t even hold onto her knitting needles to knit or use a crochet hook. I can’t believe she is too weak to crochet!
Like I said, it really did take her the whole entire day today to type up this update for me.

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006--WE THINK???

Hello Everybody!

My mom has been very sick!
She see'ed the doctor last week and has xrays done.
She has acute pneumonia, just like back in June when her lung collapsed after she fell'ed down really hard and broke her rib.
Because my mom doesn't complain much, the doctors are wonderin if it just never went away back from June.

We stayed at my Aunt Rhonda's Saturday and then my Bubba Rhyne came Sunday to help take care of my mom.
(I am pretty worried for her!)

Anyways---the inhaler was not helping much for her to breath okay.
She called the doctor yesterday and they gave her a neubulizer last night, almost like I had to use last January!
That has been working great!
I could tell a difference at dinner tonight--she is not really "noisy" like the last few days have been! (YEAH!)

My mom went back to the doctor today and has to go back next Monday.
They said to call if anything gets worser.

But, what I really don't like is that she is SOOOOOOOO tired that she can't take me anywhere.
The worsted part is that it looks like we will not be going to Camp Sunshine Family Camp this weekend.
RATS!

Please send prayers for fast healing on her lungs because they sound terrible.
And--she is very, VERY tired!
She is trying to be good and stay in bed, so I have lots of friends coming over to help out!
I even think my Bubba Rhyne is coming over again to help with the laundry and dishes!


Thanks again!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.



=============================
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 11:28 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

My mom has not been 'feelin' too good, so it has been hard to find the time to update my web page. She is still 'feelin' badly, so this will be a very small update.

I had all of my appointments with all of my doctor's on Monday. That was a busy day, for sure! The traffic was just crazy terrible----it taked two hours to drive from our house to Scottish Rite! YUK!! (Good thing we left extra early!)

I saw Dr. Blanco at 9:15am and he had me take two xrays.
He said my "scoliosis' is still very mild and that I don't need any brace yet! Yipppeee!
But, he still doesn't know what is making my back and hip hurt so much for me.

He teld my mom that the sweetie childrens who have the chronic disease like the Cancer Leukemia and have to stay on such horrible medicine for so long will have a hard time getting 'back to normal'. He said it will take years before I feel normal again.

My mom asked him if it could be are-the-right-us or if I have any type of bone damages, and he said that my bone scan in January showed everything looking normal. So that is good!

Dr. Blanco wants me to have some therapies first, to see if that will help my pains. He wants me to have massage therapy, heat therapy, deep ultra-sound therapy, along with back and ab-dom-normal strengthening. (Heck! Those are big words!)

Dr. Blanco said he wants to see me again in 6 - 9 months.
I guess I'm gonna be seeing a lot of him for the rest of my life, that is for sure!

I can't wait for the massage therapy! Yeah!
My mom is working with my wonderful nurse Dale and Miss Sonja from my Snellville Pediatrics. We need to find a place that is open later because it is hard for my mom to miss so much work time. And, of course, the money is not a great thing either---it's kind of hard to keep up with the payments for each visit. But, my mom says we are gonna try to do it!

I got to spend time with Keegan too!
He was at the clinic, getting his chemotherapy and IVIG.
That stuff always made me shake! I had to get Tylenol and Benedryl each time I had it!
We ate some lunch and it was great!

AND---I got to see the new part of the hospital!
It looks FANTABULOUS!!
My mom has been taking pictures of the construction each time we go, so we have lots of pictures of the changes. She is gonna post some of the pictures just as soon as she is feeling better.

I saw Nurse Terry at 1:30pm up at the AFLAC clinic.
My blood counts are just super-duper!
For the first time in almost a year, my platelets have gone up! Yeah! They were up to 229! FANTASTIC!

My mom will post the other info the next time. I just wanted to let you guys know that everything went great!
And Dr. Lew looked at my rash. He said it was the "Pityriasis Rosea", just like Dr. Deganian had said.
They sure are ugly, that is all I can say about it.
I really hope they don't get any worser on me.
That would be just terrible.

We ended up the night at Camp Sunshine House for the Spa Sydell night. It was the most wonderful night---I got a massage! And it worked great too! Thank you Miss Ann!
And oh yeah, "Thank You" Miss Sydell! I love you!

Thank you to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible (and stupid) Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie Rylee.

p.s......Oh yeah! Dr. Blanco has lifted all the restrictions on me playing!! Woohooooo!! He has given me the "Green Light" and is waving the "green flag" for all systems "GO"! I can start back on gymnastics, play baseball and anything else I want! Except of course, I can't jump off the roof or bungy jump, cause "my mom" won't let me! Hey Mom? How old do you have to be to drive a motorcross bike? Or, I guess "how tall" do you have to be?

Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:33 AM CDT

MY MOM HAS UPDATED HER WEB PAGE!
BE SURE TO CHECK IT OUT!

=======================

Hello Everybody!

WOWEEEE!!!
You are just not gonna believe----the *badly fevers* are gone from me!
YIPPPPEEEEE!!!

This morning when I waked up, I got the Ther-mom-meter and taked my own Temp-at-your.
I ran in to tell my mom that it was NORMAL at 98.9 for the numbers!
I had not taked any medicine since 10:30pm last night!
It had been almost 10 hours without any medicine.
WHOOOOOHOOOOOO!!

Of course, I am saying prayers that it stays that way!

Last night, I was rooting around in the freezer, looking for the "freezy" blocks that I take in my lunchbox so my food stays cold at school.
My mom ask'ed me if I was looking for ice cream! She is so funny!
I tell'ed her "NO" and that I was looking for the really small "freezy" blocks to wrap up in a towel and put on my hip. I said that the 'growing pains' were back, hurting me pretty badly.
My mom helped me to get it fixed up and gave me some more of the Motrin stuff.
That has worked great!

And this morning, my hip hardly hurts at all!
My mom says it must be the 'growing pains', 'cause I am a *growing girl*, that is for sure!
Or, she says it could be part of the problems that I have with my Scoliosis and my back. She said I might be walking and putting all my weight on one side of me.
I did start back on "PE" at school this week, so that might be the problem---yesireeee!
Man!
I never thought of that!

AND I LOVE PE!!!

Anyways, I go see Dr. Blanco on Monday morning and he is gonna tell me what is happen'in with my back and hips.

Then, at 1:30pm, I go see Nurse Terry at the AFLAC Clinic!
I get a finger poke and my 3-month checkup.
And guess??
My great friend, Keegan is gonna be there!
YEAH!!

Then, after that, we are going to the most awesome and wonderful "CAMP SUNSHINE" house in Decatur!
They are having the "Spa Sydell" night for all us Cancer Kids!
I love you Miss Sydell!
Man--I can't believe it has been a month already!
It has just flown by so fast for me.

I promise to keep everybody posted if the "Badly Fevers" come back to me again this weekend.
And, if the pain in my hip gets too bad for me to stand it, my mom says she will run me up to the Scottish Rite hospital and have them take a look at it.
Right now, it's not too bad!

Do you see the picture up at the top?
That is me filming the motorcycle riders at the race last week!
Miss Amy Jo let me taked pictures with her camera while we were riding in the car, watching the motorcycles go by!

And my mom has posted other pictures that you can go see too.
There is one with me and the Race Car Champion, Randy Probst.
I met him last Sunday too!
He was one of the champions riding in the Petite LeMans Motorcyle Charity Ride that was sponsored by the Chili Pepper Racing Team.
He actually won his division of the race last week! Wow!
His race is gonna be broadcasted on the SPEED channel on October 14th, so you can see it again if you missed it in person.

Thank you again to Mr. Dr. Jim Osborn from the Chili Pepper Racing Team and "ROAD ATLANTA" for helping out our wonderful "Family LightHouse Retreat"!
If you want to get started on next year's race, go to their webpage and sign up now!
I have a feeling there is gonna be even more riders next year! (hint...hint!)

Thanks again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Lots of hugs and lots of love------your friend,

Madie Rylee

Friday, October 6, 2006 6:08 AM CDT

4:30pm Update:

MADIE: "Mom! Mom! This is so *FANTASTIC*!! You are not gonna BELIEVE what is happening!!"
(Madie runs into the master bathroom, hunting for her mom who is in the shower. She is so excited, so happy, she just can not contain her joy)

MOM: "Madie, sweetie, what is so wonderful?! Tell me! Tell me!"
(Mom....soaking wet, shower is running and shampoo is in her hair.)

MADIE: "Mom! The most wonderful thing has happened to me! All that medicine you have been giving me has worked a miracle! The pain in my hip is all gone! See!!"
(Madie, cocks her hip to one side, slaps her left hand on her left hip a few times. The biggest, most huge smile spreads across her face.

MADIE: "See! It doesn't hurt at all anymore!"
(Madie slaps her hip again, for emphasis)

MOM: Stunned silence.....horrible sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach; must react in a split second or daughter will realize something is greatly wrong with her tremendous happiness. "Madie, that is so GREAT!!" (Mom is trying to sound convincing and just as happy as little girl) "How about your arm? Remember, you hurt it yesterday in Miss Hodge's class? Is that feeling lots better too?"

MADIE: "Uh huh!"...takes a deep breath, all excited. "It is feeling just Fan-tas-tic!" (Madie exclaims, emphasizes her Southern Drawl....drawling out the last word as it rolls over her tongue and teeth."
Another huge smile erupts across her face.)

MOM: "Madie, I am so excited to hear you are feeling so great! You know, I did not know your hip was bothering you at all, sweetie. I am so glad the medicine is helping that AND making your fever disappear. What a blessing!" (Mom, trying desperatly to hide her HUGE surprise and horror that her little tiny girl has been having pain in her hip and leg.)

MADIE: "Well, I didn't even know it hurt either until you gave me that medicine! Now it doesn't hurt at all! It's a miracle!"

MOM: "I am so glad to hear that. Now go get dressed so we can run up to the store and get some more Ibuprofen. Okay?"
(Mom is desperately trying to hide shock and terror in her voice.)

MADIE: "OK! But, I need some help. Are you gonna help me?"

MOM: "Sure sweetie. In just a minute. Now run to your room and I'll be right there. I just have to get this shampoo out of my hair, okay?"

MADIE: "Okay!"

Madie bounces out of the room, so happy and joyful. Mom fights back tears, whole body is shaking, thinking about what "just" happened----it blows a huge hole in her theory that the Cancer Leukemia can't be coming back because Madie had not been complaining about hip or leg pain for the past 4 weeks.

To be continued........

==========================
2:00pm Update:

Hello Everybody!

Guess what?
I am feeling much, MUCH better!
The 'badly fevers' are down a bunch---the Tylenol and Ibuprofen are working great!

My mom called and talked to Nurse Dale (Hi Nurse Dale! I love you!) and she said we can switch around the Tylenol with Ibuprofen instead of waiting out the four hours or the six hours. (actually, my mom was cheating and only waited the three hours because my temperature kept jumping up after 2 hours!)

She teld my mom that 'cause my fever is so high (104.2 this morning) that I can take the two medicines together, just wait the normal times between each of them.
She is very smart!
That is working great!
I feel great already!

Thank you to everybody for sending healing thoughts and prayers to help me get rid of these fevers and feel better fast!
You have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.


================================
Friday, October 6, 2006 6:08 AM CDT

5:05am - Fevers continue at 104.2

Prayers are greatly appreciated!

:-)

===========================
Thursday, October 5, 2006 10:08 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

This is just a very fast update----cause.....the *badly fevers* have come back again to me! (BLECH!!)

Today, this afternoon at school, I started to run the badly fevers!
But it started out a bad day anyway.
In the morning, I was helping to clean up and reached behind a desk to pick up something and reached too far!
OUCH!!!
I pulled my right arm muscle!
I had to see the nurse and get an ice pack!

Then, after lunch, I did not feel so great either!
I had to go see the nurse.
She taked my temperature and I had a big fever of 101.5! YIKES!! Call my mom, please!!

Also, I broke out in a very weird rash all over my back.
My mom called the doctor, and was taking me anyway for the crazy rash today! Isn't that really weird!

Anyways, I went early because of the fevers (can't stay at school with fever over 100) and see "Dr. D"!
He is so great!

He looked over my rash and said it is "Pityriasis Rosea" (he wrote it down for my mom), and that it is a virus skin infection.
He teld me it was not contagious and that I can go to school---but only when the fevers go away!
My mom looked it up on the computer and it says that nobody knows what causes it.
That is so weird?
If they don't know how you get it, how can they know you can't give it to somebody else?
Hummmmmm.........very strange!

Dr. D checked me over and said the fevers must be a virus because the strep test was negative, my chest sounds good, my heart sounds good, my ears look good........huh.....where have I heard that before? And he teld me to drink lots of fluids.

The bad news is that I got home and the "badly fevers" were 102.8, even after Tylenol only 2.5 hours before!
(AAAACCCCKKKKKK!!!)

My mom is taking great care of me!
She is filling me up with the powerade, orange juice, a vitamin and lots of water!
Because my fevers are so high, she is switching between the Tylenol and the Ibuprofen. That seems to work really great for me.

I'm really mad because I want to go to school tomorrow!

I will keep you posted on what happens Friday morning!
Please say prayers these stupid fevers leave me alone!

And oh yeah, please send prayers that this stupid rash does not take 2-4 months to go away, like on some people! It is just REALLY UGLY!!!
I can't look like this for months!

Thanks again to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Leukemia journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Lots of love!
Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee!


===========================
Sunday, October 1, 2006 9:08 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

I had a superfantabulous morning at the ROAD ATLANTA racetrack with the Chili Pepper Racing Team and all the other folks who were there to ride their bikes for our wonderful "LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY RETREAT"!

It was just awesome!

I met up Mr. Doctor Jim Osborn, who is a racing driver (and a doctor!) who started the Chili Pepper Racing Team.
He was there with lots of his family and friends who came for the Charity Ride through the North Georgia Mountains.

For those of you guys who have been reading my website since my diagnosis March of 2003, you will remember that was the first year that I came to ROAD ATLANTA with the "Lighthouse" for the "Petite LeMans" series.
Back then, I had no hair! Yikes!

A lot has changed since then, that's for sure!
But, I have always loved fast cars and fast bikes! I have about 100 Hot Wheels at home and of course, all kinds of Barbie cars, Jeeps, Vans, and even a purple Beetle for my Barbie to drive! I even have a Barbie Jeep that I drive around in the yard!

Yep!
I love racing!
I love everything about it!

And the best thing is, this past weekend events raised more money for our wonderful "LightHouse" than ever before!

Woohoooo!!

The only bad part was that I could not ride on the bike with any of the drivers! (Sigh.......)
But, I did get to sit on one!
YEAH!!!

I promise to update more tomorrow, but it's late and I have to get to bed.
My mom take'd tons of pictures, so just wait till you see them!

Talk to you soon!
Lots of hugs and love!
Your friend, Madison Rylee

:-)

Sunday, September 24, 2006 9:25 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

Thank you so much for sending great thoughts and prayers for my Bubba Roe!
He had a much better day on Saturday and actually slept for 4 hours Saturday night without waking up!

Yeah!
The pain is finally under control!

He also had a good day today, so my mom says he is good enough to go home to his own apartment tonight!
But, that is only because he has a great friend, Billy, who is gonna be sure he can manage okay and keep his medicine all straight.

My mom washed all his clothes (all 10 loads of laundry! Yikes!) and sended him home with food, drinks and instructions about taking his medicine.
He also has something that wraps around his body and keeps his arm straight at his side so he can't move his arm even if he forgot!
That will help him sleep too!

And me?
Well.....I had a SUPERFANTABULOUS time at the Gwinnett County Fair with my Aunt Rhonda and Cousin Bobby.
I have some pictures to post, so be watching for them!

And don't forget to eat at Chili's tomorrow!
All profits from every Chili Restraurant in the whole entire country goes to the wonderful St. Jude's Children's Hospital when you eat there tomorrow, on Monday, September 25th!
My mom and me are gonna eat at the Chili's on the corner of Hwy 78 and Killian Hill.
My Aunt Rhonda and Cousin Bobby are gonna try to join us.
I hope to see everybody there!

Thank you again for helping me and my mom get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.

======================
Saturday, September 23, 2006 9:07 AM CDT

Hello Everybody!

My house has been super-busy, that is for sure!

First, thank you to everyone who has been sending prayers and great thoughts for my Bubba Roe. It's really scary for me to watch him be hurting so badly. I have been helping my mom with some little things around the house, trying to stay busy.

Actually, I stay in my bedroom most of the time and not going into our living room much.
Now, why am I not going in the living room?

Well.....Roe's surgery was on his right shoulder.
The doctor sawed off a square piece of Roe's shoulder where his arm muscle is still attached to it. (EEEEWWWWWEEEEE!!!)
Then, he moved it down to where his "Rotator Cuff" use to be (I think?) and he used steel screws going into Roe's bones to anchor it down. (BLECHHHHHHH!!!)

Needless to say, Roe is in A WHOLE BUNCH of horrible pain!

Roe has to keep his arm in a sling and not move his shoulder, so he has been sleeping on our reclining sofa. Last night, he tried to sleep in a bed with lots of pillows and props, but it only lasted about 2 hours. His shoulder hurt waaaaay too badly to lay down flat!

And Roe needs some "quiet" time to rest. It has only been a little over the 48 hours since his surgery on Wednesday at 5:00pm. My mom says he is actually doing very great! She taked him to see "Dr. S" yesterday morning and he made xrays to check on the surgery healing. My mom says she got to see the screw in Roe's shoulder! It's very big!

The nursed taked out Roe's "pain ball" that he had stuck'ed in his shoulder during the surgery. That is why he hurt extra badly last night and this morning. Now he only has pain medicine that he can take by mouth.

The wonderful thing is that my Aunt Rhonda is coming today at 1:00pm!! I CAN'T WAIT!!
She is gonna take me out to the Gwinnett County Fair or go up and see a movie with me! We love Aunt Rhonda!
She knows that I am worried about my Bubba Roe, and, that my mom can't keep up with both me and my Bubba Roe constantly asking her to help us do stuff!
Man, my mom cooks and cleans all day long and runs the diswasher twice a day!
She has been sleeping on the floor, to be near Roe so she can hear him cry out every few hours when he needs help.
My mom still thinks he should have stayed at the hospital for the first 36 hours after his surgery!
She is soooooooo tired!
I think my mom has only sleeped about 10 hours since Tuesday night!
I can't believe the insurance companies don't let people stay in the hospitals when they have horrible surgery done on them, because they really need to!
My mom says it's a terrible way to spend her vacation time!

Now, the problem is what to do for the next week?
My mom is a single parent and has to go back to work on Monday.
She does not think that Roe is ready to live by himself again in his apartment.

Like my Bubba Rhyne says on his "My Space" page.......
Who are your Hero's?.......My mom and my baby sister!

Mom, you're the BEST MOM in the whole entire planet!!
I LOVE YOU!!

Please say prayers that we can figure out what to do that will help Roe the best in the next few weeks.
His "mom-in-law" Miss Sherrie (Rachel's mom) called yesterday to check on him. He visits them in Alabama and goes to visit Rachel's grave lots of times. (Remember...she died in Roe's arms last summer)
I heard him and my mom talk about maybe he can stay with Miss Sherrie next week. He goes back to the doctor in two weeks. And the doctor wants him to stay in the sling, not moving ANYTHING for the first three weeks.

I know we will figure it out!

And, don't forget....
SEPTEMBER IS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!

And the wonderful Chili's restraurants are helping out extra wonderful!
All this month, you can Create a Pepper for Childhood Cancer while raising money for St. Jude's hospital!
Monday, September 25th, have dinner at Chili's and all the proceeds from the dinners are going straight to St. Jude's!
What a superfantabulous way to raise money for a great cause!
YUM!!!

Thank you to everybody for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Your friend,
Madie Rylee

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 11:39 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

Thank you so much for keeping my Bubba Roe in your prayers!
After being at the hospital at 1:00pm, my mom F-I-N-A-L-L-Y got home at 11:00pm! I could not sleep, I was so worried!

My bubba Roe's surgery went worser than the doctor expected.
There is no tissue to use for any kind of grafting or staples.
Roe has nothing to hold his arm in place, it has all been destroyed by his numerous accidents and seizures.

Dr. S.. told my mom that when he see'd the damage during the scoping, the only thing he could do was to cut away part of Roe's bone and have the arm placed behind it (I think?). He said they moved the arm all around after he seated it and it did not pop-out or dislocate.

Roe is in a lot pain right now.
It is so bad, instead of coming home after surgery he is staying the night up at Gwinnett Medical.
My mom thinks he might have to stay longer.

Please say prayers that we can get Roe's pain under control so that he can come home and stay with us instead of being at the hospital.

Thank you guys so much!
I know you have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.


===================================
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:39 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

I have a big favor to ask.......

My oldest brother, Roe, is having surgery on Wednesday at 1:30pm.
He has hurt his right shoulder really badly (falling down the stairs) and his doctor is going to fix it.
My mom says he will have pins and staples to make his tendons grow back on his bones! (BLECH!---That sounds TERRIBLE!)
His shoulder is so bad, he dislocates it just leaning on the wall!
YIKES!

Anyways, my mom is taking him for the surgery so my Bubba Rhyne is gonna pick me up tomorrow and take me out to dinner.
My Aunt Rhonda is ready to help too!

My bubba Roe is coming to stay with us for two days while he gets all better from the surgery.
Please say prayers that he does not have a seizure during the surgery (he has Epelipsy) and that the doctor fixes everything just perfect!
We want fast healing!

Thank you guys again for helping me and my mom get through this terrible Cancer Leukemia journey all in one piece!

And....woooohooo!
My friend (and future husband-to-be)Keegan, had his heart echo done again at the Sibley Heart Center (that we all just LOVE!) and his heart is back to normal functions again!! YEAH!!! That is truely a blessing from God and only God!

And, I also have to shout really loud that I am most thankful for Miss Kerri to find a spot for me and my mom on the Camp Sunshine Familiy Retreat on October 20th!
Woooohoooo!!
We are goin' out to the Camp Twin Lakes!
My favorite is the "fishing" and the "gold panning"!! You can really find "real" gold and gems!
It's SUPERFANTABULOUS!

And....I promise not to fall down and scrape my knees all up this time! (ha!ha!)
I can't wait!!

Thank you guys again!
I love you!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.



============================
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 1:15 PM CDT

Hello Everybody!

My note for today is all about the people who help me get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!

If you look at the picture up at the top, you can see *Miss Kati*!
I first met Miss Kati at Camp Sunshine.
She is a volunteer and I had see'd her at the Family Camps.
At Camp, she is in charge of decorating your name badge.
She uses marker's and lots of stickers!
And---she puts glitter on your face!

Doesn't she look like an official *Pixy Dust* Princess?
Well, I think so!

Miss "Pixy Dust Princess" Kati nows works at the AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorder clinic up at Scottish Rite. (we are so lucky!)
And...you guessed it!
She still hands out the sickers and will decorate your face if you ask!!!

WE LOVE YOU KATI!!

**************

If you look at the pictures that my mom has posted, you will see some of the folks who come over to Camp Sunshine House from SPA SYDELL.
Once a month, volunteer's from one of the SPA SYDELL locations come over to the Camp Sunshine House in Decatur and help out.
Last night, it was the people from the Forum, which is the Norcross location.
They have chair massage, facials, nails, table massage, and the most famous of all----the foot *reflexology* that helps get your body all together!
And Miss Ann at the Camp Sunshine House has dinner ready too. It is sooooooo delicious---just totally yum!
Everybody is wonderful and I especially love Mr. Adrian!
He has a magic chair and has magic in his hands when he works on your feet.
It's not *exactly* like pixy dust, but kinda-sorta.


WE LOVE YOU MISS SYDELL!!

****************

Well, I have to run!
Today, my mom take'ed the day off of work and she is taking me to see the "American Idol" concert at the Gwinnett Arena!
YEEEAAAAHHHH!
We are going with my Aunt Rhonda, and I am so excited!
I want to get Kellie Pickler's autograph---I really hope if we get there early that I can find her and ask her for it!

And, just to keep you guys posted, my headaches have gone away.
But, I still have the sinus yukky stuff and low grades fevers that come and go. Nothing is too high (99.9) and the badly fevers always manage to go away.
My mom is making the appointment with Dr. Blanco to keep an eye on my scolosis, so I will keep you posted when I have that visit.

Thank you again to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.

p.s..............Miss Kati is getting married in December 30th! I guess I have to call her "Mrs. Pixy Princess"! And, did you know that she is a Childhood Cancer Survivor too! WOW!! I can't wait to volunteer and work at Camp Sunshine too!

Sunday, September 3, 2006 4:33 PM CDT

CONVERSATION IN THE CAR, BETWEEN MADIE AND MOM, LEAVING CLINIC BACK IN 2003.



MADIE: "Mom, how does God choose a person to get the stupid cancer?

MOM: "Sweetie bug, that is a mystery to us here on Earth. Doctor's have studied it for a very long, long time. We just don't know."

MADIE: "Well, of course, God knows why! He picked me to get the stupid cancer because he knows that I am not afraid to die and go to Heaven."

MOM: "You're not afraid?"

MADIE: "Nope. I am not afraid. I want to go to Heaven so I can play with Justin! And, you will never be alone because I will look down on you from Heaven and watch over you all the time! And I will get stay a little kid forever!"

MOM: "So, you will be kind of like an Angel?"

MADIE: "Yes, God picks the sweetie children's who are not afraid to die and go to Heaven to be His special Angels. Only sweetie children's can do it."

MOM: "But Madie, how do you know that?"

MADIE: "I don't know. I just know."



****

Our friend, Cam, has gone to Heaven to be one of those sweetie children's Angels. He is keeping watch on all of us.

Please go by and leave great words for his mom and family because I know they are very sad right now.
They need lots of prayers, hugs and love right now.

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid cancer journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel wings coming, for sure!

Your friend, Madie Rylee.




=============================
Monday, August 28, 2006 9:33 PM CDT

Hello Everyone.

My heart is very sad and hurting today.

One of my mom's friends from her "A.L.L." children cancer group on the network internet got really bad news today.
Actually, I think it is the most worst news that a sweetie cancer children can get.

Our friend, Cam, was suppose to start a new treatment plan to fight his stupid cancer leukemia that won't go away.
But, the doctor's tell'ed them that he can't start the treatment.

In fact, he can't start any treatment.

Please go by Cam's guess-book and leave great words for him and his mom.
My mom says we need to cradle them ever so gently, as they are walking on the path to Heaven, waiting for a miracle.

We just can't believe it is happening.
We have know'ed Cam ever since I was first treated for the stupid cancer leukemia back in 2003. He has been fighting for a long, long time and always managed to get rid of it. But sadly, it always found a way to come back to him.

I hate cancer!
I hate cancer!
I hate cancer!
I hate cancer!

And, I found out that Keegan is having his back poke on Friday up at the clinic.
Normally, he gets the really heavy sleepy stuff where he is sound asleep, but he can't get that this Friday.
This Friday, he is getting a 'light sedation' which is when you are half awake and half asleep.
All of my back pokes and hip pokes were done for me with the 'light' sleepy medicine.

Please keep Keegan in your prayers on Friday for "no pain" and that it goes really quick!

Thank you for keeping me, my mom, and all my sweetie children friends in your thoughts and prayers while we fight this stupid childhood cancer.

You guys all have Angel Wings coming!
I know that for sure!



===========================
Saturday, August 26, 2006 2:33 PM CDT

Hello People!

I know you guys have probably been wondering what I have been up to these past few weeks since my last update, right? Well....the stupid computer has been acting up and the Comcast internet thingy has not been working too great either! I'm hoping it is fixed today!

My mom tell'ed me that I have to post a note about my headaches. Remember, I was having a few headaches a couple of times a month? Well, they kinda started coming a lot in a row. In fact, I was having them about every other day.

Now all the "Cancer Mom's" out there know that headaches are not common in us sweetie children. And, if you are a sweetie cancer child, headaches are the "LAST" thing that you want to hear about! It's on "THE LIST". You mom's out there know what I'm talking about, right?

Well, I didn't have any other problems and I'm not falling down like I had been, so my mom was not too worried. But, when I had two headaches in one week, she taked me to see the pediatrician. The doctor agreed that it must be a sinus infection because I look GREAT!....I feel GREAT!.....I act GREAT! Even though there is not much goopy stuff in my nose and I'm mostly stuffy on some mornings.

I started on some antibiotics last Saturday (a week ago) and then...you guessed it! I had another headache on Tuesday. Well, my nurse (Miss Dale--Hi Miss Dale!) spoke to my doctor (Dr. Deganian---'cause he was out last week on vacation!) and we are trying nose spray now!

Knock on wood---but for the last three days, I have not had a headache! My fingers are crossed that this works!

And, if all this doesn't work?
Well, my mom still thinks it is definitely not the stuipid cancer leukemia because it has been happening too slow. She tell'ed me that the cancer leukemia is very, very fast and does not take it's time giving me headaches all summer!

My oldest brother Roe was diagnosed with Epilepsy when he was 12. But, he never had headaches.

My other brother, Rhyne, started having *migranes* when he was in the first grade (my mom had migranes starting in the second grade). Thankfully, my headaches are not migranes! I don't cry, throw-up, or need to hide in a pitch-dark room and sleep! So, I'm real thankful for that!

My mom is gonna take me to get my eye exam'mined just to be sure it's not that. And, it's time for that test anyways because I always go in October.

My mom says my headaches are from the rain.
I never know'ed anyone can get headaches from the weather!
Isn't that just crazy?!
She tell'ed me that ever since my chemotherapy, if it rains more than three days in a row, I start to have problems.
And that makes a lot of sense because I hurt earlier in the summer, when it was raining lots. Lots of times my back hurts and my legs hurt. My mom says I'm just very sens-a-tive to the air and the humidity.
She is going to talk to Dr. Blanco about that the next time I go see him and ask him if my bones are just weird with the weather like that.

Okay, what else have I been doing besides going to the Snellville Pediatrics? (I have been three times in the last four weeks!)
........Playing with my friends!
Going to school!
Visiting my Aunt Rhonda and Cousin Bobby!
Visiting different churches! (my mom is thinking of moving up near my Aunt Rhonda---I don't know about that......)
The good thing is that it would be close to my friend, Tori and her mom, Miss Wendy!

Well, I have to run!
I will keep you posted on the stupid headaches!
Please say prayers that they go away and stay away...that would be great!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible cancer journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Lots of hugs!
Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 10:09 PM CDT

Hello People!

I have been really, super busy this week!
As you know, my school has started back this week.
I am in the Second Grade, AND I JUST LOVE IT!
I got Ms. Hodge, who is just the bestest teacher that anybody can get (other than Ms. Hawkins---Colleen's mom!).
I just LOVE having her as my teacher!

I went to the hospital last Friday to visit Keegan.
He was getting his horrible, high-dose, meth-oh-tricks-ate (which I just totally hate!) and Momma Audra had to run all kinds of people back and forth to the airport.
So me and my mom went up there to keep him company.
It's hard because he has that broke leg, the cast is pretty heavy and he can't get around too great.

My mom and me did some shopping for school, but not a lot.
The weather is still really hot!
I hate the "hot" weather---me and my mom just about melt into a big blog of sweaty yuk.
I needed to find some summer clothes--not the heavy winter stuff.

I found a really beautiful lace top that is very cool--not hot at all! And, I found a pair jeans that fit me! Wooohoo! I had tried on some "8" pants, but they dragged on the floor for about six inches. My mom was afraid she was gonna have to start sewing my pants because I'm so short. But---wouldn't you know it? I found a pair of "7" pants at the best store on the planet-----WALMART! (I just love that store! They sell everything!)

I was surprised I found the jeans at Walmart because I love the clothes at JCPenny and always finds stuff at JCPenny. That is the best store for clothes--let me tell you!

I went to Camp Sunshine House for Family night last night.
I saw my future husband to be, Keegan!
And, my future mom-in-law to be, Momma Audra!

I LOVE YOU KEEGAN!!!

I also took care of my neighbor's bunnies and kitty while they were in Ohio for the whole week last week! That was lots of fun and I just loved playing with the kitty! She is so sweet!
I just love animals---any kind of bug, worm, or pet!

But, most especially, I LOVE horses!
I have all kinds of horses in my room...and on my bed....and to play with for my dolls!

And....speaking of horses......did you see that picture of me at the top? I have a story to tell you about it.

Grab a chair and sit down; with some tissues.
It's kinda long, and maybe sad story.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, about half my life ago, my whole world shut-down.
I got very, very sick.
I got something really bad that had made my little body stop making blood inside of me.
That was March 19, 2003.

I had no platelets, so I was just black all over if anybody touched me.

I had no red blood, so I was white as a ghost.

The doctor said I was very, very sick and that I had something called Leukemia and that I was going to die.
But, he told my mom they were going to do everything they could to stop that from happening.

Lucky for us, my mom had no idea at the time how sick I was!
I mean, she had no clue what all those blood counts and transfusions meant.
I got my blood tested twice each day.

Each morning they took some blood, and each morning I got platelets. Every evening they took some blood, and each evening I got some platelets.
Sometimes, I got the red blood too.
Normal platelets are suppose to be 175,000 to 550,000.
I was 6,000 the first night.
And I was 3,000 the next morning, after a transfusion.
And then it was 5,000, even with a transfusion...well, you get the picture?
It took five days of chemo, shots, transfusions and steriods to get my blood good enough that I didn't need platelets every day!
I always had something hooked up to my "horsey pole" because the blood has to drip very slow back into my body.

That was pretty scary, for even what we did know and understand!

Then----I got to go home.
Then, after a while, I got to go school.
Then, after a while longer, my mom taked me to a wonderful place called "Camp Sunshine"!
I totally LOVED it!
I told my mom that I was just like everybody else there!
It was the greatest place on the planet----I can't tell you how great it is!

There was another girl there who was walking on crutches. She had very short hair, and I really like her a lot.

I found out that she had played softball! Really good! Actually....really great!
Her name is Stephanie Phillips.

I found out that she had the stupid cancer in her hip.
The doctor's had taken out her hip and she got a new one.

Her mom and dad were the best----I loved sitting with them when we all ate dinner!

Sadly, the stupid cancer came back to Stephanie.
The doctor's did everything they could, but it wouldn't stop the stupid cancer.
And, we all kept coming to the "Camp Sunshine" house, because like I said, it is the best place on the planet!

When Stephanie died, I could not go to the funeral because I was too sick.
I hated that because I wanted to say "Good-bye" to her. And to her mommy and daddy.

I always talk about Stephanie to my mom.
I look at her webpage and I remember the most delicious hamburgers that her daddy had made. She was so lucky to have such a super-great daddy! I teld my mom that all the time each time we drove home from the Camp Sunshine House.

This summer, I went to the most fabulous "Camp Sunshine" camp for the whole week in June.
I got to ride the horses---it was SUPERFANTABULOUS!
Guess who was there, working with the horses?
And, she was helping all the Sweetie Cancer Children to ride the horses too!
It was Paige!...sister to Stephanie!!
That is her and me in the picture up at the top!

Paige plays softball too.
She plays at her college.
I hope to play softball one day too!
I have to get Dr. Blanco to say it's okay, but I'm really hoping to play fall baseball! My mom is gonna make the appointment soon.

And then......

Watch out!
I swing a mean bat and can throw like nobody's business!

Hummmmmm......I don't think they let you play baseball with high heels, do they?


And....Happy 20th Birthday Stephanie! I know you are having a supergreat time up in Heaven with all my other friends! Justin loved to play baseball too, so I am sure you guys are up there playing every day!

Thank you to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible cancer journey all in one piece.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend,
Madison Rylee

Tuesday, August 8, 2006 9:04 PM CDT

Hello People!

Thank you to everybody who has been leaving great notes in my guess-book!
I just love (LOVE!) reading them all and it makes me feel really good! Actually, I make my mom read them over and over---ha!ha!
And, I even know how to open the page and read them by myself! But, some of the words are really BIG and I can't make them out.

But....I know what they mean!

:-)

Hey!
Here is the latest on the "RALLY" from Willie's mom, Miss Nancy! There is a concert this Friday that will benefit Rally! (I love music!).......

For those of you who live close to Roswell, there is an awesome concert with David Pack at Roswell Methodist near the square on Friday night at 7:30. It is a benefit for Rally. The music should be wonderful...come if you can.

HERE IS THE INFO!

***************************
David Pack of Ambrosia
in Concert Benefiting
Rally Foundation

Friday, August 11th
7:30 p.m.
Roswell United Methodist Church Sanctuary

Purchase your "Packman Rally" concert tickets online now at iTickets.com or in the main church lobby on Sunday.

Remember the top hit songs, "Biggest Part of Me," "How Much I Feel," and "You’re the Only Woman (You and I)" by the famous pop-rock band Ambrosia? Singer-songwriter and guitarist David Pack has won international acclaim both as main composer and frontman for Ambrosia and also for his solo work.

At the Packman Rally Concert on Friday, August 11th at Roswell United Methodist Church, you’ll hear the best of old and new, including these Ambrosia favorites. The concert will benefit the Rally Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for childhood cancer research.

Pack produces dozens of top-name artists, including Natalie Cole, Phil Collins, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Loggins, and Michael McDonald. He has produced global stage events for/with Wynonna, Out of Eden, Jimmy Wayne, DC Talk’s Michael Tait, and others for "Purpose Driven Life" pastor Rick Warren.

About Rick Warren, Pack says, "The focus that Rick’s teaching has brought to my life has greatly helped me understand why four years ago I stopped my music career to start a media company to help young people and build a bridge between mainstream pop culture and spiritual entertainment. I see a great need for young people to have these tools, to help them find their purpose in life, along with role models they can aspire to."

Pack’s latest music – as suggested by the album title, The Secret Of Movin’ On, – is soulful and authentic, driven by his deep commitment to a spiritual path and the earned wisdom of major life-changing experiences.

The Packman Rally Concert will be a benefit concert for the Rally Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds specifically for childhood cancer research through nationally-coordinated grassroots fundraising initiatives. All proceeds support pediatric cancer research to find better treatments and cures for childhood cancers.

Hear some great music from David Pack and support the Rally Foundation Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Tickets are $10 general admission; Artist’s Circle seats are $25, with $15 being donated to the Rally Foundation. Purchase "Packman Rally" concert tickets online now at iTickets.com or in the main church lobby on Sunday.

Call 770.594.0512 for more information.

Roswell United Methodist Church - 814 Mimosa Boulevard - Roswell, GA 30075
Phone: 770.993.6218 - Fax: 770.641.0931 - Email: webmaster@rumc.com
**********************

Well, today I had to go get my shots at the Snellville Pediatrics.
There is some crazy rule that you have to have vax-see-nations to be able to go to school. Since I had the Cancer, I could not get my shots since I was three years old. So, now I'm off the chemo and I have to get them started back so I can go to school.

And I want to go to school!
For real!

I thought I was only gonna get one shot and then wait for the other ones in a week or two, but I told my mom that I wanted to get them all over with at one time.

So I did.

I got three!
Shots.
In the arm.
Well....both arms.
I didn't even blink.
I didn't even flinch.
The nurse told me that I could say "oweeeeeee" if I needed to on the third shot because it was gonna sting.
But, I told her that it didn't hurt either.
I told her she was really good at giving the shots and I didn't hurt at all!

What can I say?
I am "iron woman" with nerves of steel!
Well....actually I am "Ice Girl" with nerves of steel!

I can't wait to see Miss Hodge on Thursday!
I can't wait for school to start on Monday!

Thank you guys for helping me and my mom while we get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you later!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.


==========================
Tuesday, August 1, 2006 10:53 PM CDT

“HELLO PEOPLE!”

First, thank you guys all so much for keeping my friend, Sarah, in your thoughts and prayers these past two weeks. Her mom has posted a note that she is feeling lots better! I just love to hear good news!

Sarah is going back to Duke on Thursday for a scan, so please send great thoughts and good words for a safe trip and that the yukky medicine has made the Cancer go away! I know they have a huge long journey ahead of them, so her family needs all the good words that you can leave in her ‘guess-book’ for them! Please go by and visit her page if you get a chance. Thank you!

Second, thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we make it through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece! I had my clinic appointment last Friday and things went very great!

I have grown a whole 1.5 cm! Wow!
And I gained two pounds, which is not too bad for me since the last time I jumped on the scale back at the end of May. I had my finger poke and taked the blood back to the lab. Miss Bonnie was not there, but I still got to see the machines! It was so great---I just love to watch it.

My white blood cells are not too high and my red blood is just a little lower than the last time. The best news is that my platelets are up from when I saw Dr. Deganian! Yeah! They are up to 199! Woohooo! (but, still down from the May clinic visit)
Here are the counts for those of you guys keeping the score:

7/28/2006 5/23/2006 4/22/2006 3/10/2006 2/3/2006
Weight 56.4 54.6 54.9 53.0 52.8
Height 120 118.5 118.1 117.5 116.5
Platelets 199 208 238 281 283
HGB 12.9 13.1 13.6 13.3 13.0
WBC 8.8 5.5 5.79 8.25
ANC 5590 8750 2550 4660
BP 63/87 104/56 97/53 85/51 82/44
Temp 97.2 98.8 99 98.3 97.0


My mom teld Dr. B about me being cold lots (my temp at the clinic was 97.4), my headache last week, and my lower platelets at Snellville Pediatrics. Dr. B checked me over from head to toe. He said I was much, MUCH stronger than the last time. He was surprised. My mom teld him that I have been walking and swimming lots! He said to “keep up the good job!”

At that point, I ran away into the play room to drive the speed boat. I just love that video game because it is F-A-S-T! It makes me feel like I am driving a real speed boat! WOW!

My mom and Dr. B talked about boring stuff with me out the room. The best thing was that he said I did not have to come back for 3 more months! Woooohoooo!! I just love that!

Wow---I forgot to tell you that I saw Genevieve when I was there too! My mom taked our picture---that was great! I had so much fun at Camp Sunshine with Genevieve! (I miss her)
And-----I saw Will too!
And-----I saw Will’s mom, Nancy too!
It was great to visit everybody!

Sadly, I didn’t get to see my friend (and future husband),Keegan.
He was all finished with his spinal tap by the time I was coming to the clinic, so Momma Audra taked him home and they missed all the afternoon traffic. He goes back into the hospital at Scottish Rite this Friday for his next chemo, so I know I will see him this weekend!

Okay, so let’s talk about shots!----or, not talk about shots?
I just hate them.
But, Dr. B said it was okay to start back on my regular vax-see-nations and that Dr. Deganian can begin to take more care of me. He even said that “yes”, I have to get a FLU SHOT (Blech!) and that I can get it at Dr. Deganian’s this Fall. Dr. Deganian wants to split up my shots so I don’t get them all at once, so I guess I have to go two or three times this month. I am NOT looking forward to that! NOPE!

School starts in just two weeks!
Can you tell…..I CAN’T WAIT!
I can’t help it, I just love….LOVE…..L-O-V-E…..school!
I get to see all my friends, stay busy, talk to teachers, see my friends, go to the library, eat lunch, see my friends, learn Spanish, learn Math, see my friends, take lots of PE (my personal favorite!), go to Art and, oh yeah, SEE ALL MY FRIENDS!

Well, I have to skoot. Lots of things to do this week too!
I get to shop for school----I just love that!
I hope the weather stays great!

Any ways, THANK YOU!!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Have a superfantabulous week!
I love you!

Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug

:-)

=======================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
My mom has picked this one today, but for the life of me I can’t figure out “why”? She says the worse thing about me having Cancer Leukemia is that I love to see my blood! I love to watch it drip into the little bottle. I am not even scared of a finger poke or arm poke---I love to see the blood running! I don’t care how much they have to poke me!..... So, what’s wrong with that? (my mom is frowning at me……) Well, I guess being stuck like a pin cushion for two and a half years and getting almost 50 platelet and blood transfusions does not help, huh?

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
All my great friends and family! I could not have gone from the little Cancer girl that you see on Miss Melinda’s LightHouse Family Retreat webpage to who I am today without the help of all my friends and family! Thank you guys! And thank you to the “LightHouse Family Retreat”, “Camp Sunshine”, “Leukemia and Lymphoma Society”, “AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Clinic” and “Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta”!!!

Sunday, July 23, 2006 10:04 PM CDT

WEDDING PICTURES!!

Hello People!

I had such a superfantabulous time this weekend!

My mom and me were sooooooo busy getting ready for the wedding.
We barely had time to beathe!

We went shopping, had our nails done at a REAL nail salon---that was so GREAT! I LOVED IT! I got to put my feet in the water and the really nice lady rubbed my feet and got them very clean. It tickled so badly, I just could not stop squealing and laughing! We had so much fun. I forgot all about missing the beaches vacations.

We stopped my Miss Kim's "Best Cuts" to show Miss Jackie the pictures that Colleen wanted for my hair. Good thing too! Miss Jackie said that Miss Kim was gonna have to do it---so we changed my appointment for Saturday.

Then, we had to be at the wedding rehearsal at 5:00pm
It was burning up HOT...HOT....HOT!!!
I think I was melting, it was so hot!
It was so great---I was so excited and just could not stop looking at everything that was going to be ready for the wedding Saturday night.

After the rehearsal, we went to Derek's mom and dad's house in Loganville. We ate great spagetti and lasagna---it was delicious. We stayed so late, it was almost 10:30pm by the time I got home and then almost 11:00pm by the time I got to bed. Whoa!

On Saturday, we got up and I had to go get my hair done.
My mom even taked pictures of that---she is so funny! I looked like Shirley Temple with all the curly hair.
We will have to squeeze in time to post those pictures so you can see them too.

My mom taked lots and tons of pictures, and she just can't figure out which one's to use she has so many!

I had to be at the wedding house by 3:00pm for the pictures to start. And there are lots of the pictues, let me tell you! They taked tons and tons of the pictures with the bride (that is Colleen!) and all the bridesmaids and me (of course!). I had no idea that weddings were so much work! YIKES!

The wedding went perfect---except of course the rain!
Right when Paster Mike was ending the ceremony, it started to pour down rain!
We all ran for the barn before we got soaking wet!

It was just a great party---my mom taked tons of pictures and will post as many as she can very soon.

Well, I go back to the Montisorri school tomorrow.
My mom goes back to work tomorrow.
(Sigh)

We just love being on vacation!

Well, I have dance on Tuesday.
I have clinic on Friday afternoon.
I guess we will see what my blood counts are doing.
Since I saw Dr. Deganian last Tuesday, I already know my platelets are down (173) from the numbers back in April (238), then May (203).

My mom is still not worried that it could be the Cancer Luekemia coming back because I don't have the fevers and I don't have the terrible leg pains like I had before. She says I look great and let me tell you, I feel great too!
And those are not bad numbers! I know lots of my friends who would dream of having the number of "173"! Back when I was first diagnosed with the Leukemia, I had numbers like "5" and "3" and stayed under "20" lots of times!

Please don't forget to go by my good friend, Sarah Smith and leave good words for her and her mom Becky. She has started on the terrible bad-tasting chemo again. I know she and her family can use all the kind words, good thoughts and prayers that you guys have to send over to them.

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get though this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Lots of hugs and love for superfantabulous week!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.

:-)

p.s....to all my friends from clinic who went to the CURE Family Picnic----I miss you all! I was so mad that so many great things were all happening on the same day! But, I hope everybody had fun and rode the ponies for me!
I can't wait until next year!

==================================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: The worse thing today about having Cancer Leukemia is that I just can't hold a pen right and I hate my handwriting! It is so terrible! It looked so bad and shaky when I signed my name in Colleen and Derek's wedding book. I wanted to cross it out!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: Of course, most always is meeting great friends! I even met a new friend at the wedding! She knows Matt, who is Colleen's brother. And they know Austin and Tom who are riding in the "Rally Across America"!! They are all working on the Documentary---and she knows Alexa and even Will's sister, Claire! How cool is that!!

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 9:25 PM CDT

Hello People!

Today is Wednesday and I am having a pretty good vacations, that is for sure!

We have been staying really busy and having fun! Yeah!

I saw Keegan at Camp Sunshine House last night---that was great fun!

And.....I'm happy that my Uncle Ray met with the terrible "bad guy" down in south Georgia on Monday. My mom read to me that the "bad guy" talked to my Uncle Ray and finally admitted that he had hurt a really sweet girl named Shannon.

It's all very sad.

But, the good part is that the bad guy finally teld my Uncle Ray (and the lawyers) that he was the one who hurt her and made her go missing. I think it was a very long, LONG time ago---and that is good news that the right person is in the jail. He can never hurt any other girl again!

For my Uncle Ray to help with that, it is worth missing out on my beach vacations.

For the rest of this week, don't forget that the CURE Family Picnic is this Saturday from 12:00 to 3:00pm at the Briscoe Park right here in Snellville! I really want to go, but I also have to be in a wedding that day! Colleen says I have to be there by 3:30pm to start taking pictures.

And, don't forget that the Cancer Warrior's are having an all day event with a concert out in Dallas Georgia! There is going to be lots of food, music and fun!

And, I can't believe there is only a few more weeks left of my summer vacations! School starts back on August 14th! I got my CRCT test results back and I did just super---I even exceeded in the Math parts! Yeah!

Well, my mom says that I do have to mention to everybody that I had my 7-year-old physical with Dr. Deganian on Tuesday morning.

I am doing great by gaining 1.5 pounds and grew 3 centemeters from May! But, my blood counts are down from the May numbers, so I have to see what they are at the clinic next week. It's a different machine, so it's hard to compare the numbers. The machine at that office said my HGB was 12.6, WBC 5600 and the platelets were 173.

My eye and my hearing tests were all supergreat. The hole in my ear is still all healed up and not having any problems at all. I still take the Allegra and the Singulair, and Dr. Deganian said I could keep taking those with no problems.

I have to begin my shots---YIKES!
Normally, kindergarten sweetie childrens get the DTP, chickenpox, and Hepatitis A all at the same visit. Dr. Deganian said I could get them split up so I won't get so sick and make my immune system go "crazy". I have to go next week and get the first one, then go back each week to get the others.

Weird too, today I was getting some ice out of the freezer. My mom stopped me and said:

Mom: "Madie, why are you standing on the chair and putting ice in that towel?"
Me: "Cause my head hurts like I hit in on something. The ice will make it feel all better."
Mom: "Well, did you hit it on something? And not tell me?"
Me: "No. It just started hurting."
Mom: "Show me where it hurts."
Me: "Right here." And I pointed my finger on the top of my head.
Mom: "Well, I don't think the ice is going to help, but you can try it. Let me give you some Tylenol to go with it, okay?"
Me: "Great! Anything that will make it stop hurting is okay for me!"

And you know what?
The Tylenol worked great!

For a minute there, I thought my head was gonna throw up!

And the rest of the day has gone great---we have been shopping at the mall, swimming at the pool and playing at my friend's house.

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Lots of love and hugs-----Madie Rylee
:-)


============================
Monday, July 17, 2006 10:25 PM CDT

Hello People!

Well, I guess you are wondering how come I can update the webpage if I'm suppose to be on vacation, huh?

Well, sadly, my mom and me didn't get to go to the beach.
We had it all planned out, but the plans included my Uncle Ray. Too bad nobody told the "bad guys" out there!

You see, my Uncle Ray is a Policeman.
He is a very good policeman.
He asked for two weeks of vacations, but some "bad guy" out there needed to talk to him.
So, my Uncle Ray had to be at court today, Monday.
So, my Uncle Ray told my mom and me to go ahead to the beach without him. But, mom just didn't want to go. She said it would just not be the same.

And she is right.
Sometimes, when you get your heart is ready and your head can't go-----well, you just have to stay home!

Like me, I hate surprises!

I was really sad because I was looking forward to the beach!
And "yes", I went to the beach back in April for the LightHouse Family Retreat, but it's not the same.
It's not the same as going to the beach in the heat of the summer and getting to swim in the ocean.
It's not the same as going to the beach in the heat of the summer and getting to do all those fun beach stuff that you get to do when you leave home.
It's not the same.

So....my mom said she still needed to be on "Vacations".
So....we are on "vacations"! For real!

Today, we got up and went to the new pool over at Lenora Park. My mom told me stories about how she taked my brother Rhyne to the same park for baseball. And, she teld me stories about how she walked around the park every week, especially when she was pregnant with me! And, I even remember that we came when I just got out of the hospital with the Cancer Leukemia and I couldn't go ANYWHERE around people 'cause I would get sick. We came to the park and ate our lunch and we sat down and looked for four-leaf clovers.

I had never done before.

You know what?
We found about a hundred of the four-leaf clovers!
I had never done that before.
It was great fun----even if I did throw up.
But, I was a sick a lot back then.
I would just throw up at anything! It was funny! Well...no it was not funny. It's funny now!

Now today, I had THE BEST time at the new Lenora Park pool.
It is full of superfun things to do for kids!

Later, we drove over to see my Aunt Rhonda.
She has a new home in Bethlehem, near Winder.
Now, that is not the same "Bethlehem" where Jesus was borned! It is a city that is here in Gwinnett County. And we saw lots of horses and cows on the drive over! Their house is just WONDERFUL!

My Aunt Rhonda had a dress that my can wear to the wedding this Saturday. It looks great! Now my mom doesn't have to worry about all those "weddding worries" for a dress, shoes, hair, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.....but.....I still need shoes!

Tomorrow, I have to go to see Dr. Deganian from Snellville Pediatrics. He is gonna check me over from head to toe. I think I get a finger poke. I have to have some kind of form signed for school, so he is gonna do that. I might get my first shots since I was three years old! YIKES! I don't want any shots! And, my mom does not want me sick for the wedding, so she is gonna talk to Dr. Deganian and see what they can do first.

So, this is the week of "vacations" that is not really "vacations".
We are gonna do some shopping, go to the movies, and my mom wanted to go the Atlanta Zoo!
I'm not sure about that yet---we are going to see. It's soooooooo hot---it might be too hot for the zoo.

Well, we also drove up to the hospital to see Keegan on Saturday. He is back in the hosptial for his high-dose metho-oh-trick-ate. BLECH!!!
I just hate that stuff.
I really hope that he doesn't get the mouth sores again!

Well, I have to skoot!
I just wanted to update everybody that we are not out of town and we are not at the beach.
:-(

I am pretty sad about missing the beach. (sigh....)
But, my mom has promised that we are gonna go on another day. We might have to wait for school to start back, but she says she is going to be sure we get to go before too long.

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom (and my friends) in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys have Angel Wings comig for sure1

Lots of love,
Your friend, Madie Rylee

Tuesday, July 11, 2006 10:12 PM CDT

URGENT! URGENT! URGENT!

One of my dearest Caringbridge friends has just found out she has relapsed!

Please go by Sarah Smith'swebpage and leave great words for her and her mom, Becky.

Sarah's mom writes THE BEST webpage updates that you can ever want to read. My mom and me have been reading them for the past few years, and they will make your heart melt, laugh and sing all the same time!
I am not kidding!

And, she sings SUPERFANTABULOUS---just wonderful! Her whole family sings! I have one of her CD's, and we play it all the time. It is beautiful.

Please go by and leave gobs of great notes in Sarah's guess-book to help keep her and her family strong.

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom (AND my friends!) in your thoughts and prayers while we all get through this terrible Cancer journey all in one piece. We love you!

Talk to you soon, your friend, Madie Rylee!

p.s....

I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
...and oh, yeah...did I tell you?....I HATE CANCER!!!


========================
Saturday, July 8, 2006 10:12 AM CDT

Hi Everyone!

This is Regina, making a quick update.
Madie made it home last Saturday morning, July 1st.
She is doing supergreat!
We have been extra-busy and crazy the past week........

My brother Randy came in to town.
Keegan went back into the hospital Tuesday morning. (Blech!)
I have been working all week.
My sister Rhonda has sold her home in Fort Lauderdale and began her move up to Atlanta this past Thursday. She is closing on her new home in Winder on Monday.

My broken rib is f-i-n-a-l-l-y feeling healed and I can pick up things without hurting or having shortness of breath. It also helps that I can clean the house and do some yard-work now! I think all the pneumonia is gone too! Yeah!

We are trying to get the house painted....and that is a huge amount of work, for sure! Yikes!

We have dropped off the camera that Madie took to camp, so we hope to have pictures to post soon!

And finally, we are getting ready for our whirlwind vacation week of the 16th! We go to St. Pete with my brother, have a wedding rehearsal on the 21st and Colleen's wedding on the 22nd! Madie is the "Flower Girl", but to me, she looks like the most beautiful angel in a floor-length gown!

The CURE Family Picnic is on Saturday, the 22nd also. I don't know how we are going to stop by there too? We have not missed one yet since July 2003, so I'm not sure how we are going to work that one out......

And---I can't believe school starts on the 14th!

Madie is doing good---swimming with all her friends and playing like crazy. She has more bruising on her legs than I like to see, but then she is playing like crazy too! Good thing that wedding dress goes all the way to floor!

She is not falling down as much either, I am so happy to see that! For a while there, she was falling down hard at least one time a day.
Now, the only complaints are sinus related (I think these are allergies), being tired easy, and not wanting to do a lot of walking (well, not too much). But, she still runs into things, which is why her legs are all banged up.

Madie's next appointment at the clinic is on the 28th at 2:30pm.

This Monday, July 10th, is Spa Sydell night at Camp Sunshine House! Madie can't wait for that either!

Well....we are off in search of *the* perfect pair of shoes to wear for the wedding! Anyone who knows Madie is very familiar with her love of all things "shoe" related. She even takes her allowance money and buys shoes! I don't know any 7-year-old that does yet! She loves hand-bags too, but those are not so important.....yet.
Wish us luck!

Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful kind thoughts and prayers as we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! It means so much to us!

Have a wonderful weekend---your friends, the "Ice Girls".


=================================
Sunday, July 2, 2006 4:12 PM CDT

ATTENTION!!


We are at critical levels in the blood supply bank!
PLEASE!
If you can donate blood or platelets, please consider donating this week!

Madie and all her friends are alive today because of wonder "Angel Strangers" who make the personal, life-saving donation of blood.

You can help!
Donate at your local Red Cross today!



=============================
Monday, June 26, 2006 1:12 PM CDT

NOTE: Madie is off to camp this week, so the following update has been posted by her mom, Regina. Madie will be back next week, after she returns on Saturday morning, July 1st!

Tuesday Update!.......Madie has been spotted in the wee hours of the morning doing the 7:00am "Polar Bear" swimming before breakfast every day of camp so far! I hear tell that she is a little "fish", loving the water. She has been to pottery, arts and crafts and has made two tie-dyed t-shirts! Her counselor said she is dancing every second that she gets!

Thanks for checking in on us!
Have a superfantabulous week!

:-)

**************
==============================
Monday Update:

Dear "Blonde-haired-college-aged-girl-with-pony-tail-who-I-think-is-on-a-swim-team",

I know that I thanked you for helping my little girl get checked-in and loaded up on the bus for her first ever trip to Camp Sunshine. But, what I did not tell you is that this is the *FIRST* ever time that we have been apart over the night hours since she was born just a little over seven years ago.

I think she is ready.
I think I am ready.

I believe my role as a parent is to prepare my kids for anything that life throws at them. I played third-base and short-stop back in high-school (if you can believe that!) and the trick is to not be afraid of the ball, don't take your eyes off the ball, and always expect anything. This is what I have taught Madie.

Cancer was a straight, line-drive coming right at her head about 150 miles an hour. But, she has great doctor's for coaches, great medicine and machines as equipment, and a self-determination that "nothin" is getting by her! She might have had to back-up a ways after it took an unexpected bad hop, but I think she has caught the ball and has swung-around to position herself for a strong throw to first base. She wants to make the out, that is for sure!

Out there, at first base, I think I can see all our wonderful friends supporting her. I can hear them yelling, "throw me the ball"! Do they know that? Does Sally Hale, Executive Director at Camp Sunshine, know that she is playing first base, assisting with the "out"? Today....this week.....it's Sally at first base.

I am so grateful for the tremoundous out-pouring of love and blessings that have been heaped upon my little girl. I know that I can ever say "thank you" enough to all the people who have helped. Every gesture of kindness and thoughtfullness has assisted her to be the child that she is today and the woman that she will become.

Hum....what kind of woman will she become?

Madie has talked for a month about going to Camp Sunshine this week. Her eyes light up.....her voice has a slight *lift* to it and she begins to talk faster (just like her mom!) I could tell she was a little nervous, mentioning to me several times "Mom, I'm really gonna miss you while I'm at camp.". Then, she would quickly dissolve into another speech about all the great activities at camp or the other children that were going to be there.

Several times I thought she was going to just explode into a cloud of pixy-dust with glitter floating down from the sky.

When we got to the Camp Sunshine House, the parking lot was full of cars and parents with happy, anxious children. Madie searched the crowds, looking for Keegan or Casey. Madie saw Genevieve and Ashley first. The girls were so excited! Then Audra passed us and Madie screamed in delight. She just had to get her picture taken with Keegan!

Keegan was ready and wanted to board the bus, I'm sure because he had been there for a little while already. But Madie had not checked in yet, so we had to get in line for the luggage and to drop off her medicine (yes...she is still on medicine for lots of different things--we just don't dwell on it!). Before long, the first bus was full and Madie could not get on. I believe that God watches out over our kids because (I think) she really wanted to sit with Genevieve and Ashley. It was almost like all the boys were on Bus #1 and all the girls were on Bus #2! How funny!

The second bus had a flat tire, which took just about forever to fix. The sky was darkening, then we heard thunder. Next thing we know, lightening is coming! We all huddled under the porch of the house, and as soon as the bus rolled down the parking lot, the remaining children lined up to board it.

And just in time! The heavens opened up and the rain started coming down in huge, fat drops! I could hear the girls squealing----it was so funny!

After Madie got in line to board, I ran to my car.
The rain was pouring down, hard.
I was soaking wet when I jumped into the driver's seat.
Even if I was crying, no one could tell the difference between the tears or rain soaking my face and shirt.

Today starts a new phase in Madie's life.
She is playing in the "Cancer All-Star" game of her life.
But, she is a kid and is also having tremendous fun.
I can't describe the feeling that you get when you reach past your abilities and stretch out to see just how much you can do. And when you snag that line-drive that is almost impossible to catch, hear the gasping and groaning of the other team when they realize their player might not make it safely to first base, you lock eyes with the first basemen and throw hard with all your heart, praying like crazy it will sail straight into the glove across the field.

I am the First-baseman.
I used to be the "only" First-baseman.
But, for today, Sally Hale is playing first base, whether she knows it or not.

I know together, she and Madie are going to make the "out".

Sunday, June 18, 2006 11:30 PM CDT

NEW PICTURES!!!!


==============================
Saturday, June 17, 2006 11:30 AM CDT
Hello People!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in my shoes for a little bit?
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a sweetie children fighting the stupid cancer with all kinds of yukky chemo, arm pokes, tests and surgeries?

If you want to get an idea of what it is like to live with Childhood Cancer as I do, watch a new PBS documentary on June 21st and 22nd called A Lion in the House. There is a trailer for it on the website, and I could swear that I recognized one of the doctor's and that she now works at our wonderful AFLAC center at CHOA at Scottish Rite clinic! (and we all love her!)

The show, from "Independent Lens" will air at 9:00pm here in the Atlanta area on Channel 8, GPB/PBS and also on Channel 30, WPBA. The show will last until 11:00pm. It is on both nights, Wednesday, June 21st and Thursday, June 22nd.

The artist camera people filmed children fighting Cancer over a period of six years.
Wow, that is long time---but not much time in the world of Childhood Cancer!
I’ve been in it for three years already and time has just been flying by! Wow!

It is a real movie, with real sweetie children's, not any kind of actors.
So be careful when you watch it!
It will make you cry.....alot.
I think they say don't watch it unless you are at least 12 years old.

Of course, I have lived it for the past three years, so it's nothing new to me that I have not see'd before.
But, that does not mean that it's okay to see all that stuff and not be upset.
I'm very lucky and blessed that I have wonderful doctor's and nurses! But, the most important is that I have a wonderful mom to help me get through all the horrible things that I had to do.

It was not pretty.
It was not nice.
It was horrible.
It was very scary!
I hated a lot of it!

Not all my friends make it when fighting the stupid Cancer.
Lots of my friends die. (sigh....)
Normally, about 3 (or 4) out of 10 of the sweetie children's fighting the fight will die and go to Heaven.
The terrible crappy chemo stops working and the stupid cancer comes back. Or, you get a different type of the stupid Cancer that comes to you.

That is the one thing that we all really dread and fear the most.
If the doctor says....."The Cancer is back.".....blech!
It makes you want to throw-up just hearing the words!

It means a really worser fight, just like my friend (and future-husband-to-be) Keegan.

The list of sweetie children that I know who have gone to Heaven is as long as my arm. (and growing, of course)
I miss them badly.
We just have to have more research to find a cure, that's all!

Well...I wanted to try to be happy on this update, so here is some more news going on for me!

My future-husband-to-be is back in the hospital for his high dose crappy chemo!
Please go by and leave good words for Keegan while he gets the yukky medicine to fight the Cancer Leukemia off.
(Hi Momma Audra! I love you!)
We are gonna run up there a little bit this afternoon to visit. Keegan needs some bubble-gum and I don’t want him to get too bored either.

And, Keegan is having his birthday while at the hospital! Momma Audra is planning a Birthday Party on Sunday (tomorrow), so I’m gonna go up and surprise him too! You know, the stupid Cancer can’t stop us kids from having fun! No sireeeeee!!

Well, got to run.
I have a gimillion things to get ready for my trip to Camp Sunshine next week!
I have been growing, especially my feet!
And you know me, I love shopping, SHOPPING, and of course, MORE SHOPPING!....FOR SHOES!
Even though we don’t buy much because my mom is a single parent (hey! we all know how that goes! And gas has really put a pinch on our budget because my mom drives downtown to work! YUK!!), I just love to look at everything and try on clothes like I’m a movie star! Yeah!
It is just so much fun---you should try it!
And we love Kohl’s right now---they had everything on sale 60 percent off or more!!
I found some jeans for my horse-back riding at Camp Sunshine and a new swimsuit!
And, oh yeah, of course some new sandals!
Keegan---just wait until you see your birthday present!

I leave on the bus for Camp Sunshine on Sunday, June 25th!
I'll be gone for the whole week! Yeah!

My mom and me leave for our Florida vacation with my Uncle Ray and cousin Ashley on July 16th! We are going together (to share the expense) down to Tampa to see Busch Gardens! I can't wait! I just love my Uncle Ray! (and my Uncle Randy!)

PLEASE NOTE!! CURE Family picinic is Saturday, July 22nd and not the 15th as they listed on their "Winter 2006" calendar! Be sure you make a note for the date change!

Wow---that is gonna be a busy day for me, for sure! I have to get my hair done for Colleen's wedding at 6:00pm, so I'm not sure if I can make the picinic over at Briscoe park! But, it's five minutes from my house, so I think I can still come for a little bit!

And, if you live out near Dallas, Georgia, you can go to the Cancer Warrior's Concert on the same day, Saturday, July 22nd! All money raised goes for the Childhood Cancer and their Warrior's Angel network! They have been so fantastic for me during my treatment----please go by if you can!

Guess what???
I mentioned earlier that I have to get my hair done for a wedding!!
Hey! Not my wedding....(Hee!Hee!)
I am a Flower Girl in Colleen's wedding on Saturday evening at 6:00pm on July 22nd! I have my dress and it is so beautiful!----my mom says I look like an Angel! It is the most beautiful dress that I have ever see'd!

My Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Butch and Cousin Bobby are moving from Fort Lauderdale up here to Dacula the week after July 13th! WooHoo!! I can't wait to stay with Aunt Rhonda for a week!

Wow--I have a really busy summer all planned out!

Well, got to skoot!
My mom has new pictures and is gonna try to get them put up this weekend.

Thank you guys for helping me and my mom get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! We appreciate all the prayers and kind thoughts that you send our way.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure, I know!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee!


HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Friday, June 9, 2006 7:20 PM CDT

Hello People!!

I got a email from Willie's sister Claire about the new Childhood Cancer group called "Rally Foundation".
It is ONLY for Childhood Cancer Research!
That's right---nothing else!
Only Children's Cancer Research.

They are sponsoring a bike ride for "Pedalling for Pennies" and we need sponsor families for the two bikers and camera crew to sleep.
If you think you can help out, please email or call Claire right away!
I have all the information listed up top!

AND---The superfantabulous people at the AFLAC Group will match your donations! WOW!!!
I just love that duck!

Be sure to tell Miss Claire that you know "Madie Ice" and want to help all us kids!

Please share the information with everyone at your work, school or church!

You guys are great for helping all us Sweetie Cancer Children fight the stupid Cancer. I just know that you have great big Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon......your friend, Madie Rylee.

p.s.........Please say prayers for Mike Godfrey here in Atlanta. He is 15 and has the AML Cancer Leukemia come to him two months ago. YUK!
None of the terrible chemo medicine is working and things are looking pretty sad. (really, really sad!)
Please say prayers that our wonderful doctor's at the AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders at CHOA Scottish Rite can find the perfect treatment plan this weekend so Mike can get into remission and then on to his transplant.
Thank you guys!

You are wonderful!


Can you say AAAFLAAAAAAAAAC!!


==============================
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 10:20 PM CDT

Hello People!

Wow---I did not even know it had been so long since I had changed my webpage here!
A lot has been going on, that is for sure!

Firstly, and the most important, is that I want to send a big THANK YOU out to all the wonderful Angel Strangers who read my webpage and say silent prayers for all the sweetie children’s who are needing help. C’mon….You guys know who you are!......even though you don’t leave notes, I know you say small prayers for my great friends!

THANK YOU!!
Your prayers are being heard and have really made a difference in my friend’s life.
I hope you know how much I really, really appreciate it!

My friend, Daniel Z., was able to graduate and get home from the hospital in one week! He is doing so great, the doctor’s at the hospital said it was okay to go on vacation to the beach! And you know what, it really is a miracle because he was so sick. Normally, it takes six weeks or more to heal up from the badly “new-moan-ya” or the PCP that he had.

Your prayers made a miracle.


And, if that is not enough, you can go over to my friend Ethan and read about how great he is doing too!
Just a few days ago, the doctor’s did not even know if he was going to make it through the night! Now, he I doing superfantabulous!

THANK YOU!!!

Now, I’m gonna be really selfish and ask you to send prayers to another friend that my mom knows from her internet “ALL” children’s list board. One of our sweetie children’s has the Stupid Cancer Leukemia come back to him for like about the fifth time! YUKKKK!!! Our friend, Cameron has been fighting for what feels like his life now. He is at St. Jude’s and was gonna get a new type of transplant. Sadly, his Leukemia came back before he was able to get started on that one. Please go by his guess-book and leave lots of good words for him and his mom. He has a new roadmap, but it is REALLY bumpy and will be very hard to get traveled over!

My second friend from our internet “ALL” children’s list board had finished his chemo last summer.
Like me, Tyson was all finished with his treatment and was doing very good being off the treatment. Sadly, a few weeks ago, he got sick and the doctor’s have found out that the Stupid Cancer Leukemia is back. I just can’t believe it! He has to start all over again!! That is just so terrible. Please send prayers and good words to him and his mom!

Okay, now back to me!
Of course, this “is” my web space, not to be confused with my brother’s “My Space” web space or my mom’s web page!

Well, I had my 12-month Off Chemo clinic visit a few weeks ago.
I have to say, for my first “ARM POKE” that it went really great!
My mom put the EMLA cream on both of my arms and wrapped me up like a plastic burrito!
It was so funny! You should have see’d us in the McDonald’s parking lot with my mom putting the EMLA cream on my elbows and trying to wrap up my arms with the Press-n-seal. We both laughed so hard!

It worked great too!
When I got to clinic, I could not feel a thing! No kidding!
Miss Brenda tried so hard to stick my arm but my vein kept rolling and running away from her!
It was so funny! (well---you have to be there!)
She said she had to chase my vein all over the parking lot! Ha!Ha!
Anyways, even though she had to keep trying----IT DIDN’T HURT!! I LOVE EMLA CREAM!!

Here are all the information from my visit:

Weight: 54.6 (was 54.9)
Height: 118.5 (was 118.1)
B/P: 104/56 (was 97/53)
Platelets: 208 (was 238)
HGB: 13.1 (was 13.6)
WBC: 8.8 (was 5.5)
ANC: 5590 (was 8750)


As you can see, I did lose a tiny bit of weight. Blech!
And, my platelets fell again, just a tiny bit, just like last month.
I saw Miss Terry and she said I looked great! Yeah!
I did really good and she checked me over really good.
My mom teld her about me falling down lots and she said to just keep an eye on me.

And, I think all the Sweetie Children’s have different visits that first year off treatment.
Some of my friends wait three months and some wait two months before they come back.
Miss Terry wants me back in two months. (sigh)
I am thinking that she just wants to be sure I don’t lose any more weight, so I go back to see them in July.

My mom has been doing pretty good with her broken rib. It was pretty sore for a long while, but this past week it has been lots better! She says it still hurts some and she can tell a difference, but it is mostly lots better. I am so glad, but she still can’t pick me up! I hate that---she said she had to wait 8 weeks before she could do that again! Man, that just stinks!

And, my mom has finished her class! Yeah!
And this class also is the last one in her program---so she is now a “Database Specialist”!
I think she gets her Certificate up at the big college at Gwinnett Tech on June 15th, but not sure.

Well, school is out for me and I am having a great time at my summer school progam. We are doing lots of fun stuff and swimming—just super! Time is going really fast!

My mom and me went to Camp Sunshine last night for the “New Camper” meeting.
I am going to Camp Sunshine on June 25th for the entire week----YEAH!!
I can’t wait---it is going to be so much fun! I met a new friend, Miss Sara, who is my age and this is her first camp too! I also saw my friend, George, and he is gonna go too!

And----least I forget------my wonderful friend, Keegan!
We are both going to camp!! I CAN’T WAIT!!!
I got to see Momma Audra and Keegan last night. We had a superfantabulous time! I just love him!
Please go by and leave good words for him for this Friday. He is starting his next round of “in patient” chemo with the badly “meth-oh-tricks-ate” that we both just totally hate to pieces because it hurts us so badly! Me and Keegan can’t take much of it because it burns our little bodies bone marrow up like a bon-fire blazing!

You know, I knew we were “soul mates” before……now I know we really are!

Well, it’s getting pretty late so I need to go.
My mom has been sick (AGAIN!) this past week and she saw her doctor today.
She stayed home from work, so she must have felt really bad—she does not do that very often!
It seems that she has a badly infection in her sinus and maybe her lung where it collapsed flat last month.
She got some really strong medicine that has already made a big difference for her!

And, please say prayers for my mom’s sister, Aunt Rita.
Aunt Rita had breast cancer back in 1997. Well, it has come back and she has it all everywhere, even in her bones. She does not want to try chemo again, so we are all doing everything to convince her to try to fight one more time. She lives in Fort Worth, so my mom, my Uncle Randy, my Aunt Rhonda, my Aunt Renee, my Uncle Ron, my Uncle Richard and Uncle Ray want good prayers and thoughts sent to her so she will not be afraid to try again! I am praying that she tries again. She is only 1.5 years older than my mom!
Cancer stinks!
I hate Cancer!!!

Thank you again for helping me and my mom get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece.
We really appreciate it and you guys all have Angel Wings coming soon!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend (and Camp Sunshine Camper-to-be!) Madie Rylee

==============================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER:
You know, I always wonder if the Cancer is coming back? How do I know it won’t come back tomorrow? How does God know who to send the Cancer back to? That just really bugs me!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER:
Oh! This one is so easy!........CAMP SUNSHINE!!!
How many times can I say that?????
I LOVE CAMP SUNSHINE!!!!

Monday, May 22, 2006 11:34 PM CDT

Hi Everyone!

This is Regina, Madie's mom.
I wanted to update tonight because there is so much going on, it might make things more clear for you.

On our internet group (ALL-Kids), we received word that Ethan has been air-lifted to Birmingham. His kidney's and heart are failing. There is good news that his kidney's might be trying to work, so they are holding off on dialysis until morning. They want all of the prayers that they can get at this point.

Our wonderful Camp Sunshine friend, Daniel, is still in critical condition at Eggleston. Madie calls him "big Daniel". I know that is because he is really big (he played football before the Cancer came), but he also has a big heart too! We have had a few babies at Camp Sunshine over the past three years and I will never forget the times that I saw him cradle them ever so gently in his arms. He was so excited!

All of our Camp Sunshine kids are very special to us. Thank you so much for the wonderful outpouring of love, prayers and kind words that you have given from your heart. I know that Noreen cherishes each one.

I wanted to give an update for me, which pales in comparison to the stuggles of our kids, but I will post it nonetheless. I had some problems with the high-dose Ibuprofen that I was taking for the first two weeks. The Ibuprofen caused some intestinal bleeding, so I had to stop taking it last Thursday. I spent the whole weekend on pain-killers since I can't take anything else! Yuk!

The xray results from last Tuesday (3rd set) show the rib fracture is healing great and the places where the lung collapsed have almost completely healed! Yeah! I know it has only been three weeks since my fall, but it feels like months to me! I have so much to do around the house and I am missing all this great weather to work in the yard! It is very frustrating to just sit on the sofa and do nothing!

I still can't lift anything heavy for next five weeks---Madie is not happy about that! But, she has been helping me out around the house quite a bit. I am very grateful for that! She is a good helper!

Madie has clinic tomorrow, Tuesday the 23rd. This is her "one year off chemo" appointment and they will do an arm stick to draw blood for tests. She is not happy about that! After this visit, she will only have to go to the clinic every three months! I just can't wait! I never thought that the day would come when we would only have to drive up to the clinic every three months. There have been times that we had to drive to clinic three times in one week! Ugh!!

We promise to post about clinic as soon as we can!

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for the kind words and prayers being sent over to my family and my other "Cancer Family".
Faith is strong.
You guys all have great big Angel Wings coming soon, I know that for sure!

As my dear friend Audra says, "God's Got Us!".

He does indeed!



==================================
Sunday, May 21, 2006 10:34 AM CDT
2:43pm UPDATE:

Okay, now I am really mad!

One of my mom's friends from the 'ALL-Kids' group has a little sweetie children fighting the same Cancer Leukemia as me and now he is having problems too! What is up with that??

My mom got word that Ethan is having problems breathing and is in PICU over in Mobile, Alabama! She teld us that his heart stopped twice and they don't know if he is going to make it through the day today!
He just turned three last week in the hospital.
Please send prayers over to his momma that Ethan gets well really fast!

I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!

And, don't forget prayers for Daniel Z. too!
Wow!
God is gonna be really busy today!

Thank you so much for helping me and mom (and all my friends!!) get through this 'STUPID CANCER' journey all in one piece! It means so much to us!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Don't forget to give blood and platelets (if you can).
I have about 50 Angel Strangers out there running around who helped me and saved my life by giving blood and platetes.
You really do save someone's life when you donate!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee

===========================
10:34 am UPDATE:

HELLO PEOPLE!!

I have a super-incredible-really bad important prayer request to send out to anyone that you know!
My really great friend, Cancer Leukemia, and Camp Sunshine buddy, Daniel Z. had the stupid "new-moan-yah" come to him and now he can't breath so great!

He was suppose to graduate from High School tomorrow, but instead he is in "The Egg" hospital on a ventalator, helping him to breath!

He was suppose to take his last chemo medicine this weekend, but instead he is in the hospital in critical condition!

I have know Daniel and his momma Noreen since I was first diagnosed with the stupid Cancer Leukemia just like Daniel has! They come to Camp Sunshine all the time----we love them!!

Please, PLEASE, go by his guestbook and leave lots of great words for them while he battles this last fight with the really STUPID Cancer Leukemia! And please send all prayers for great healing really fast!

Thank you guys so much, you really have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Your friend, Madie Rylee

p.s.......Did I tell you that I just hate Cancer and that it's not fair?
I just don't understand it---why do sweetie children's who don't do anything get the horrible Cancer???

I hate Cancer!
I HATE CANCER!!
I H-A-T-E C-A-N-C-E-R!!!!

Sunday, 14, 2006 1:53 PM CDT

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

I want to wish my mom the best Mother's Day EVER!!

And, did you see me in the AJC Saturday edition!
Gwinnett Relay for Life is on page J7!
I'm in the middle, waving and yelling at everyone!

Here is the link for the pictures.....

http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/gwinnett/0506/Relay/

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the Relay for Life so Wonderful!
We are beating Cancer, one step at time!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend..........
Madie Rylee


==============================
Hey!
I just got word from the "CURE" people that there is a Bone Marrow drive tomorrow at Morehouse College!
There is a mom who needs a bone marrow transplant and she has NO MATCHES right now!

The Bone Marrow Drive is being held this Saturday at Morehouse College from 9:00am – 2:00pm. There will be no charge for the tissue typing. Donors are needed!

Please save a life!

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

On the home side, I'm doing really great!
My mom and me are gonna go see Keegan tomorrow for lunch.
I can't wait!

My mom's broken rib is F-I-N-A-L-L-Y feeling a little bit better for her. She says it hurts like being kicked by a horse, (a horse? Hey! She has never been kicked by a horse!) and she has to keep taking the really strong 800mg Ibuprofen so she can move (and breath).
She goes back on Monday or Tuesday for new xrays. But, she thinks the flat parts of her lung that collapsed are all better now! Yeah!

I can't wait to see Keegan tomorrow!

See you guys at Relay for Life this afternoon!

Your friend, Madie Rylee



=================================
Monday, May 8, 2006 9:53 PM CDT

MAN!

I have another update to make!

You are not gonna believe!
I lost another tooth today!
I am missing more teeth than I have in my mouth---how am I gonna eat corn-on-cob now?

Today was "Field Day" at my Centerville Elementary School. It was just a blast---I had great fun! I love PE and running, but I think I over-did things.
Tonight, all I complained about was my left knee. I taked a hot bath, but it still hurt. My mom gave me the Tylenol, so that should do the trick.

My mom teld me "not to worry" and that the pain is from me trying to out-run and out-field-day all my friends at school. She actually did tell me not to go over-board, but it is just so hard me! I LOVE to run and play because I have not been able to for the past three years! (can you blame me?)

And...more news on my mom's broken rib.
She talked to the doctor's office and they said the xray showed that the rib is healing but now she has flats parts on her lung! I think she said parts have collapsed-in and that is what is hurting so badly. The doctor wants new xrays again in ten days.

Well, the only thing she can do is take her pain medicine and BREATHE DEEP to help heal them and prevent the new-moan-yah from coming to her.
And I teld my mom that she does not want the new-moan-yah! That stuff is just terrible!! I hate it when I have it!

Thanks again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Leukemia journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!!

See you at RELAY FOR LIFE on Friday!
(I think my brother might take'd me because my mom might not be able to make it that far! Ha!Ha!)

Talk to you soon!
Your friend,
Madie Rylee


=============================
Sunday, May 7, 2006 4:53 PM CDT

NEW PICTURES!!

As always, we have a hundred-elventy of them and it's hard to figure out which ones to put up!

One day, my mom is gonna figure out how to put more pictures together!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

AND---RELAY FOR LIFE IS THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT THE GWINNETT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS!

I will be there Friday afternoon, for the "Survior Walk" as a Chairperson for my Centerville Elementary!

I hope to see everyone there!

RELAY FOR LIFE - DONATE AT MY PAGE TODAY!

=======================
Hello People!

Well...I don't have new pictures (yet), but I do have some good news!
My mom talked to Momma Audra this morning and then again at lunch, and Keegan IS HOME!!!
YEAH!!!

His Meth-Oh-Trix-Ate levels came down good enough so that he could go home!
RATS! I didn't get a chance to see him! But, my mom and Momma Audra are planning a visit for next Saturday, so I can't wait! YIPPPEE!!

BUT---Momma Audra said he has a mouth sore...already!
I just hate that terrible Meth-Oh-Trix-Ate!! It hurts us sweetie children so badly! Please go by and visit Keegan and leave good words in his guess-book. He needs prayers for NO MOUTH SORES and not infections and fevers from them!!

Well, my mom is still hurting from the stupid broken rib. She went to the doctor yesterday and got some new medicine. She says it has helped supergreat! One of them is even the nasty-tasting steriods! BLECH! But they sure do work, I know that! They kill Cancer Leukemia so I know they will work on broken ribs and lungs.

My mom also had to go this morning to get a new set of xrays for her chest, so I stayed with my friend Syndey from school. We had a great time playing at her (and her sisters, brother) house!
Man! I wish I had sisters soooooo bad!

I promise to bug my mom to get the Camp Sunshine Family Camp picturs put up on the website tonight or tomorrow. We had such a great time--it was FANTABULOUS!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee
=================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: Well, now that the sun is out and I need to wear shorts and swimsuits, the most "stupid" thing about having Cancer Leukemia is that I get these black spots all over me when I go out in the sun! Dr. B says it's the Meth-Oh-Trix-Ate that made my skin gloob together and that I'm suppose to stay out of the sun--but it doesn't matter! These spots came during the winter under my jeans!! That Meth-Oh-Trix-Ate just hates me, that's all! And they are worse than freckles! They are black spots that clump in bunches like someone taked a sharpie marker and dotted me all in one place! And, I have one great big one on the bottom of my foot (that gets NO SUN Dr. B!) and we have to keep watching it so it doesn't grows! Dr. B said if it grew much bigger, it has to come off because it might be another stupid kind of Skin Cancer!! YIKES! Don't you just hate CANCER!!!!
I HATE CANCER!
I HATE CANCER!!
I HATE CANCER!!!!

BEST THING ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: Well, the best thing about having Cancer Leukemia is CAMP SUNSHINE! Miss Kerri---I just love Family Camp! I can't wait until I get to go to Camp this summer!! Yeah!!


=================================
Thursday, May 4, 2006 10:53 PM CDT

Hello People!

Thank you guys so much for the good words and prayers to help my mom feel better. They have really helped a lot.
BUT.........
I hate to report that she is still hurting pretty badly.
She stayed out of work today, to try to rest.
Actually, she sneezed this morning and screamed so loud it kinda scared me!
She can take pain medicine, but can't drive when she takes it, so we have a great neighbor friend who taked me to school this morning! (and tomorrow too!)

And the best news---the family is going to Calvary Chapel with us!
Isn't that just super!
See!
God works in all kind of ways and will open doors of great opportunity.
If you love to learn about the bible, Calvary Chapel is the bestest. I love the Sunday night's because it is all about Bible Study and explains all words so that we understand what happened and why it happened. Paster Sandy and Paster James at Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain are super!
(did I tell you that Paster James even came to the hospital to see me?)

I'm telling you, once you go to Calvary Chapel, you can't stop!
It feels just like "Home"!!

But, I also have the worstest news this week. I can't visit Keegan because my mom hurts too badly to drive the car! YUK!
But, she talked to Momma Audra tonight and Keegan is going to be stucked in the hospital for a few more days. He might not get to leave until Sunday!
DOUBLE YUKK!! That is just terrible!
So, my mom teld me that she is gonna try to take me to see him on Friday or Saturday.
Hopefully, her chest will stop hurting so bad and she can drive the car!

And, for Miss Wendy, I wanted to say that I know Kendrie. She is a really good friend of mine. Heck, we have spended lots of times at clinics, Camp Sunshine, CURE Picnics, and I have visited her at the hospital too!

And, I'm not worried about my future husband having fun with another girl, no sir!

I trust him with all my heart!
That's because I also know that Kendrie has a boyfriend of her own that she would not trade for all the boys in the world! She is just *crazy* about her boyfriend back home.

See!
We are all great friends!
I'm really glad that Kendrie taked such great care of my future husband and made sure he had a supergreat time at CAMP SUNSHINE FAMILY CAMP!
Thank you, Kendrie!

And, "thank you" guys again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

I hope to have a great update this weekend about CAMP SUNSHINE FAMILY CAMP! I have tons and tons of pictures to show you guys!

Lots of hugs----your friend, Madison Rylee



===========================
Monday, May 1, 2006 10:53 PM CDT

Well, I guess you guys are wondering "why" there was not a new update for my web-page this weekend, huh?

Well.....you are not gonna believe this!

You know how I have been falling lots and dropping stuff?
Well...my mom has caught it from me!
And when she falls, it is not pretty!

She was leaving work Friday evening and walked to her car at the SunTrust Plaza Gardens when she fell on the sidewalk. She said four people came to help, so that was great!
At first, she thought she just had scrapes on her arm and the wind knocked out of her. My Uncle Randy picked me up from school and my mom finally met us for dinner.

I was worried because her arm was bleeding!
But, she teld me she was okay.

On Saturday, she could not move too good and her chest hurt.
On Sunday, she could not move at all without yelling really loud! That scared me!
So, my Uncle Randy taked her to the Eastside Hospital ER to get checked over.
She got exrays on her chest that showed up her ribs on the right side are cracked! YIKES!!!

She is doing better tonight, and even went to work for a while today. Driving hurts a whole lot, but it's so funny because when she hiccups or sneezes---she will yell really loud! That is the part that scares me.

I was very worried, but she has teld me that she is gonna be fine in a few days. I just can't jump on her and she can't pick me up! DARN!

Please send lots of prayers that her chest heals up quick and the pain goes away too!

And!
Don't forget to send prayers over to Keegan this week.
He starts his next phase of the terrible chemo poison this Wednesday. The terrible high doses of the meth-0h-tricks-ate are just HORRIBLE!!! It gave me mouth sores, fevers, my skin peeled on my hands and feet, and I also threw-up lots!

My mom and me are hoping to go see him at Scottish Rite on Thursday night after work. I think he will get to come home on Friday.

Thanks again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee

:-)

Thursday, April 20, 2006 7:13 PM CDT

Hello People!!

WOW!!

I have been super-busy, that is for sure!
I am taking the CCRT tests this week and have to get to bed "on time", so this is a short update for you.
My mom wanted me to say that my clinic visit on Friday went really great!
Dr. B said I looked terrific and really healthy!
My mom said "Wow, Dr. B everything is going great! Madie has stopped falling down too!"

Guess what?
At Camp Sunshine on Friday evening, I had not even been there 20 minutes when I fell down and skinned my knees and feet really bad! Blood was running down my leg and I didn't even cry!
YIKES!!!
Good thing they have a doctor there for the weekend!
Dr. Nadia was supergreat and fixed me right up!

Well.....so much for telling Dr. B that I stopped falling down! Ha!Ha!Ha!
I think my mom had just got good at holding my hand to keep me from tripping!

Anyway---it was great fun!
I loved seeing all my friends, especially Casey and Caitlin. But, I missed Keegan and Momma Audra. It was just not "the same".
Oh well.

I have tons (and I mean TONS!) of new pictures to put up on the web page.
I just need to figure out how to share them with everyone!

In the meantime, here are some new ones from the LightHouse Family Retreat a few weeks ago.

Thanks for stopping by and checking in on me. My mom and me really appreciate you keeping us in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this *Stupid Cancer* journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Have a great week!
I have to get to sleep for that school test!
Lots of hugs, your friend, Madie Rylee.

:-)

=================================
Thursday, April 20, 2006 7:13 PM CDT

Hello People!

I thought that I would update with some new pictures before I leave for Camp Sunshine Family Camp tomorrow!
My mom has about 230 pictures from the Lighthouse Family Retreat beach trip, and I just can't decide which ones to use each time! They are all so great---and lots of them make me want to go back to the beach, for sure!

This front picture is of me after eating powder donuts before we left on Sunday morning! Everyone is gathered together to say goodbye!

I hope we can go back to the beach again this summer! (okay mom???)
Or maybe my Make-A-Wish trip to DISNEY WORLD!!!

Wouldn't that be superfantabulous!
:-)

And.....I have clinic tomorrow at 2:00pm! My coughs are not too bad, but I started the stupid low fevers of 99.8 again and my mom just rolls her eyes at me each time she taked my temperature.
Right now, she says it is just all the crazy allergies making my nose go crazy!
We will see what Dr. B says tomorrow!

Thanks again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
We really, REALLY appreciate it!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Don't forget to keep my friend Keegan in your prayers too!
The next time, I will put up pictures of him and me from the vacation trip.

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee

:-)

===========================
Monday, April 17, 2006 7:13 PM CDT

Hello People!

I know I just updated, but I am so happy tonight!
My mom got word that we have reservations for a cabin at the Camp Sunshine Family Camp this coming weekend!!

YIPPPEEE!!!

I totally love Family Camp!
I wonder who my friends are gonna be there too?
And, I get to meet new friends too!
I hear there is gonna be a children's music band with singing and dancing on Saturday!
I CAN'T WAIT!!

And, tomorrow night is Camp Sunshine Family night at the Camp Sunshine House in Decatur.
I hope to see all my friends there!

Lots of hugs and lots of love!
Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon,
Your friend,
Madison Rylee

:-)


================================
Thursday, April 13, 2006 10:13 AM CDT

HELLO PEOPLE!!

I am all ready for the Easter Bunny!
I can't wait for church tomorrow--it is gonna be super!

My mom finally got the pictures off the camera! Yeah!
The only problem is that we have about a hundred-eleventy of them to show you and we have to pick which ones to use!
YUK!!
So......these on the webpage now are all about SAND!
Yep, that's right.....sand.
My mom has some for the house, beach olympics, and the dinner on the boat and then some of us leaving at the end.

Stay tuned!

HAPPY EASTER!!

Your friend,
Madison Rylee

XXXOOOXXX


=======================
Thursday, April 13, 2006 10:13 AM CDT

Hi People!

My Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Butch and Cousin Bobby are here!! Wooohooo!
They are moving up here to Atlanta from Ft. Lauderdale in May (we hope)! They have found house in Ivey Springs near Winder, which is where my friend Tori and her mom Wendy live!

As you know, my Aunt Rhonda has been super-sick with lung problems and they want to move back up here to Georgia to be closer to all the families that they have. My Uncle Butch has a sister and grand-babies here that live in Loganville, so it is gonna be SUPERFANTABULOUS for everyone!

See! God is watching out for all of us and he "has a plan" that is perfect!

Well, I got to let you know that my friend Keegan is not doing so hot this week in the hospital. Normally, I get to go see him and visit but I can't this week because my mom does not feel so great. She has bad allergies and is pretty sure the gunky stuff is from the pollen but does not want to get around Keegan in case it is something serious. So, I did not get to see him Tuesday. Now, he is running a fever and has spots all over him! BLAH!!
The doctor said it is all from the terrible, horrible chemo. Momma Audra is worrying it might be Chicken's Pox that has got on him! I am prayerering like crazy it is not because the badly Chicken's Pox is very dangerous for us Sweetie Cancer Children!

STUPID CANCER!!!

Please say prayers that Keegan gets through this terrible hospital visit without getting any more sicker. We need the spots to go away, the badly fevers to go away, and for him to start eating something!

Please go by and leave some good words in his guess-book for him and Momma Audra!

Well, this was suppose to be a short update!
So much for that!

My mom is promising to get pictures copied off her camera soon. And, I will update again!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend! Please hug and kiss your kids!

Like Momma Audra says...."God's Got Us!"

Your friend,
Madison Rylee

:-)

p.s..........I started back with the badly coughs last night. UUUUGGGGHHHH!!!

STUPID CANCER!!!



=======================================
Tuesday, April 11, 2006 9:13 PM CDT

HELLO PEOPLE!

And now, for the update that you guys have all been waiting for......
Sorry!
My mom is so busy trying to work full-time, take care of me, take care of the house and take a class online at Gwinnett Tech that it is hard to fit all the stuff into one day, you know!

I had a superfantabulous time at the LightHouse!

:-)

The ocean water was very COLD! But, I played in the sand a lot, as you can see in the picture! My mom says this picture should be on the Billboard on the interstate that says "Children's Healthcare of Atlanta---Miracle Workers!". Because truely, all the doctor's and nurses in the ER, First Floor, Third Floor, AFLAC Third Floor, Hospital School, Cafeteria, Nuclear Medicine, Out-Patient Clinic, Surgery, X-ray, Lab (I love you Kikki!), and the AFLAC Blood Disorders Clinic have performed a miracle and saved my life to help me win my battle with Childhood Cancer!

My mom also likes one to say "I'm here today because of the Red Cross! Give Blood!" Heck! I had over 50 blood and platelet transfusions that kept me alive at my diagnosis and all through my treatment plan.

It is truely a miracle for me through the power God.
Like Momma Audra said, "God's Got Us!"

Well, and speaking of church----do you know that my mom and me got lost coming back from Florida on Sunday?
Well, we did!
We took a wrong turn somewhere in south Alabama and found ourselves at a beautiful art gallery to ask for directions. Miss Toby is a great artist! She gave us directions and I just had to have one of her beautiful butterflies that I hung up on the wall over my bed tonight! Actually, I have two---I bought one and she signed one for me! My mom has pictures that she is gonna post, hopefully one day this week (soon! okay mom?). And, we have her gallery name and address that my mom is gonna post up here too!

Now, what does that have to do with church? Well, I was pretty worried that we would not make it back in time and I would miss my Bible Study class! But, we made it back at 6:00pm and got to Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain just in time for 6:30pm singing! Yeah!! (Okay----I was worried! I hate these "close calls" mom! Don't do it again!)

My mom and me stayed in the same house with the Pucketts, so I got to play with my great friend, Keegan! I was so happy that he got to come down to the LightHouse Retreat! He has started on his IV chemo again tonight, only the second one of about fifty more to go! YIKES! I hope he gets out of the hospital on Thursday. The doctor's are gonna check his blood counts twice a week now because he is having such a horrible time. Please send prayers that he can make it through this terrible Cancer Relapse road map that he has been given. It is full of horrible, terrible poison medicine that we all just don't want to think about.

I met lots of friends too!
Our Family Helpers for the weekend were Miss Shannon and her daughter Haley. They came all the way from Maine!
Haley likes to sew, so she made napsacks and scarfs to sell to make money for a charity. Her mom, Miss Shannon has seen Melinda on the "Focus on the Family" series and Haley decided that she wanted to help Cancer Children!
I am so glad to meet her! It was great!

There was lots of sun, but still a little bit cold!
And, we had the Talent Show on Saturday night that was a blast!
I got interviewed on the stage by Clay after I did the hula-hoop. Everything was just great fun!

Well, I have to run finish my homework and get ready for bed. My mom promises to update soon and also post more pictures. She taked about a million pictures of everything from when we first drove up, the Morning Watch, swimming, ocean stuff, her dinner on the ship, talent show, and then the Sunday morning "good bye". She said that she met lots of family that have God working in their lives---you can just see it.

Please take a minute to keep all my friends in your thoughts and prayers. The LightHouse Family Retreat is the bestest place to renew your spirits when they have been bashed-in and beat-up by the Stupid Cancer.

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we make it through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee

:-)

p.s.....I love you Miss Melinda!


....come on down, come on over, come on in to the LIGHTHOUSE!!

Wednesday, April 5, 2006 5:50 PM CDT

Come on down,
Come on over,
Come on in to the LightHouse!

Come on down,
Come on over,
Come on in to the LightHouse!

A place where God's light shines,
Shines on EVERYONE!
Playing in the sand!
Laughing in the sun!

Come on down,
Come on over,
Come on in to the LightHouse!

=========================================

This is me last year at the LightHouse Retreat!
I can't wait to see the beach again---it's gonna be SUPERFANTABULOUS for sure!

Keegan's counts came up fantastic to "250" yesterday and our wonderful NP Sara said "He can go to the LightHouse"!!
WE LOVE YOU, SARA!!!

I am sending a great big "Thank You" to everyone (and I mean everyone!) who has been saying prayers for all my friends as we travel on this Stupid Cancer journey pot-hole filled road with tons of road-blocks.
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Have a great weekend.
I promise to update when I get back on Sunday with lots of great news!
I love you guys!

Your friend, Madie Rylee!


:-)

Monday, April 3, 2006 7:44 PM CST

Hello People!!
Thank you so much for the all the wonderful prayers for my great friend, Keegan!
My mom talked to Momma Audra this morning, and Keegan's ANC was creeping up to "70" and the platelets have creeped up from "11" to "13"!!
(Yeah!!---even though platelets normally start at "175".)
Having the low platelets inside of you is very scary, but I have been between the "10" and the "20" for platelets lots and lots and lots of times!
(I was diagnosed and they were "5"!...I have been as low as "3"!)
Momma Audra is very worried because this is the first time it has happened to Keegan. But, my mom assured her that I had it happen for months and months with not too many problems!

My mom says it's like walking the tightrope or the balance beam. You don't want too many transfusions 'cause that makes bigger problems later on, but then you have to be sure you have enough balance in your blood for right now! It's a very delicate balance-act, like butterfly's! Dr. B was superfantabulous at keeping me all balanced!

Keegan's higher counts are not much, but they are going in the right direction! Woohoo!
And, it especially means a lot because everyone was thinking he was on the downslide, and had not yet reached the bottom for his counts.
I am saying prayers for bigger numbers tomorrow! And finally, an ANC over 500 on Wednesday so that he can get out of the hospital and "come on down" to the Lighthouse!

Momma Audra said Keegan is feeling kinda yukky and doesn't want to eat much. And, they are still stucked down on the first floor at Scottish Rite, which is the really badly sick floor and it's kinda scary for a Cancer Kid! NP Sara told them she was trying to get them a room on the 3rd Floor AFLAC ward, so I'm crossing my fingers, toes and eyes he goes into a room somewhere on the 3rd floor!

Thank you guys again for the great prayers that are lifting Keegan and his mommma. You guys all have huge Angel Wings coming, for sure1

Talk to you again soon!
I love you!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug.

:-)



===========================
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
===========================
Sunday, April 2, 2006 9:44 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!!

I have been very busy, sorry that I have not had time to update much lately!

This morning, my mom talked to Momma Audra and, yes....you guessed it!
My wonderful friend, Keegan had a fever yesterday and had to go back into the hospital!
Stupid Cancer!
His ANC is only *10*, and he got blood today. Momma Audra says he will get platelets tomorrow because they dropped down to *11* today. The rule at our hospital is that you get platelets if they go under *10* or you are bleeding somewhere.

But---I ask everyone reading to send prayers to Keegan up at the Scottish Rite Hospital, on the first floor, that his bone marrow wakes up and it starts working again.

We want all the counts to come up and his white cells to grow so that he has an ANC over 500!

It is terrible because he can't go to the LightHouse Family Retreat on Thursday until his ANC is over 500!
has been so sick!

His fever is gone for now, which is a great sign. We don't want any of the badly fevers coming back and we want the bone marrow to work, work, WORK!

His family really needs this LightHouse Retreat.
Keegan's next round of treatment is very horrible----more horrible than this one! He needs to go to the beach and get re-charged for the next round!
Please say extra prayers that he is out of the hospital and ready to go by Wednesday night!

AND!
My mom and me have been trying to get ready too!
I can't just stand it---I really need the beach!
I started the stupid *badly coughs* again, so I can't go visit Keegan. I don't have any of the *badly fevers*, so my mom is thinking it is the sinus and allergery stuff that is making the coughing for me.

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Have a superfantabulous Spring Break!
I love you!

Your friend,
Madie Rylee-bug!

:-)

=================================
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
=================================
Thursday, March 16, 2006 10:44 PM CST

COME ON DOWN..............
COME ON OVER.....................
COME ON IN TO THE LIGHTHOUSE!

YYEEEESSSSS!!!!
My mom heared back from the wonderful people at the "LightHouse Family Retreat" and they said that we can go on the Retreat for April 6, 7, 8, and 9th!
Woooohoooo!!!

I am so excited-----I am so ready to come to the beach!
I have been coughing, coughing, COUGHING!! I "REALLY" need the beach air, like Dr. B has teld me!

My mom and me are so excited!

We love you Miss Melinda!

XXXXOOOOOXXXXX

:-)


==========================================
Wednesday, March 15, 2006 10:44 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I know, I know....it has been a long time for me to make this update.
Well, we have been staying pretty busy, let me tell you!

"Stick a fork in me----'cause I am done!"YEAH!
That was my mom talking on Tuesday night!
As you guys know, she has been taking classes ever since 2003 up at the big college Gwinnett Tech! She is not about to let a crazy little thing like CHILDHOOD CANCER stop her!

Okay, okay,....maybe just a little, teeny, tiny bit.
BUT! My mom taked her Final Exam for that class on Tuesday and made a great big "92"!
YEAH!! Way to go, mom!
Now, she has one more class to finish the Database Specialist Certificate!
That is so awesome!

And, you guys know how my mom and me LOVE the CURE Childhood Cancer People, right? I mean, if you know us and see our car, you know that my mom drives around with a huge CURE sign on the back of the car for Pete's sake!

Well, the CURE people are the ones who bring food to the hospital every Thursday night, Thanksgiving and Christmas! That is so important!
BUT----the best thing is that they sponsor the CURE Picnic every summer and the OFF TREATMENT party at Six Flags every year! I am not kidding! It is every year!

I just love, LOVE, L-O-V-E all that stuff! They are so important to all us Cancer kids!

And now, here is your chance to help out the CURE People!
I got the following email from them tonight:
===================================================
Dear Supporters of CURE Childhood Cancer:
We learned today about an exciting opportunity to have some fun while contributing to CURE Childhood Cancer! Today through Sunday, March 26, Six Flags Over Georgia is listing several charity auctions, with 100 percent of the proceeds to benefit CURE Childhood Cancer.
The auction features the exclusive opportunity to be among the first public riders on GOLIATH, the park¡¦s new hyper roller coaster (a coaster soaring more than 200 feet above the park). While the gargantuan ride opens to the public on April 1, winning bidders will be part of a private opening ceremony and inaugural ride on March 30.
To learn more, simply visit www.ebay.com and search for seller ¡§sixflagsovergeorgia¡¨ or item searches for "Six Flags Over Georgia" and "GOLIATH" or search by item # 6613500088.
WOW!! SIX FLAGS IS SUPERFANTABULOUS!!!!!
You can bid on CURE Ticket for Goliath as often as you want! They have another ticket that will benefit "Give Kids The World" too! Just be sure to look for the seller as "sixflagsovergeorgia" because there are other tickets out there, but not to benefit us Cancer Kids! Be sure you get the right one!

Just think! You can help all us kids fighting the stupid Cancer AND have a super time at Six Flags! How awesome is that???!!!

March 30th will be here before you know it! Thank you to everybody is places a bid and helps us out! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Well, I finally got to my clinic appointment on last Friday!
It went really great too!
For the first time EVER, my counts are good for two months in a row!
YIPPPEEEE!!!!
I did not lose any weight (like last time)!
I did not lose any platelet numbers!
I did not lose any Hemoglobin numbers!
I grew a whole entire one centimeter!!
I was not runnin a badly fever!
But.....I was coughing. Dr. B heard it.

AND! We picked up the application for the LightHouse Family Retreat!!
Thank you Nurse Mary!
My mom is trying to see if we can sneak in for the April 6 to April 9th retreat during my Spring Break! I am so excited that I might get to go!!!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me, okay?!!

Okay, so now to the numbers from clinic:

Temp - 98.3
Weight - 53.0
Height - 117.5
White blood cells - 5.79
HGB - 13.3
Platelets - 281
ANC - 2,550

My lymphs were high (at 50), but that is not a problem because I have been fighting all these crazy coughs and other stuff. All I know it was the first for me to have two good visits in a row!

And it could not have happened at a better time because my three year anniversary of my Stupid Cancer diagnosis is coming up on the March 21st. My mom always uses that day because that is the "D" day when Dr. B and Dr. Woods had finished the bone marrow test from me and saw the Leukemia that was stucked inside my bone marrow. My actual "First Day" that the crazy word "CANCER"¨ came into my life was on Thursday, March 19th, 2003. I won't ever forget that day----it was a crazy, up-side-down day for sure! I found out I had Cancer, got blood dripped into me from a bag, got something called platelets dripped into me from a bag (that made me really cold!)---all in the first few hours that I walked into the door!

The picture up at the top is the one of me and my brother Rhyne right after I had finished the phase that they call "Consolidation". I think this picture was taken at the end of May, 2003. My hair was falling out and I had some bald spots so we were cutting my hair a little bit every week or two.

Man! I have come a long way!

I can't believe it has been three whole years! That is almost half my whole lifetime!
Wow!!

Thank you to everybody who has kept me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we travel through this terrible road of Childhood Cancer. We could not have made it through without everyone¡¦s help.

And, don't forget to keep my wonderful friends in your prayers too!
I know that Alexia and her family love to hear from everyone, and she is really needed some prayers to help get those blood counts growing! She is doing pretty good---but she needs those counts to GROW! GROW! GROW!!

And, my wonderful friend, Keegan has been so sick! He needs tons of prayers to keep the fevers away and to be sure there are no infections growing inside of him! I am getting really worried about him, so please send prayers and good thoughts his way!

Don't forget to check on my mom's page for the latest update from her. I know she is gonna be talking me a whole lots this week with my anniversary of the Cancer coming up so soon!

Well, I have to skoot. Lots of things to do this week too! Friday is St. Patrick's day and then the Weekend! I hope the weather stays great!

Any ways, THANK YOU!!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Have a superfantabulous week!
I love you!

Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug

:-)

=======================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
The worst thing today about having Cancer Leukemia is that I always worry when I see bruises on me. Tonight, I have lots of them (more than normal) on both my legs, but I have been very busy playing at school and gymnastics. I asked my mom about them, but she does not seem to be so worried at all! Man! She must have nerves of steel! Anyways, it makes me feel better because if she is not worried, then I am not worried either! p.s....My mom say's she does not have nerves of steel, it is just that all the antibiotics I have taked killed off the bacteria in my tummy that make Vitamin K for me! She says that makes me bruise easy---and I need to eat YOGURT to put them back inside of me! Wow! How does get so smart???


BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
All my great friends and family! I could not have gone from the little Cancer girl that you see on Miss Melinda¡¦s LightHouse Family Retreat webpage to who I am today without the help of all my friends and family! Thank you guys! And thank you to the ¡§LightHouse Family Retreat¡¨, ¡§Camp Sunshine¡¨, ¡§Leukemia and Lymphoma Society¡¨, ¡§AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Clinic¡¨ and ¡§Children¡¦s HealthCare of Atlanta¡¨!!!

Sunday, March 5, 2006 11:37 AM CST

Hello People!

I wanted to make a quick update to let everyone know that I am feeling much better!
Thank you to everyone who has been sending prayers and good thoughts to me!

This morning, my mom taked my temperature.....and it is normal at the 98.6! Yeah!
I have not had fever medicine since almost 14 hours ago, so my mom is pretty sure that the BADLY FEVERS are gone!

Yesterday morning, I had the 'BADLY COUGH' get worser and more junky for me, so my mom figures that I have the 'new-moan-ya' since the badly fevers got so high Friday.
She started me back on the breathing treatments yesterday, and I have the medicine from the doctor on Friday, so I know all that is helping lots and lots!

The good news is that I don't have any pain in my back, neck, arms or legs. I think I was hurting so bad with all those very weird strange pains on Friday afternoon because the infection and fever was making my whole body hurt! I was even hurting under my arms, and that has never happened to me that I can remember! Yikes!

I feel much better already!
Yeah!

I hope everyone has a great week and enjoys the Spring that is coming really soon. I can't wait to play in the yard and help my mom with the flowers. That is the best fun!

Thank you again to everyone for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Childhood Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Your friend, Madie Rylee.



================================
Friday, March 3, 2006 7:37 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I bet you think I went to clinic today, right?
Well…….not exactly.

Remember how my mom has been working so hard, trying to go school at the Big College, take care of our house, and finally (but the most IMPORTANT!) is taking care of me, right?

Well…..she got my clinic appointment mixed up!
It is really suppose to be next week, on the 10th.

She got off work early, to come get me.
But----I went to the Snellville Pediatrics instead!
YIKES!

You are not gonna believe what is going on for me.
The “badly coughs” ARE BACK!!!
They started on Wednesday night…just a little tiny bit.
And all this week, I had been going to the nurse at school and she taked my temperature, but it was only 99.2 or 99.4. One day, she even called my mom to see if it was okay for me to take the Tylenol because my fever was 99.6.

Last night, I didn’t feel so good and my mom taked my tempature. It had gone up again! It was 100.3! My mom gave me some medicine and she said she was gonna call the Snellville Peds to see if I needed to start using the breathing machine again. All these allergies are making me crazy, for sure.

Well, I *was* feeling okay enough to go to school this morning so I went.

My mom showed up at school today at 1:15pm, but I didn’t know it.
I had asked Senorita Kerri from my Spanish class special to let me see the nurse because I didn’t feel so great and I knew my mom was coming….but I didn’t know that my mom was here in the office trying to find me!
TALK ABOUT KARMA!!!

Well….here is the very odd thing.
The nurse taked my temperature before we left for the clinic. My mom didn’t want to go up to the Cancer Clinic if I was all sick and germy! We would never do that!

My fever at school was 103.6!

My mom taked me home, got me medicine, and called AFLAC. Nurse Kim said “DO NOT COME!” with a fever but she also said that I was not on the schedule to come today! She teld my mom that it is for next Friday!

Well……my fever started to go down.
My mom called the Snellville Pediatrics to see what she should do and they said “PLEASE COME!”. They said I had to come in since the fever was over 103. So we packed up the car and went over to see the doctors.

My fever was 102.4 at the office and my blood counts are pretty good. My WBC was 4, my HGB was 12.4 and my platelets were 160. The platelets are low, but hey, I have a fever! Not bad numbers at all.

I got some ant-tea-bye-otics that I have to take in case it is strep (test was negative) or a crazy sinus infection. But the doctor thinks that it is just a virus of some type. Not really the flu, but it can’t be anything else because nothing else hurts except all my lymph glands in my whole body this time. My mom and me just got back from the wonderful Kroger and my fever is back up to the 103.4 AGAIN!!! I just had medicine four hours ago, so I have to take some more!


Now…..here comes the *kinda* scared part.

January and February of 2003 I was pretty sick lots. I saw the doctor lots and had the coughing with lots of the runny noses.
The second week of March I started to have the very strange and very high badly fevers that don’t go down with medicine. I feel fine, not too bad sick at all.
Then, my legs started to hurt very badly and my back started to hurt very badly.
Then, I started to get badly bruises all over me!
Then, I had the badly high fevers of 103 to 104 about every 3 days.
Then, on March 19, 2003, I found out I had the Cancer Luekemia.

Today is March 3.
I have been sick lots.
I saw the doctor lots and had the coughing with lots of the runny noses.
I started to have the very strange and very high badly fevers that don’t go down with medicine. I feel fine, not to bad at all. In fact, the nurse could not believe that I was laughing and joking with my mom!
My right leg hurts and now my back is hurting today.

My mom thinks that I did not hear her when she talked to the doctor today, but I did!
I heard them say they think that I just have the normal “child” virus like all the other sweetie childrens and I’m just being sick. My mom said that the high fevers made her think of the flu, but maybe the flu shot is keeping me from being so badly sick. The doctor thinks it is not the Stupid Cancer coming back to me because my white cell count is so low. So, I’m not too worried because my mom is not too worried.

I know it’s weird because I have always asked you guys to say prayers for all my friends.
Please keep me in your prayers that all these problems I have are just *normal* kid sickness and that these horrible fevers will go away from me and stay away!
I have not had a fever this high since December, 2004 when I was in the hospital with the BADLY FLU!!! I hope I will be all great in a few days!

I just hate being sick, but I really hate the Stupid Cancer more!

And, don’t forget to keep my wonderful friends in your prayers too!
I know that Alexia and her family love to hear from everyone, and she is really feeling badly this week. She needs lots of extra prayers to help those new blood cells grow and GROW!!!

And, my wonderful friend, Keegan is just starting his trip all over again. BLECH!!!
He had his back-poke on Monday and there were NO CANCER CELLS!!
YIPPPEEE!!!
Now he can get his new port and start on the next phase of his treatment plan road map thingy that tells us all what we have to do to kill the Cancer Leukemia and keep it away for good.

Don't forget to check on my mom's page for the latest update from her. I know she is gonna be talking me a whole lots this weekend!

Thanks for keeping me and my mom your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece. It has helped us more than you can know! (well....maybe you do know?)
Any ways, THANK YOU!!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Have a superfantabulous weekend!
I love you!

Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug

:-)

=======================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
The worst thing today about having Cancer Leukemia is that I am tired of it! I stay worried about the “big things” wrong for me….but not “too” worried, if you know what I mean?


BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
All my great friends and family! I could not have gone from the little Cancer girl that you see on Miss Melinda’s LightHouse Family Retreat webpage to who I am today without the help of all my friends and family! Thank you guys! And thank you to the “LightHouse Family Retreat”, “Camp Sunshine”, “Leukemia and Lymphoma Society”, “AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Clinic” and “Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta”!!!

Saturday, February 25, 2006 9:50 AM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I have been doing really great!
The badly coughs are still gone away from me, so YEAH!! (I know....I hope that doesn't mean they come back! Yikes!)
They have been gone for two weeks now! It is just wonderful to not be coughing up a storm all the time!
I LOVE IT!!!!

Today is Saturday and me and my mom have just TONS of errands to get done, for sure.
My mom works downtown, so we don't get much time during the week. Besides, we stay superbusy 'cause she has class at the big school Gwinnett Tech on Tuesday night while I visit with my friend, Juleah and her mom Linda. Then, on Wednesday nights I have my "Jazzy Jets" dance and gym class! It's great!

My mom heard back from my scan last week and everything looks good! Yeah!

And, don't forget about my friends who are fighting the Stupid Cancer Leukemia all over again! I know that Alexia and her family love to hear from everyone, especially cause they are here in the United States from another country! I just can't imagine that!

And, my wonderful friend, Keegan is just starting his trip all over again. BLECH!!!
He had his back-poke on Monday and there is still ONE stinkin Cancer cell left in there! He needs to have two back-pokes with no Cancer cells before he can get going on the new Cancer Road map for him. Please send prayers for NO CANCER!!!! (thanks!)

Well, I have to run.
We have to get the car to Carey Paul Honda for some loving care (I think that is mom's name for new oil?) and check-ups. Then, it's off to the grocery store and lots of shopping! (my favorite!)

Hey! I didn't tell you that my mom taked me to the movies last Sunday to see "Nanny McFee"! It was awesome! I think my mom cried---there were some sad parts to it that just had me pretty worried for a second there!
Those kids really needed "Nanny 911", for sure!
I'm so glad that Nanny McFee was able to help straighten out everything!
I wonder where she works now?.......

Don't forget to check on my mom's page for the latest update from her. I know she talks about me a lot!

Thanks for keeping me and my mom your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece. It has helped us more than you can know! (well....maybe you do know?)
Any ways, THANK YOU!!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Have a superfantabulous weekend!
I love you!

Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug

:-)

=======================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
The worst thing today about having Cancer Leukemia is the pains in my legs, ankles and feet. Now, I beginning to think it mostly hurts with the bad rainy weather!! ACKK! I'm like a little old lady! I really hate that!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
All my great friends and family! I could not have gone from the little Cancer girl that you see on Miss Melinda’s LightHouse Family Retreat webpage to who I am today without the help of all my friends and family! Thank you guys! And thank you to the “LightHouse Family Retreat”, “Camp Sunshine”, “Leukemia and Lymphoma Society”, “AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Clinic” and “Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta”!!!

Saturday, February 18, 2006 11:38 AM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I had my scanning yesterday!
It tooked the whole entire day----YIKES!!

I was so mad and ready to get out of there!

The worstest part was that I had to get a arm poke, but it was not too badly for me. Nurse Bonnie was superfantabulous and used the really cold freezing spray so it didn't sting too badly for me. (Thank you Nurse Bonnie!)

I will have to update more later because my mom needs the computer to use for her homework.
Geesh! Mom! When are we getting two computers, huh?

Anyways, she has updated her webpage all about it. You can read over at her page on Mom-2-Madie.

I will update you guys later--but it was really cool! The machine was really weird and I got to watch the movie "Snow Dogs", which I just LOVE!! The Technician even gave me a teddy bear! (THANK YOU!)

Well, I have to skoot!
My mom is taking me to the movies---I can't wait!!

Don't forget to go by Alexia's web page. She had her new bone marrow transplant that is going to save her life a few days ago. Her family is from South America and they have moved all the way up here to DUKE University so Alexia can be cured from the Stupid Cancer Leukemia. Please go by and leave them some good words and blessings!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

:-)


=================
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 10:38 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I hope that everyone had a superfantabulous Valentine's Day.
I got lots of Valentine's at school and it was great fun!

My mom has heard back from the Snellville Pediatrics people and they have scheduled me a bone scan for this Friday, February 17th. My mom says it's gonna take all day----blech!

Dr. Blanco had recommended the scan last June when I was having terrifically horrible pain in my back, legs and hips. (after his exam last June, I was crying huge tears in the car! I swore that I was NEVER gonna see that doctor again!) My mom said "no" and that she wanted to wait and see if I got better.

And, she was a lot right about it too.
I'm doing really great now, but I still have some complaining a few times. I have PE at school that I just love, LOVE, L-O-V-E!!!! but I complain and go to the nurse for an ice pack lots of times.

And, I don't like walking a lot. I really complain to my mom that my legs hurt whenever we try to go shopping or see the doctor. I can't go very far without begging her to stop or carry me cause my right leg hurts. (actually---just this past time I visited Keegan at the hospital I started crying because I couldn't make it back to the car! YUCK!) I just hate that because I love to shop and shop and shop! I think Dr. Blanco just wants to be sure that nothing weird is going on for me or making my scoliosis worser. (maybe?) My mom just wants to be sure that I am growing like a normal girl can be after having so much chemo. It's been nine months since I stopped the chemotherapy and I'm really, REALLY ready to be just a normal little girl who can run, jump, play baseball, ride a bike, dance, do gymnastics and go shopping! (Of course, I do all that stuff anyway! ha! ha! and just ask for ice packs, hot showers, warm baths, heating pads, tylenol and pile up on my new reclining chair like a little old lady!)

Please keep Keegan in your prayers for me!
He had some white cells show up in his last back poke. We want NO CELLS to show up!! None! AT ALL!!
He has to get into remission so he can start his next treatment plans.

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon.............your friend, Madie Rylee-bug.

:-)



=======================================
Saturday, February 10, 2006 10:38 AM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

WOWEEE!
Today is my Birthday Party---I am so excited! My first party since I was 3 years old! Yeah!

I saw my Snellville Pediatric doctor's yesterday after school so they could look at my crazy sinus infection again.
Well....while I was there, I had THE BADLY COUGHS that my mom is always trying to tell them about! Since October, my mom takes me to the doctor (even Dr. B at AFLAC!!) and we both complain that I cough like crazy at night. All the doctor's (about 6 of them) listen very carefully to me and say "we don't hear anything. Her chest sounds clear.". It has been very crazy for me to not get mad at them. It's like they don't believe me.

Well......yesterday Dr. P heard me!

FINALLY!

Since she was the first doctor to see me back in October when I first complained of the coughing, she was very worried and sent me to Scottish Rite for a chest xray to be sure it's not the badly *new-moan-ya" coming back to me like it has so many times. My mom and me got home about 10:00pm last night, and it's not the *new-moan-ya*, so YEAH!!!

But what is it?

Well.....Dr. P thinks that I now have some kind of allergic ASTHMA!!!....and along with the goofy sinus infection (AGAIN!) because my sinuses are just all clogged up and dripping yukky stuff.

I just have really bad allergies that are triggering ASTHMA coughing spells.

BLECH!!!

I started on the neublizer last night and the *zebra* medicine.
Hopefully, I won't have to use an inhaler or take steriods, so we are keeping a close watch on it.
I can't wait to feel better!
But, I'm glad the doctor F-I-N-A-L-L-Y heard my cough! That is a relief, for sure. They were all beginning to think me and my mom were some kind of crazy people to keep calling and complaining to them!

Well---I have a party to go to!

I'm not suppose to get too hot (my asthma, remember?) but to heck with that! It's at the "My Gym" and we do all kinds of gymnastic stuff. I JUST LOVE IT!!! We are gonna have a "Birthday Blast" for sure!

Lots of hugs to everyone!
Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we travel on this terrible Cancer Journey. We could not have made it this far without all of you!

I love you!
Talk to you soon!........Madie Rylee-bug!



===================================
Monday, February 6, 2006 10:38 PM CST

Hello People!

WOW!
I am seven years old today!
I just can’t believe it!

My Birthday Week has been totally TERRRRRIIIIFFFICCC!!

Thank you to everybody who has sent wonderful “Happy Birthday’s” to me.
I love to read the webpage and look at the beautiful pictures.
I bug my mom to death to show them to me over and over and over again.

My week started out so great!
I got lots of surprises!
Thank you to all my Wonderful Angels!! You guys are THE BEST!!

I took cookies to school and we ate them for lunch. It was great!
My mom blew up about 100 balloons and covered the floor all over the house for when I woke up this morning! (she is sooooo funny)
And---she got me the best watch ever! It is tweety bird, in a pink heart with sparkly gems all around it. I just LOVE it so much! It’s *Perfect*, mom! You are the BEST mom ever! (and thanks for my Barbie sofa too!)

I have a birthday party this coming Saturday. All my friends are coming!
My mom and me ordered my cake at Kroger---it is a fantastic pink cake with a crown on it, for *Princess Madie*. Wait until you see it!

Well, now I guess you are waiting for the stuff from my clinic visit, huh?
Here are my counts from clinic on Friday:


WBC (4.5-13.5): 8.25
HGB: (11.5-15.5) 13.0
Platelets:(175-525) 283
ANC: (1350-7430) 4660
Height: 116.5
Weight: 52.8
Blood Pressure 82/44

My mom teld Dr. B about me falling down all the time when I try to go up or down the stairs or the curbs. He checked me over, and asked if it was getting any worser. Of course, we don’t know because my mom grabs my hand. I can’t do anything by myself ‘cause she is terrified I’m gonna fall again and get hurt really badly!

As you can see, I lost a little bit of weight. That is not suppose to happen. Even normal kids are not suppose to lose weight. And us Cancer Leukemia kids off of the chemo are suppose to gain LOTS of weight, not lose it.
But, I'm just not eating lots like I did last month. I did grow about a half centimeter, so that is great!

Dr. B said my glands are swollen and that I needed to see the Snellville Pediatrics because he thinks that it could be from the stupid sinus infection that I have that I can’t get rid of. YUK! Another visit!
He said I needed to go to the beach! Hummmm….where did I hear that before???

Hey!
Check out this webpage for Miss Melinda's LightHouse...Do you recognize the tiny little bald girl with the pink blanket??????
Family Light House Retreat

Yep!
It’s me when I was four years old and just finished the worsest of all the worst ever horrible chemo that a little girl can take!
I have to say, Dr. B did a great job at killing the Cancer and saving me!
I love you Dr. B!

Dr. B also gave my mom the orders for me to have the Physical Therapy evaluation and treatment. I’m doing great, but I want to be just like normal kids. I still need some help with my legs, arms, hands and feet. I don’t want to keep falling all the time! Blech!

Don’t forget to go by and check on my wonderful friend, Keegan. He started his chemo all over again today. He had to get a hip poke, a back poke, and the horrible “red” medicine that makes your hair fall out really fast. Good thing that he was totally asleep! I’m so glad that the clinic has the wonderful rooms where they can put you to sleep.
We don’t want the hip poke to come back with any Cancer Leukemia in his bone marrows, so we are prayering like crazy that it is just in his brain and back.
Please go by and say some good words while he begins again.

AND!
Don’t forget to go by my friend, Alexia who is on the countdown to her bone marrow transplant right here in the US at DUKE!
She had the Stupid Cancer come back to her in her bone marrow and the only thing that they can do is the transplant to save her life.
Please go by and say some good words for her momma and dad on this first day back in the hospital. They are gonna be in the hospital for about 45 days. And then, she still has to stay here for another six months while the transplant is working.

I’m going to the Big Apple Circus on Sunday, the 12th!
The wonderful people at the Camp Sunshine House have sent me tickets so that I can go.
I can’t wait---it was so wonderful the last time!
I hope that I get to see all my other Cancer Friends too!

Well, it’s getting late.
I know that I have forgot something, so I will try to update again before my party on Saturday.
Thank you to everybody for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have huge Angel Wings coming for sure!

Have a superfantabulous week!
I love you!
Talk to you soon,
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug


=======================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
The worst thing today about having Cancer Leukemia is that you never know if the sneaky Cancer is really gone. You can go months and months with no sign of it and then….BAM!!! It’s back.
I really hate that!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
All my great friends and family! I could not have gone from the little Cancer girl that you see on Miss Melinda’s webpage to who I am today without the help of all my friends and family! Thank you guys! And thank you to the “LightHouse Family Retreat”, “Camp Sunshine”, “Leukemia and Lymphoma Society”, “AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Clinic” and “Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta”!!!

Tuesday, January 31, 2006 8:16 PM CST

The worstest of all the worstest has come true.

The Stupid Cancer has come back to my wonderful friend and future husband, Keegan.

Please go by his guessbook and leave lots of good words and blessings for him and my mom-in-law-to-be, Mamma Audra.

Why did I get Cancer?
Why did Keegan get Cancer?
Why didn't all the terrible horrible medicine work on Keegan?
Now, he has to start back over all over again!
I am so mad!!!!!
It is not fair!

I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I hate Cancer.
I REALLY, R-E-A-L-L-Y HATE CANCER!!!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece! And....for saying prayers and sending blessings to keep the terrible Stupid Cancer away from me!
You guys all have huge Angel Wings coming for sure!

I love you guys!

Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!



p.s......Hey? Did I say that I hate Cancer?

p.p.s.....Hey! Don't forget to go by and check on my wonderful little friend, Alexia! She is having surgery today to get her tubies put into her chest for her transplant.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:06 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I have been really busy, busy, busy!

First, I want to say "Happy Birthday!" to my mom! It is today! Wow!
I love you mom!

And---don't forget to keep up with my great friend Alexia from South America!
She is here at Duke for her Cord Blood Transplant that is gonna wipe out all the Stupid Cancer she has running around in her little tiny body! Yeah!!

On Saturday, I got to go see the Thrashers play hockey! It was just the greatest EVER!
We got to stay in one of the player's box suites that was way up high!
BUT---the sadly news is that I fell down a lot of the steps when we were going to try to get autographs from the players. I did't get hurt too badly----I'm so glad my front teeth were gone! They would have been knocked out for sure! I wound up cutting my lip with the little tooth that I did have! Yikes!

The EMT folks were supergreat and made sure that I was "A-Okay!" Since I missed the player's autographs, I got a white hockey puck that had been used on the ice! WOW!!

The picture up at the top is me and Miss Terri from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They are the wonderful folks who make all these great "road trips" available to all us Cancer Kids that are fighting the terrible Cancer Leukemia.
Thank you Miss Terri!

Well----now I have to tell why I fell and what is going for me.

Since Christmas, I have fallen about 6 times stepping up or down from sidewalks and curbs. It has got so badly for me that my mom grabs my hand whenever I get near any stairs or curbs at all!! At first, my mom didn't think anything about it because kids fall, right?
Well....since I'm only falling for the curbs and steps it must be "something", right?

My mom remembered that I had this same problem when I first got to have to take the chemotherapy. After the second month, I started to fall down all the time when I had to step up or down from the sidewalk and curb. I just could not judge where my foot was suppose to go! Imagine that!

Well---Dr. B said back in 2003 that it was the chemo and that I would adjust my eyes to it. And I did! After about 2 months, I stopped falling down so much!

Well----my is thinking that is why I am falling now. She thinks that I am re-connecting my eyes since I don't have the chemo anymore!
She called Dr. B and asked if this could be a reason for my falls.
Nurse Mary called back and said "Yes"!
Dr. B says he has seen it before, so that is great news! Whew!! My mom was just a teeny-tiny bit worried that it could be some kind of brain problem---my older brother Roe has epelipsy. Or worse! A brain cancer! We don't want either of those!

And, I have been kind of sick this week. I have a bad cold that is making me have fevers come and go. Nothing else is hurting.....just the stuffy nose! I finished my Omnicef antibiotics last night for the sinus infections, so the fever has to be the cold. (We are NOT thinking the "C" word!)

AND!
Did you see my Uncle Ray on the "48 Hours Mystery" last Saturday night!
He did a super wonderful job!
I love you Uncle Ray!

Well, I have skoot!
I'm trying to get lots of rest so I can fight this stupid cold in my head!
Thank you guys so much for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Lots of love!
Your friend, Madison Rylee!

:-)

p.s...Don't forget to check out the new pictures!

p.p.s......To my wonderful "Aunt Marie"....your friend Renee has all my prayers! I know you are very sad that the Stupid Cancer has come to her and she only has 6 months to live, but in our Cancer World, we never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never, NOT EVER, give up!!



================================
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 10:36 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

How are you doing tonight?
I am good! And even better!

I have super-fan-tab-u-lous news that I just have to tell everybody because I'm about to burst if I don't say what is the most awesomest thing to happen to me only in the past three years for sure!

Whew!

I'm having a birthday party!!!!
My first for real Birthday Party since I was 3 years old in 2002!!!

My mom said I could have it any where I wanted it to be!
Of course----my first and only choice is "The Little Gym"!! They have fantastic birthday parties that are just the greatest!
My party will be on Saturday, February 11th at 1:30pm to 3:00pm!
I have a million things to do!

Are you keeping up with my great friends from South America?
Did you see that Alexia is coming to Duke University today?
Her whole entire family is coming to help as Alexia is going to get her life-saving bone marrow transplant up here in the United States! The super-smart doctors up here at Duke are going to work with her super-smart doctors down in Argentina to partner-up together and get Alexia all better with no Cancer Leukemia to ever come back to her!

The transplant thing is not fun and is really pretty terrible. I have lots of friends in Heaven who did not make it through the transplant. But, I also have lots of friends who did make it through the transplant to have new bone marrow working inside their little bodies. So, we want it to work supergreat for Alexia! I need for everyone to go by Alexia's guessbook and leave lots of good words and tons of prayering to keep her safe with the smallest amount of problems.

Thank you again for keeping little Cutie Missy Catie in all your prayers too! She has made it home in speedy-record time! WOW! Please keep her in your prayering while she comes back for checkups and to have her staples taken out this week. We certainly don't want any surprises!! Well...actually......we LOVE surprises!! Just not "bad news" surprises, if you know what I mean?

My sinus infection is doing lots better!
I stopped coughing so much and the medicine tastes great! I love strawberry! So far, so good!

I got my report card last week!
It was really great and I just LOVE reading! It is the best thing on the planet----my mom reads to me and I read to her! My mom lets me check out about a bizzillion books each week from the library! Well....not exactly. My mom kinda takes some of them out of the basket because she says that I can't have more than 15 of them for the week. Did you know how wonderful books are? Man! It's like a little movie inside the pages! How great is that?!!

And!!! Oh yes!!!
My Uncle Ray Ice is gonna be on the show "48 Hours" this coming Saturday!
He was one of the Detectives that helped try to find Shannon Melindey who is still lost. But, I think that they caught the bad guy and he is in jail forever! Anyway, the show is on CBS, Saturday night, January 21, at 10:00pm. That is past my bedtime, but I get to see my Uncle Ray all the time in really life! It's pretty weird to see people that I know on the television!
I love you Uncle Ray!

My Aunt Rhonda is doing great!
Her doctor is letting her go to work half days until March. Since she only has 1 and half lungs to start with, she has to be really, REALLY careful with the new-moan-ya to be sure it gets all gone from her. Thank you for all the prayering that you guys have sent down to her down there in Fort Lauderdale. My Uncle Randy is down there visiting for a few days before he has to leave to go to work on the Toby Keith tour. He is going to help my Uncle Butch with things around the house because they are getting ready to sell it for to move up here to Atlanta! YEAH!!! I can't wait to have my Uncle Butch, Aunt Rhonda and Cousin Bobby so close to me! It's gonna be SUPERFANTABULOUS!

You know, the only badly news that has happened is that our hot water heater started leaking really badly!
It was terrible---but my mom got a new one from Home Depot. It costed a whole ton of money, but we had to have it. YIKES!!

Well, it's getting late and I have to skoot! And....I have to work on my Birthday letters to my friends.
If you want a piece of Birthday cake, you are more than welcome to come by!

Thank you so much for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Have a great week!
Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug



==========================
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 11:36 PM CST

Hello People!

Wow!
Another update!
Can you imagine?

Did you check on Cutie Miss Catie?
She is going home to the Ronald McDonald House for a few days!
WOW!
That is the speediest surgery that she has ever had to get through!
Thank you guys so much for the prayering that has helped to keep her safe and get all better!

My mom took me out of school early today (well, not really early....right at end of school!) and she carried me over to the Snellville Pediatrics.
Last night, after class, she got home and said she just didn't like the way I looked or sounded.
Man! I was tired!

And, she was right!
My sinuses are so stuffy that my ear started to hurt today, before the doctor! And it made my throat hurt too!

Good for me was that I didn't have too much of a badly fevers!

I saw Dr. Cox and she said that I had a badly sinus infection for sure.
She gave me some new anty-bye-o-tics that I have to take for the next two weeks! And, we are gonna try some nose spray to see if that will break up the goopy stuff that is stucked so badly inside my head!
She mentioned the CAT Scanning, but we are going to try all this other stuff first. That machine makes so much noise! YIKES!
But you know, I still never saw any cat's? I wonder why they call'ed it a CAT Scan for?

Thank you to everybody who has been praying for me and my mom to help us get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys sure have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Have a superfantabulous week!
Talk to you again soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee.



========================
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 10:36 PM CST

Hello People!

WOW!!---Have you been reading up on my wonderful friend, Catie? She is doing just MMMMAAARRRVVVOOOLLLLOOOUUUUUSSS!!
Thank you to everyone for sending great thoughts and sweet prayering for the Little Missy! She is healing up pretty quick! I hope she keeps on getting better and better!
As Jack's Mom says, "God is Gooder!" (he got to start his reptile collection this past week and he is so happy!)

And, thank you more for my Aunt Rhonda!
She got to leave the hospital on Sunday afternoon! YEAH!!!
She was feeling terrible up until today, but she is now doing supergood!
Soon, they are moving to Atlanta!
I can't wait for them to come up during Spring Break and do some House Hunting!

You know, my mom is just so crazy!
She loves school (like me!) and has been doing school on the internet for the Gwinnett Technical College. Beginning tonight, she has class every Tuesday night for the next ten weeks. It was fun to have dinner with Miss Linda and my friend, Juleah!

The one thing I don't like is that it is on Tuesday, so I will miss my Wonderful Camp Sunshine Family Nights until March 14th! That is just yukky!

But then, Family Camp is coming!
All the Atlanta Sweetie Children need to bug your folks to sign up really quick! Call Miss Kerri and she can send you a application for either one of the Family Camp Weekends that are coming in March and April!

Well, I have to skoot! My mom is needing the computer for her homework!

Thank you guys again for all the wonderful kind thoughts and loving prayers for my friends and family!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug


=============================

Saturday, January 7, 2006 10:48 PM CST

Hello People!

I really hope you are sitting down reading this update, because I have lots and lots of things to update you guys with! It’s gonna take a minute, so pull up a chair if you don’t have one already! Okay?

My mom says to tell everybody that I am feeling lots better.
I must have just bruised my little back-side on the teeter-totter because I can sit pretty good now and it does not hurt much at all! She says that means nothing is broken, or else I would still be hurting really badly. Yeah!
And, the best news is that I don’t need any ibuprofen at all! Yeah! Thank you so much for the great thoughts and healing prayers!

And you know, my Aunt Rhonda was doing pretty good and had got out of the hospital last week? Well, she tried to go back to work this past Tuesday. My mom tell’ed her not to go because she was still coughing and breathing hard, but I think all of us “Ice Girls” are pretty hard-headed…oooops! I mean “Strong Willed”, right? Uh, oh! I mean “Miss Independent”, right?
Well, anyway, my Aunt Rhonda is back in the hospital!
The doctor’s are not about to let her go early this time, so she is getting lots of medicine for her ‘new-moan-yah’! Please say some prayers that the new medicines will start to work and get rid of all her lung and heart problems!

AND!
Of course I have to ask you to go by and visit Cutie Miss Catie! She is up here in Atlanta starting on Sunday and will be staying for a while. She has her next surgery on Monday. Dr. Hudgins is doing the surgery to get all the last part of the Stupid Cancer that is stucked in her little tiny head! He is going to operate on Baby Noor Georgia first (I think?) and then he will fix up little miss Catie! Please go by and leave good words in her guessbook for her mom and dad!
Oh yeah----please say prayers for Dr. Hudgins and Dr. Claire while they take care of our sweetie little missy (and of course, baby Noor Georgia too!)
We have the best doctor's in all the world right here in Atlanta.
We are blessed by God for all these gifts!

And while I’m asking, I wanted to make a really quick update for another one of my friends that is needing some extra special good thoughts and prayering for them! My friend Alexia lives in Argentina and she had the Stupid Cancer Leukemia come back to her! She is fighting really, really hard to get to transplant up here in the United States at the wonderful Duke University in South Carolina!
She is doing superfantastic and is home right now! It is a miracle for sure! WooHoo!!!
Her momma, Miss Ursula, is busy packing and making all the plans for them to move up here to the United States at Duke for Alexia to have a transplant. I think they are all set to come next week! That is very fast!
I know she is gonna need lots of prayers and good words to keep from getting home-sick and missing all her great family! Now, she is gonna make a new family up here with all of us for the next few months!

Well, I went to clinic yesterday afternoon.
It must be just a very weird week-----you won’t believe what happened to me!
I had to get my finger poke, but it would not work!
The new tech poked my finger, but only a few drops would come out!
That is the first time that has ever happened to me, EVER!!
Then, she poked my second finger!
But…again……only a few drops would come out!
She taked the little bottle back to Miss Bonnie, but it was already clotted, so I hear’ed them all talking about me having to get a “arm stick”!!
Let me tell you now, that is not about to happen! Nuh-huh! Not at all!

Thankfully, Miss Brenda came in and poked my finger on my other hand and it bled like crazy! Yeah!!!! Just like normal for me!

Here are my counts from the clinic:

WBC (4.5-13.5) 11.70
HGB: (11.5-15.5) 13.3
Platelets:(175-525) 193
ANC: (1350-7430) 9010
Height: 115.9
Weight: 53.0


You can see that my WBC count has gone up again, for the 4th month in a row ever since I stopped taking the chemo.
You can see my platelets are holding out, just above normal, which is still great! They are not in the 300’s, like they use to be, but hey! I’ll take 190 any day of the week!
And, I’m still sick with the badly coughs and dripping nose.
And, you can see that my ANC is over the normal levels.

Dr. B listened to my chest and heart really, really good.
He said he still thinks that the junky stuff is mostly in my head and not in my lungs.
On my WBC’s, I have 77 percent are what they call “SEG” cells which are fighting a bacterial infection. Dr. B is thinking the high white blood cells are being made to fight an infection in me and he is not worried about the Cancer.
We left the clinic at 4:45pm, so it was too late to call the Snellville Pediatrics and ask them what to do. My mom is gonna call them on Monday to see if I need to come in to see Dr. Deganian.

Dr. B said I looked really great! But, my height is still small (between 5 and 10 percent) and my weight is doing good, but kinda just a little bit too much in the 60 to 65 percent side! I can’t help it, I just love those salty snacks! And lately, I just love to eat! With the holidays, my mom and me just ate waaaaaay too much of great tasting cooking from everybody! YUMMMMM!!!

Wow!
Did you see?
It’s almost my seven year birthday coming up on February 6th!!
How awesome is that!
My mom is promising me a party---I have to wait to see what she is thinking about!
It will be my first party since 2002! I’ve just been waaaaay too sick to have one each year that my birthday has come. But this year, my mom is thinking of something for Valentines Day! Wouldn’t that be so great!!

And, I’m really hoping that I get my piano! Santa forgot to bring me one, but I know they are so big and just can’t fit on his sleigh. My mom says she is working on it, but we need quite a few things right now (like a hot water heater….yuk!) She tell’ed me she is going to call the “Make a Wish” people to see if they can come out and I can get my wish granted! I can’t wait! I know they will get me a piano! But……I also want to go to Disney World too! Man! What a pickle to be in! What is a girl to do?!

Okay Everybody!
For all the Atlanta Cancer Kids, don’t forget that Monday is “Spa Sydell” night at the Camp Sunshine House in Decatur! Please call Miss Ann if you think might can come! My mom is gonna ask to take off work early so I can go----I just love it!
Thank you so much, Miss Sydell! I just love you!

Also, don’t forget that Camp Sunshine Family Camp is coming up!
Miss Kerri is taking applications for the Spring Camp so be sure to email her if you want an application! It is the best fun that you can have! I just LOVE it!! Momma Audra, are you guys going this time? Is Keegan going? I can’t wait for Summer Camp too!

I have been busy this weekend too!
I went to my friend, Phillip’s birthday party! We had a super time!
Tomorrow is going to be pretty busy too!
My wonderful Aunt Marie taked my mom out to pick out a new sofa before Christmas and it is coming tomorrow! They bought a new sofa, rug, tables and chair! I can’t wait to see the new furniture! My mom says it looks fabulous! And it was all on sale----Ashley Furniture even put the whole set on sale for my mom! My Aunt Marie is just wonderful!
I love you Aunt Marie!

And, “Thank You” guys so much for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! We could not have made it through all these hard days without everyone’s help!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Have a superfantabulous week!
I love you!
Talk to you soon,
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug

=======================================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
The worst thing today about having Cancer Leukemia is that I still can’t color so good. I have to be careful about my crayons because I break them when I try to color! I push down too hard and they just snap off! Shoot!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
All my great friends! I saw some great friends at Camp Sunshine House on Tuesday night! It was super fun-----I love you guys!

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 11:00 PM CST

Hello People!

WOWEEE!!
I can't believe it's the New Year!
My mom and me had a super time, just staying home and lighting the sparklers in the driveway!
It was really great!

It was also really funny because my mom sat on her glasses, and they broke! Good thing she was able to replace them!
My mom said the funny part was because they are suppose to be "unbreakable" from some kind of 'tie-tane-e-hum'. That means they are not suppose to break---But they did!
But that's my mom!
She says strange things happen to her all the time.
Hummmm.....

AND!
Our car didn't start on Monday!
That was another strange thing!
We had wonderful Mr. Frank come help us jump start the new car and my taked it over to the Carey Paul Honda. They tested the battery and it was broken. So, we got a brand new battery too!

And finally......because my mom says 'broken' things come in three's.....our phone fell apart!
It was very funny!
The phone fell apart right in my mom's hands!
It was like the glue came apart, can you imagine that!
Ha!Ha!
It was so funny!

Well, I have to tell you some news that is not so funny.
Yesterday at my Montissori school I fell down hard on the teeter-totter!
OOOOUUUUCCCHHHH!!!
My little bottom hurts like terrible!
I went to Camp Sunshine last night, but it was hurting.
And today, it hurt even more!
(Miss Wendy---my mom is gonna call you!)
Anyway, the doctor said I could have Ibuprofen with the Tylenol and see if that helps for the next few days.
My mom has buyed me a special pillow I can take to school to sit on for the day. It's very soft and really helps!

Don't forget!
I have my clinic appointment on Friday at 2:00pm. I get the finger poke and get to see Dr. B again.

AND!
Are you watching the news about Baby Noor Georgia coming to my hospital?!
She is gonna have her operation on the same day as Cutie Miss Catie!
Dr. Hudgins is doing the surgery on Baby Noor Georgia first (I think?) and then he will fix up little miss Catie!
Please go by and leave good words in her guessbook while she gets ready to come back to Atlanta to stay for her surgery! Oh yeah----please say prayers for Dr. Hudgins and Dr. Claire while they take care of our sweetie Catie (and of course, baby Noor Georgia too!)
We have the best doctor's in all the world right here in Atlanta.
We are truely blessed by God with all their talents.

I'm gonna try to get over to the new Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Medicine clinic that is gonna open right here in Snellville!
It is on Saturday and it sounds like a great fun time!

Well, I'm gonna skoot. Well...er...I mean kinda gently make my way off the chair and over to bed!
I sure hope it doesn't hurt too badly for too long! This is just yukky---worse than a hip poke, for sure!

Thank you to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Lots of hugs!
I love you!
Your friend, Madie Rylee.



========================
Thursday, December 29, 2005 10:00 PM CST

Hello People!

Wow!

You guys have been sending some really prayers and good thoughts for my Aunt Rhonda ‘cause she is doing lots, lots better! Thank you!

The doctor sent her home from the hospital really, really late at bedtime on Tuesday night, so she got to sleep in her own bed! She was very happy about that, for sure.
My mom talked to her today and teld me that Aunt Rhonda is not hurting in her heart very much today, so the strong medicine is finally working.

When I talked to her yesterday, she was hurting badly and breathing fast, which kind of scared me. But she is doing really great today! I feel much better about it. I was so worried…..it’s not funny. I love my Aunt Rhonda!
I know I worry too much for a little six-year-old girl. My mom is gonna call Missi at Camp Sunshine to see if she can work me into her talking visits during the day.

I wanted to make a really quick update for some of my friends that are needing some extra special good thoughts and prayering for them! My friend Alexia lives in Argentina and she had the Stupid Cancer Leukemia come back to her! She is fighting really, really hard to get to transplant up here in the United States at the wonderful Duke University in South Carolina!
She is doing superfantastic and is now out of the PICU! WooHoo!!!
Her momma, Miss Ursala, has said that she might get to come home on Friday!
Imagine that! How great!
Then…..off to Duke for about 6 months!

And, don’t forget my friend Miss Cutie herself Catie who needs some good prayers and kind thoughts this week and next also. She is up here in Atlanta for more tests and then a operation on her head to get the rest of her Stupid Cancer that is hiding out inside her little tiny head! We need lots of prayers for Dr. Hudgins and Dr. Claire. They are the great doctor’s taking care of the little missy!

You know what?
I forgot to update you guys on Christmas at my house!
I was just too worried about my Aunt Rhonda, I forget to tell you what is going on!

Well, I had a superFANTABULOUS Christmas, that is for sure!
(Miss Wendy---the Princess Blanket is the most awesome feeling blanket!! I love you!)
But, sadly, my mom ate something “funny” Christmas Eve, so she did not feel good all day Christmas. I think she knew my Aunt Rhonda was sick, so they were both feeling badly on that day! She felt so bad, she barely taked any pictures Christmas morning! Yukkk!

My Cancer Warrior Angels were so wonderful! They sent me and my mom so many surprises, our tree was just buried under all the wonderful gifts!
Thank you Angel Angela, Angel Penny and my special Christmas Angel Laura (aka Nornabelle!) You guys are the greatest ever!
My daddy even sent me a box filled with lots of surprises too! I just love all the books he sent. (And I can read them too! Yeah!!)

One of the best things that I liked doing was the “Mayhem in Bethlehem” show that my wonderful Calvary Chapel Church had for Sunday the week before Christmas!
It was so wonderful----I totally loved it!

Sadly, my mom continues to work on Christmas cards! She got a lot done before Christmas, but she still has some to send. She is bound and determine to get them out----only now, they will called “New Year’s” cards! Ha!Ha!

Well, my next clinic visit is next Friday, January 6th at 2:00pm. I go for the finger poke and to see what’s happening for me. I know I’m growing---that is for sure! But, I still have the badly coughs. They are not too bad, but I think my mom is gonna ask Dr. B what he thinks about them and my low-grade fever that I keep all the time now.
And, I still get super-tired all the time.
And, I still have pains in my right leg. Today, my back hurt (again) and I begged my mom for the heating pad to use. My mom says that I am having “growing pains” again----but this is getting kind of “old” for me! I guess she “could” be right, maybe? (and I was feeling so much better for a few weeks back!)

I finally got my two other teeth sealed this past Tuesday! Yeah! I’m so happy that is over with! I was so worried about my Aunt Rhonda, I did not do so great at Dr. Huber’s. We had to take a break and I needed my blankie-rag to help me stay brave while they worked on my teeth. My mom says “It’s okay to be scared and worry!” Then, I got to hold her hand too while they fixed her broken tooth! (ooops! I forgot to say that my mom broke a tooth on Christmas Day too! Shoot! That was just a bad day for her!)

And, my mom went to the ENT on Tuesday! It was just terrible because I had to wait and wait and wait! YUKKK!! The doctor was late and we waited almost two whole hours! He came in and said that my mom’s sinus pictures are perfect and that her eye pains are not from her sinus. YUKKK! All that waiting for only five minutes with the doctor! I’m glad my doctor appointments are not like that at all! But, I hate that her eye hurts and it is still a “mystery” somehow! Well….back to the drawing board!

My school starts back next week….yeah!!! I really miss my class full of friends and my teacher, Miss Wallace! I have been keeping up with reading and doing computer stuff, so I can’t wait! And, you know what? My mom starts her class too! She is going to the big school college at Gwinnett Technical every Tuesday night after work. It is going to be great because I get to see my friend, Juleah each of those nights that my mom is at school! Woohooo!!!

Well, I need to go!
I have tons of things to get done, but I’m so happy that tomorrow is the Friday before New Year’s Eve!! I hope everyone is having fun stuff to do and lots of places to go!
It’s gonna be a SUPERFANTABULOUS year for me, I just know it!

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer journey all in one piece!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!
Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee-bug!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Monday, December 26, 2005 11:07 PM CST

Okay.....this is an update that "mom" is sneaking in at the last minute.......

I just got off the phone with my younger sister, Rhonda. She lives in Margate, Florida.
Rhonda has been sick lately (try for the past six weeks!!) and did not want to see the doctor.

Well.....she is now in the hospital.

The doctor's think she has an infection in the lining of her heart.
Please send prayers that the tests come back clear for no heart damage and that the antibiotics begin to work their wonderful fighting magic power!

Madie loves her "Aunt Rhonda" something terrible and I have not told her anything yet. She will be devasted and is such a huge "worry-wart"! She will most likely insist on speaking to her to be sure all is well.

I will give the news to Madie tomorrow.
Thank you again for thinking of all of us and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!



=========================================
Friday, December 23, 2005 11:07 PM CST

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I can't believe that Christmas is only two days away!
Wowwweeee!

My mom and me have been working really hard and F-I-N-A-L-L-Y have our tree decorated!
She was so busy with work and school---it was just a lot to get done, that is for sure. And the good news is that she made a "B" on her class!
Great job mom!

This week we have been getting ready for Christmas.
My Uncle Randy and my Aunt Sara are visiting from California, so our house if full of family all the time!
My bubba Roe is going to Alabama for Christmas to spend the time with my almost 'sissy' Rachel's mom and dad. They called Roe and asked if he wanted to come for the holidays. He misses Rachel really badly. (heck! I miss her lots too!)

I am having the bestest Christmas ever!
My badly coughs are a little better, so that is going good!
But, for some reason, I'm still very tired. Last night after we got home from school, I piled up on the sofa with my blankets and pillows where I did not want to move at all. My mom was so worried, she even taked my temp-ah-sure! But it was the always "99.3" and not anything badly.
I even had a nap at at my school! (which is super....I can't take one at Centerville Elementary!) and I was still too tired after I got home.

AND!!!

Remember the pictures of me where I have no teeth!
Well.....my front teeth are coming in for Chistmas!!
Woooohoooo!
My top teeth are breaking through the gums and I have little tiny ones growing in now!
What a great Christmas present for me!
My mom is thinking that is why I have not been feeling so good lately. She says I always feel *icky/sicky* when my teeth are growing for some reason. She teld me that I am just super-aware of the pain that it comes into my little body as my teeth and bones grow!

You know, I think she might be right!

I got two of my teeth sealed last week, so I'm going on Tuesday to get two more of them sealed! That helps protect against all the problems that I might have from all the chemo!

And, my mom goes to the ENT on Tuesday afternoon. She is having problems with her eyes and sinus. She has see'ed the eye doctor, her doctor, and then my ENT doctor! They have the MRI tests back and she is going to talk to him on Tuesday afternoon. Please say prayers that there is nothing weird going on for her and that it is just a badly-terrible sinus infection that won't go away (stubborn infection!)

Ha! My mom says it's cause she has cried too much this year! And that could be true, since I never see'd her cry so much before. Heck, when Rachel died, she cried about a hundred times a day for about ten days! It was a very sadly time for us!

New Years is coming next week too!
It's gonna be a whole New Year of just great news, and NO CANCER!!!

And, before long....my birthday!
It's just six weeks away!
I just can't stand all the excitement---it's making me really crazy almost to exploding with super excitement!

But first, Christmas!
And, I'm not sick like the last two years and it has been just great!
I am having a wonderful time and love seeing all my friends and all my family!

I want to tell everyone that reads my web page to have a super-fantabulous holiday these next few days!
You guys are so wonderful to keep me (and my mom) in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Leukemia Journey. It is the reason why we are still all in one piece! Thank you so very much---you guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

I hope everyone has time with their family this holiday. Your family is the most important people, place and thing in your whole life!

I love you, mom.
I love you, Rhyne.
I love you, Roe.
I love you, Angel Rachel.
I love you, Leah.
I love you, Aunt Marie.
I love you, Aunt Rhonda.
I love you, Colleen.
I love you, Miss Carol.
I love you, Angel Angela.
I love you, Nana Susan.
I love you, Angel Justin.
I love you, Poppy Mike.
I love you, Uncle Randy.
I love you, Aunt Sara.
I love you, Uncle Jerry.
I love you, Angel Penny.
I love you, Uncle Ray.
I love you, Aunt Nickey.
I love you, Uncle Ron.
I love you, Cousin Jacey.
I love you, Cousin Trent.
I love you, Cousin Emily.
I love you, Cousin Chippy.
I love you, Aunt Catherine.
I love you, Grandma.
I love you, Daddy.
I love you, Joy.
I love you, Wendy.
I love you, Momma Audra.
I love you, Keegan.
I love you, Juleah.
I love you, Miss Linda C..
I love you, Miss Melinda.
I love you, Paster James.
I love you, Miss Ana.
I love you, Aunt Renee.
I love you, Amanda.
I love you, Brad.
I love you, Miss Stephanie.
I love you, Miss Jennifer.
I love you, Dr. B.
I love you, Nurse Mary.
And....of course ALL the wonderful "Angel Strangers" who give blood! Most especially those who gave blood and platelets during March, 2003 and May, 2005!!! (and....really, really special to those people who are "A " like me!) I'm sure I have a piece of you guys running around in side of me from all the blood transfusions and IVIG that I got that whole time!!

I know I'm forgetting some people, so I'll add them when I'm not so sleepy!
Right now, I'm off to bed!
Have great dreams of Christmas wishes!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee!



================================
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 10:57 PM CST

Hello People!

I wanted to make a really quick update for some of my friends that are needing some extra special good thoughts and prayering for them! My friend Alexia lives in Argentina and she had the Stupid Cancer Leukemia come back to her! She is fighting really, really hard to get to transplant up here in the United States at the wonderful Duke University in South Carolina! I know that her mommy and daddy can use lots of great words in their guessbook! You can tell them that I sent you over to them!

Another friend of mine that needs some good thoughts to go down her way is Miss Cutie herself Catie! She has been fighting the Stupid Cancer in her little head for a very, very, very long time now! She just had scans and things look stable, but not totally gone yet. Blech!
Please go over to her guessbook and leave her some good Christmas Cheer!

And…..we have two more strings of lights on the tree!
Yeah!!
Slowly, my mom and me are getting that tree ready for Christmas!
We just stay sooooo busy!
We leave for school and work at 6:50am and don’t get home until 6:45pm!
I needed my Allegra re-filled, so we had to run over to the Kroger Pharmacy. Once we picked up my medicine and some other things, it is always too late to do anything with the Christmas tree!
(Hey! No wonder I’m always super-duper tired all the time!)

I have to squeeze in some Christmas shopping in there too!
Man! That is going to be tough!

My mom says to tell everyone that my badly coughs are sounding worser. She is gonna call the Snellville Pediatrics to find out what to do next. She is thinking that I might need to start my breathing treatments again. I will keep you posted!

Thanks for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! She tells me it’s the kindness of Angel Strangers that pick up pieces of the Sweetie Childrens and put them in their hearts for ever after! It helps us to keep moving forward on that rickety-old bridge that stretches out for miles over that boiling lake of Cancer Lava! Sometimes, our feet slip and it’s REALLY scary! Thank you for giving us a hand to pull us back up! You guys all have Angel wings coming for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee!





==================================
Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:57 PM CST

NEW PICTURES!

Hello People!
My mom has finally got some new pictures put up from the LightHouse Christmas Party and the Camp Sunshine Christmas Party!
I had such a great time! I love to see the pictures to remind about it.

Do you see me up there?
I am in my kitchen working so hard on making some Christmas tree ornaments with beads!
I love to make beads and jewelry!
I think they are just soooooo beautiful when you put them all together! And, you can wear them! (or, in this case, put them on the tree!) How cool is that?

We are still trying to get our Christmas tree decorated!
My mom had her Final Exam last night and we did not get home until 9:00pm! Yuk!
Tonight, we got four strings of lights on the bare tree!
But heck, it's a start, right?
And, it's looking better and better with each new light or decoration we put on it!

And---to Miss Wendy----I got your box today! I just love it! (my mom is gonna call you!) How did you know that I was begging my mom for FLOAM!!
You must have ESP or something!

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madison Rylee





Saturday, December 10, 2005 11:57 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I went to the clinic yesterday afternoon and saw Dr. B!
Sorry that I have not posted sooner. My mom is super-crazy busy at work and she is taking an online class at Gwinnett Tech. She is reading and reading all the time, trying to study. She has a *Final Exam* at the big school college Gwinnett Tech on Monday night, so we will all be so happy when she is done with that for the holidays!
I mean, she is so busy, that we have our tree standing in our living room for the past week….but no decorations on it! We just have not had any time!

Well, the first thing that I want to say is a great big “THANK YOU” to the Miss Christina from the “Cancer Warriors”!!
Her Army Team of the “Angel Strangers” are just the greatest and so fantastic!!
And for Christmas, not only do I have my most wonderful Angels that keep in good spirits all the time, but I have a special “Christmas Angel” too!
She and my mom have been “talking”……I know it’s a secret, but I can’t stand it!!

I love you Angel Angela, Angel Penny and Angel Laura!!

Now, let me list you the blood counts that I got from clinic.
My mom is thinking that I should show you all of them over the past few months so that you can see what’s going on.


Month(normal levels): December-November-October-September-August
WBC(4.5-13.5): 9.14-8.58-7.79-4.62-5.04
HGB(11.5-15.5): 13.1-13.6-12.9-12.7-13.3
Platelets:(175-525) 198-207-233 -157-176
ANC: ( 1000) 5910 5580 2280 2770
Height: 115.4 114.3 112.7 111.3
Weight: 51.4 50.8 51.7 50.2 49.2


I’m still not back up to the weight that I was in October, but I’m doing really good!
Actually, Dr. B said I was doing “EXCELLENT” for my weight!
He asked me if I was still using the “Wee Workout” video and I said “Yes”! It is lots of fun! He and my mom talked about all the things that I have been doing to keep my weight from jumping up sky high! He said that lots of the Sweetie Cancer Children who have been through the horrible, terrible, death-defying Cancer Chemo Therapy for the ALL Leukemia will put on lots of weight. This happens when the Sweetie Children stop taking all the medicine. The doctors are not sure why this is happening, but it is!
I have been working very hard to be sure that I eat the right foods from the big food groups Peer-A-Med and that I stay busy, busy, busy! It’s a lot of work for my mom. Like I said, she is so busy at work and the class at Gwinnett Tech, but she always has taking care of me is first, before anything else! So, sometimes, she has missed school studying lots because of it!

And---my mom checked the Growing Charts!
Since I have been growing so much lately---I am now on the growth charts!!
I was not even on the chart for a whole year this past year! (can you be a -10 percent???)

I am now 10 percent for height and 50 percent for weight!
Before Cancer, I was bouncing from 10 or 20 percent for height and always stayed at the 50 percent for weight!
So-----I'm doing totally *normal* for me!!
YIPPPEEEE!!!!

All us *Ice* kids always start out like little tiny people and then shoot up tall when we are the teenagers!
My mom keeps telling me that she was a little tiny girl and then grew to be 5ft 6inches, but it was very late, when she was 16 or 17 years old!
But, my daddy is not tall.
And, my mom tell'ed me that her mom and dad (my grandparents) were not tall at all! Actually, my mom was the tallest in the family of 11 (9 kids and 2 parents) for a long time until my Uncle Randy and Uncle Ron got big!
And it doesn't matter anyway!
If I stay little because of the chemo, that will be okay too!
I'm whatever the person is that God intended me to be!
Besides, all that weight is muscle!
I'm so strong, Dr. B was just shocked how strong my legs and arms are getting!
Watch out---I'm getting ready for baseball! I'll strike out every batter that comes up and hit a home run out of the park!

Did you see the WBC’s counts?
That is the only thing that is kinda bugging my mom.
Remember, the Cancer Leukemia “blasts” are the WBC’s that became Cancer and never grow up to be the good white blood cells. We don’t want to see high white blood cell counts at all!
But, I have the badly coughs. Dr. B listened very carefully to my chest and heart. He said all is clear and that he thinks my badly coughs are from allergies.
My mom thinks the badly coughs are making my white blood cells go higher because I might have some kind of crazy sinus infection.
My platelets dipped a little bit, but not to badly.
We are just keeping an eye on everything!
Overall, Dr. B said I was doing superfantabulous and he told me himself that he thinks the Cancer is all done with me. That made me feel lots better.
It’s hard, but I think that I might believe him this time!

I go to the Camp Sunshine Christmas Party tomorrow!
It is going to be so wonderful, I can’t wait! YIPPPEEE!!
I got my hair trimmed, so it is looking so beautiful!

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Cancer Leukemia journey all in one piece! You have Angel Wings coming for sure! If you want a Christmas card from us, just be sure to email my mom with your address! She has a Final Exam test on Monday, but we are working on the cards and they will be mailed out this coming week.

And---don’t forget to give blood!
We are really, REALLY needing platelets and blood right now because lots of peoples are on vacation and the blood bank is getting all used up! Your donation will save a life! If you don’t believe it, just look at me! I have had over 50 blood and platelet transfusions since the Cancer Leukemia came to me! There were weeks that the transfusions were the only thing that kept me alive!
It is so important to donate blood!
Thank you again to all those peoples who have helped me!
I love you!!

Talk to you soon.
Your friend, Madison Rylee

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Monday, December 5, 2005 11:36 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

WOW!

You are just not gonna believe who I saw yesterday!
I am so excited!.....it is so fantastic!

I saw Santa Claus yesterday!
Yep!
And it was the *real* Santa! Not just some “helper” Santa either!
He had come all the way from the North Pole, ‘cause Miss Melinda asked him to come and listen to all us Cancer Kids tell him what we needed for Christmas!

And!!
My mom and Miss Audra even tell’ed him what they wanted for Christmas too! They both sat on his lap and spoke to him for all the things they needed.
And he is gonna try to come on Christmas Eve with all the wonderful surprises that we all asked for him to try and bring!

I just can’t stand it!!
I tell’ed my mom that the reindeer must have been hiding on the roof because I didn’t see them when we drove around the building three times looking for the LightHouse Christmas Party! Nope! I did not see them at all! So, they must have been on the roof! And the building at NorthPoint Community Church is so big, there was lots of room for them to stay up there. But, it started to rain and I hope they got back to the North Pole all okay!

And wow, you won’t believe it either! It must have worked already because he brought great news for Keegan’s back poke tests! Miss Audra has posted a note on Keegan’s website about the new test that came back “not true” for the Cancer Leukemia type “ALL”. I am praying and praying like crazy that he does not have to start the terrible, icky, disgusting chemo medicine all over again! Nope! We don’t want that! (NOBODY wants to do that all over again!!)

And, speaking of the Stupid Cancer, my mom wanted me to tell everyone that the bruises on my legs are all gone! Yipppeee! I’m thinking that maybe she is right (well…..actually, it would be Dr. B who is right!) and that the Stupid Cancer is really gone from me!

I can’t help it, I just worry and worry so much about every little sharp pain or throbbing in my leg or head that comes along! I must have picked up some kinda bad germ bug or virus that was making all those ugly bruises all over me. Mostly, my mom says that I am trying to grow back to a “normal” little girl, so I might hurt all over for the next year after taking the last of my crazy chemotherapy medicines.

And I do keep hurting all over, in very weird places.
I think that is what keeps me worrying kinda.

I had the bestest time at the Light House Christmas Party!
My mom taked a bunch of pictures (and Tyler Copley helped too!) of me and all my friends having lots of fun!

I saw my great friend, Clay! He looks so great! AND!! Him and his baby sister are now going to my most WONDERFUL Dr. Deganian at the superfantabulous Snellville Pediatrics! Yeah! Now, Dr. Deganian has quite a few of us Atlanta Cancer Kids to care for! We just love him! If you can’t get up to AFLAC, the Snellville Pediatrics is the next best thing! All the doctors, NP’s, nurses, techs and staff are just the GREATEST!!

I got a wonderful Christmas Surprise gift at the party too!
Santa gave me a stocking with a surprise in it, but when I got back to the table, I saw some kids had a really huge book!! It was the “Chronicles of Narnia”!
I asked my mom “where” it came from and she tell’ed me that I could go back and exchange my stocking for the bag with the book, so I did!

I carried it to school today to show my teachers at the Montissori School and Centerville about my very first *Chapter* book that I have ever got! And, my mom is helping me to read it too. I just love that book!

Since I’m talking about my reading, I have some more great news too!
I got my test scores back on the First Grade “Cognitive Abilities Test” that I had take’d back when school first started! My mom said I did super-great even though I was kinda sick when I took the tests. The “Average Level” is a “4”, “5”, or a “6”. I got two “4’s” and one “6”!! Hooray! The “Nonverbal” was my “6” and my mom says that is for “special” learning like higher level math, arch-a-tek-sure and the engineering stuff like everyone in my family just loves! I’ve been working hard at trying to keep the terrible chemotherapy from causing any kind of problems for me----and it looks like I’m doing good so far! Yeah!!

This past Saturday, my mom and me also had some company to come over and help us. Wonderful *Angels* from Calvary Chapel Church Stone Mountain came over to help get my yard all fixed! They are truely blessed to come help my mom! It was just great to see my Calvary Chapel Family!
THANK YOU GUYS!!

Tomorrow night is the Family Night at Camp Sunshine House. I hope to see lots of friends there!

And, I go to the clinic this Friday at 2:00pm!
I will keep you posted on what happens!

I'm trying really hard to get my Christmas Tree up this week! I can't believe it is so much work---I'm so tired! I think I heard my mom say it might be Saturday before we can get it decorated. We are gonna have to call our friends over to help us, it's just too big! (or we are just too tired?)

Thank you for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we make it through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! We really appreciate it!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

===========================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: Okay….Okay….Okay. I know I have said it a million times, but the most worst thing is that I stay so tired all the time and my legs hurt lots. I fall asleep in the car just riding from the daycare to home! What’s up with that?

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Today, the best thing is all my friends at the LightHouse!
Miss Melinda, I just love you!

Wednesday, November 30, 2005 9:37 PM CST

Hello People!

Thank you guys so much for the great words that you sended to me! My mom read all of them to me and now I feel lots better!

I went to go see my Dr. Huber and Miss Paula cleaned my teeth for me! She did a great job!
My teeth did bleed, but only a small little bit. Normally, they don't bleed at all when Miss Paula cleans them, so that was different. But, I am very glad that it was not a huge amount! Yeah!
And, I even had a teeth xray done!
It was really cool!

I have to get some teeth sealed, so I have an appointment on the 19th really early in the morning before school.

Tonight, I found a bunch of tatoo's and put four of them on my legs to cover up the bruises! I surprised my mom! They look great!

My mom called and left a message for my wonderful Nurse Mary to check with Dr. B to find out if he has any good thoughts on what to do next for these weird complaints I have and the bruises. My mom is thinking that I need to practice with the EMLA cream on my arms so that I can get a arm poke when I go to the clinic on the 9th. That way, I won't be scared when they need to use the butterfly needle! I really miss my port, that is for sure!

My mom telled me again that I don't have Cancer, that it is all done with me! (Just like Miss Wendy says!)
But, it is so hard to believe it!
My mom says that I must have picked up some kind of virus from being in the "Toddler Room" or that it is that goofy Parvovirus/B-19 messing with my bone marrow again.
And, she reminded me again that I have always had the junkey-chest new-moan-ya lots of times, even before Cancer Leukemia came to me.
It's winter time and the cold weather is going to make me feel weird stuff in my bones too!

Well, I just can't help it that I am a "worry wart"!
Well....not all the time, though!
Unless I hurt, I am always staying busy, busy, BUSY!!

Thank you again for all the wonderful notes that you sended to me! It helps a lot to read them over and over again! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

And don't forget!
The Festival of Trees Parade is this Saturday!
And the LightHouse Family Retreat Christmas Party is this Sunday! I can't wait!! I found a beautiful skirt and I have sparkly new shoes to wear!!

Thank you again!
Your friend, Madison Rylee!

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 10:33 PM CST

Hello People!

Okay.....
Now, I am *officially* thinking that something is not right going on inside of me!
Tonight, I have more bruises on my legs and even some blue ones on my arm!
I look just like I use to be when I was having to get the stupid "Mean Christine" chemo!!

And, I have the junked up cough!

And tonight, my whole right foot started hurting so badly when I got out of the warm bathtub that I actually started crying!

What's up with all these weird aches??

Anyway, I F-I-N-A-L-L-Y got my mom convinced enough to call Nurse Mary in the morning!
Yeah!

And, I go see Dr. Huber tomorrow to get my teeth cleaned! I love her!

WHOA!!!
This sounds really creepy familiar to me.......Like I've been here before!
Wait!
I know it!
March 18, 2003.
I had tons of bruises....lots of pain....junked up cough.....lots of weird aches......went to get my teeth cleaned at Dr. Huber.....My teeth bleeded like crazy! Miss Paula was shocked---she never see'd anything like it!
BAM! Two days later I'm in the hospital fighting with the Stupid Cancer Leukemia!

Well---my mom swears to me that the Cancer is gone and to stop thinking about it. But I just can't!! She told me tonight that it might be the crazy "Fifth's Disease" again causing all these things to wrong on me! That's why she is gonna call Nurse Mary in the morning and see if need to get my blood counts taken at the lab or something.

That made me to feel lots better!
I know the Parvovirus-B19 (aka 5ths!) can do lots of crazy things to me because it's hiding in my bone marrow! Look at me the whole past year with all the crazy things from it!! So, I bet that is what is wrong. Man! I feel lots better! My mom is just the best to keep me from being so worried!

I will keep you posted on what happens next for me!

And, I really hope that all my friends buried in the tons and tons of snow up in the north are doing okay!
I love you guys!

Thank you to everybody for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this stupid Cancer Leukemia Journey all in one piece! It means more to us than you will know!

Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!



==========================
Saturday, November 26, 2005 5:03 PM CST

Oooops!
I spoke too soon!
I went playing with my friend Juleah today at the Chick-fi-la and we had tons of fun! Yipppeee!
But, the bad news is that my platelets must be down because my legs are covered in bruises! Nothing too badly, but the bruises still should not be there for just plain old *playing*!!

My mom didn't say a word about them, but I did!
And, I had a headache tonight for some reason. My head hurt twice, driving in the car. I told my mom I thought it was Cancer coming back!

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that I keep telling my mom "I think my Cancer is back" for the past month now, but she keeps telling me "Madie, stop thinking like that, okay? It's not the Cancer----you're just growing. Don't let your first thought be "It's Cancer!".....okay?!"
And then she will change the subject and say Santa is coming in just a few weeks!! We have to get ready!!

WOW---how does she stay so tough on me all the time?! I'm so worried and scared the Cancer is coming back to me, but she is not worried at all! (or, at least I can't tell it!)

I love my mom!!

:-)

=====================
HELLO PEOPLE!

I was just looking and saw that I had not updated in a lot of days.
Well, the last time I updated that I had not been feeling so good.
That part is still true.
I don’t like updating with sad or bad news. Just like my mom, I only like to post good news! You know, my great-grandmother always say’ed (even though I never got to meet her in person, my mom tell’s me all these things!) that if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say nothing at all!
And besides, it’s really *depressing* to be always writing about sad or bad news.
So, I try my bestest to dig up just great news to post here.
But, sometimes, there just isn’t any! (Or not much)
So, I will start with the sad/bad news first.

I have complaints with really weird stuff. Lately, my neck hurt a little under my ear…but then it was my wrist…..and then it was my knee.
But always, always, my legs hurt.
My back is not hurting as much as before, but my knees and my legs hurt. Mostly, it’s that right leg that keeps hurting.
My mom and me went shopping to Discover Mills to look for shoes. By the time we found the store, my legs were killing me! I was crying so badly---I was begging my mom to let me sit down to rest a minute.
I can go about 10 or 15 minutes, but that is it!
And more strange, I had lots of ugly bruises on my legs last week. (like about 10 on each leg! Even on my arm and a few on my back! Yuk!) My mom just about had a heart attack! But, they are all better this week---all the bruises are almost gone!

I’m eating weird too. Sometimes I eat lots okay, but other times I don’t feel like eating nothing and only want to drink. (and THAT is not like me at all! I LOVE food!)
The only good thing is that I have no high fevers---just low ones to reach around 99.5 or 99.7. This weekend I have not had any fevers at all! Yeah!!

My mom keeps saying it’s all sinus stuff that is draining badly. But, she is paying close attention to see if my chest sounds junky----if that ever happens, that means I have to go back to the doctor again to be sure I don’t have the bronchitis or the new-moan-ya! That would be the fourth time (or fifth time?) to my Dr. Deganian in two months! Blech!

See? It’s just all very strange stuff!

My mom says that my body is trying to change from all the chemo that I had for the past two and a half years. That might be true……but it sure does hurt lots!
And it worries me too! (I hate that!)

And, I read on Catie’s web page that she has the Stupid Cancer showing up on her scans. She just had the weeks and weeks of ray-dee-ate-shun here in Atlanta where she had to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. I just hate it that she has to take more and more chemo too! Please send prayers that the Stupid Cancer will disappear from her little brain. She is just now getting her hair back to grow! Do you know that she had not ever had hair in her whole life! That is just terrible----really, really terrible!

BUT---good news is that Keegan had his MRI testing and there is no Stupid Cancer that the doctor’s can find showing up in his brain! YEAH!!! He will go in for another back-poke on Wednesday the 30th to see if there are more Stupid Cancer Leukemia cells that are gonna show up there. Please say prayers that there are not Cancer *blasts* to show up and that they stay away for good! He can really use a miracle-----that would be great! He was in the hospital yesterday for a fever and got the IV antibiotics for the new-moan-ya in his chest. My mom and me stopped by really quick and bringed him some things to work on. Momma Audra called to say that he was getting to go home today! Yeah!! (I love you Keegan!)

Thursday was the “Thanksgiving” holiday that is all about food, fun and family!
I just love it!
I got to see my Aunt Marie and Uncle Jerry and eat with my bubba Rhyne and his girlfriend, Leah. My bubba Roe is spending the holiday with his friend, Billy. I hear’ed that Billy has broken up with his girlfriend and Roe wanted to spend the day with him. We had a superfantabulous time at Uncle Jerry’s and Aunt Marie’s!

Yesterday, I got to eat at my Uncle Ron and Aunt Nickey’s house! I saw my cousins Jacey and Trent---we had a super time playing outside and also inside! The food was just mmmmmm……good! YUM! I love turkey!

Next week is the Family LightHouse Retreat Christmas Party!
I can’t wait to see all my friends again---it is going to be super!

Christmas is coming up fast!
My mom and me are going to the Festival of Trees!
All the money raised goes to my wonderful Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta!
I hope we see you there!

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we try to get through this terrible Childhood Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!

Lots of Love and Hugs!
:-)

====================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
My legs don't want to work right and they hurt all the time! This is getting a little *annoying*----when are they going to be NORMAL again????
(....I know, I know.....Dr.B said it can take up to one year!--Blech!!)

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
All my Cancer Friends! I was just talking to my mom last night about how great it is gonna be to go to Camp Sunshine next summer!! I get to spend five whole days with my great friends!! (and no parents!! whoooohooo!!)

Sunday, November 13, 2005 10:45 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I have had another busy week---but not one that I want to have again any time soon! For sure!

I got sick on Thursday night, throwing up all over the bed! YUKKKK!!!
Great thing that my mom was off on Friday, huh?
:-)
Well, I stayed out of school 'cause I was sick all Friday. I teld my mom that I had forgot how horrible ickky it is to throw up! I hated it!
BLECH!!!!

But, I was all better by Saturday afternoon. I helped my mom with her errands and visited my great friend Juleah from school.

And even today on Sunday, I'm scared to eat much because I'm afraid it's gonna make me sick again!

My mom went to my Parent-Teacher Conference on Wednesday morning at my school. It went very good! Mrs. Wallace said I was right on track and being a "normal" First Grader!!
Woohooo!!!
I'm "normal"! She said I was doing great at reading and my math. Well, my handwriting is not great, but it is improving! My mom teld her about the terrible "Mean Christine" medicine that I taked to help kill the Stupid Cancer Leukemia and that it will make me have just horrible handwriting for a very long time. I even get therapy for it. But, she teld my mom that she saw I'm improving lots and my letters are not GIANT size anymore!! (ha!ha!)---well....they are pretty big!

I just love school!
I love to read, spell and do math!
And, I just love books!
:-)

Well, I have to skoot---I am going back to school tomorrow and need to be all rested for the morning.
I'm planning to go to Camp Sunshine House on Tuesday for the Thanksgiving Dinner! YUM!!
Actually.....I can't wait to see all my friends! I miss them terrible since I missed the last Family Night!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Don't forget to keep checking in on my friend, Keegan! Thank you for thinking of him too!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!


================================
Monday, November 7, 2005 10:45 PM CST

HELLO PEOPLE!

I am very, very, VERY sad today! (and mad!!)

Do you see the picture up at the top?
That is me and my great friend Keegan.

I just love him!

I bug my mom all the time to find out when is the next time that I get to go see him. I love him so much, that we shared a cabin at Camp Sunshine Family Camp! (I begged my mom to let him come!)

Well......you are not gonna believe it.
The worst of all the worstest news has come true!

My great friend Keegan has the Stupid Cancer Leukemia to come back to him!
Dr. B found it when they did a back poke last week.

Please go to his website and leave him lots of great messages. Miss Audra, Keegan's mom, is very sad and lots upset.
We need all the prayers and great thoughts that you have to send to them.

I am saying lots of prayers that he has the Stupid Cancer only in his CNS and not in his bone marrows.
He goes on Wednesday to have a bone marrows study and to find out how bad the Stupid Cancer has spread.

Thank you all for keeping all of us Cancer Kids in your thoughts and prayers! It means more than you can ever know!

I hate cancer!

I HATE CANCER!!

I H-A-T-E C-A-N-C-E-R!!!!!

(hey! did I tell you that I hate cancer????)

Lots of hugs!!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug

==================================
Saturday, November 5, 2005 11:45 PM CST

Once upon a time, in a place that is no more,
I lived without Cancer, before I turned four.
Now I am six and almost to seven.
I talk about dying and going to Heaven.
Lots of times it’s hard and I can’t keep things straight.
My mom says it’s the chemo and all the medicine I ate.
I worry too much and wake up at night screaming.
Mostly I’m crying because I think my mom’s leaving.
The worst thing is that I don’t know what I did.
How come I got Cancer when I’m just a little kid?

How come?

===========================================

HELLO PEOPLE!

My mom helped me to write the poem up there at the beginning.
I have been really sad these past two weeks. I have talked to her about me dying, about my funeral, about my friends, about my Cancer…..heck!
I talk to her about all the things that I worry about since I got the Stupid Cancer.
And my mom has been real great about giving me some answers.
Talking about dying helps me feel safe.
After all our talking the past two weeks, she made up the poem up at the top!
My mom is the bestest mom on the whole planet! I tell her that at least a hundred times!

WOW!
Do you know this is a great day for me?
Yep! This is the week that I am off the chemotherapy for the Stupid Cancer for six months now! YEAH!!!! SIX MONTHS AND NO CANCER HAS COME BACK!!!

I hear’ed my mom say that if the Sweetie Children can go the first six months and not see any of the Stupid Cancer come back to the Sweetie Children, that it is a great sign! Because the Stupid Cancer Leukemia is very bad trickster and can hide in lots of places in a children’s body, it can come back really badly very quick. The studies says that the Sweetie Children will relapse the first six months, if they are gonna get the Cancer to come to them.

Now! I am six months off of the Stupid Cancer Chemotherapy programs and feel very good!

I went to the Clinic yesterday and saw Dr. B.
He said I was looking supergood and was being a normal six year old girl now!
WoooHoooo!

He said that I don’t have to take the ikky Bactrim anymore! (Three Cheers!)
I am sooooooooooo excited to know about that part of the study! Yeah!
He said I will go once a month until May 2006. Then, in the month of May, they will taked lots of blood from my arm for lots of tests. After that, I only have to go back to the clinic every three months for the finger pokes!! I can’t believe it!!

But, Dr. B said that I can’t be on the “Cancer Survivor” programs until I have been finished with my chemo for two years. So, I still have a ways to go.
Actually, I have until the year 2013 to go! I have to go ten years after I got the first diagnosis of the Stupid Cancer before the doctor’s will consider us children’s to be completely Cancer Free.

Well, I know you can’t wait to see my great counts from the clinic.
They are very good, but the white count is up more again. (‘Member?---the kind of Cancer Leukemia I had was the WBC’s that went crazy and got to be Cancer “blasts” which are the white cells that never grow up to be the WBC’s that fight infections) I heard my mom say she is thinking that it should be a high number because of the infection that I am fighting right now. My rash is all gone as of today, but I am taking Keflex to make the badly infection go away for good!
Here are my counts:

WB 8.58 (normal is 4.5 to 13.5)
HGB: 13.6 (normal is 11.5 to 15.5)
Platelet: 207 (normal is 175 to 525)
ANC: 5,580
Height: 114.3
Weight: 50.8 (I know….it is down from last time)


I still get tired easy.
And, I still complain of my legs hurting. But, my back has not been hurting much at all!
That is just super good to say!

And! My Aunt Rhonda f-i-n-a-l-l-y got her power to come back on Thursday night!
Woohoo!! She was so happy when I heard her talking to my mom on the phone!
They had been without the power for 11 days and it was getting to be just terrible for them to keep using the generator and only have one plug to use!
I am just so very happy that no body got sick from all of it.
That would have been too terrible to think about, for sure!

And, my brother Roe is doing better too!
He had his shoulder surgery on Wednesday morning. My mom and me went by to visit him on Thursday night to be sure he was good. We taked him some food and picked up his medicine from the pharmacy. He looked okay and was getting help from lots and lots of friends! He goes back to the doctor on Monday to check his stitches. Please keep him in your prayers for fast healing and no pain! He is hurting really bad and I wish I could make it stop for hm.

Sadly, I don’t have any new kitty yet!
I am still looking! I know that I will find just the perfect one for me, but my mom is kinda hard to please. At first she said she wanted a black kitty. Then, she said she wanted a black and white kitty like Oreo. Now, she is talking that she wants a Siamese Kitty! She said they have a ‘pet rescue’ place that has some because nobody wanted them and we should look there first.
I don’t know….but it sounds like a plan to me!!

Well, I am gonna skoot!
Like I said, I still get tired very easy for some reason and now I need to get to bed.

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Stupid Cancer journey all in one piece. It means so much to us! You guys all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Lots of hugs!
Lots of Love!

Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!


========================================

WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
The Very Mean Christine medicine has left me with weak hands and fingers. I try so hard to write my letters pretty, but they just don’t work right!! UUGGGHHH!!!!
BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
There is not anything good today, sorry folks.
I miss my friends.
I miss Jaerah.
I miss Ethan.
I miss Colter.
I miss Claire.
I miss Stephanie.
I miss Haley.
I miss Jelly.
I miss Tre.

But most of all, I miss my Sissy Rachel who went to Heaven in July 2005 and my best friend, Justin who went to Heaven in June, 2003.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 8:50 PM CST

NEW PICTURES!!!

And----I had to go to the doctor this morning!
You are not gonna believe it!
I have a bad rash all over me that my mom wanted the doctor to look after.

But---my blood counts are very great and not like I have a fection going on at all. And, the doctor taked the pointy sticks and stuck my throat! (THAT HURT BADLY!)

Since the pointy sticks did not come back with the badly Strep (YIKES!) the doctor put one in a tube that we taked to the science lab for more testing on it.
And, she gave to me some pink medicine to take, just in case my sinuses are making a badly infection that is growing inside of me all over making the rash on me!

I feel great already and it's only been one day!

:-)

HERE ARE SOME UPDATES FOR ALL MY ATLANTA CANCER SWEETIE CHILDREN!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

LightHouse Family Retreat Christmas Party is on Sunday, December 4th!
(Email Miss Robin!)

Camp Sunshine Christmas Party is on Sunday, December 11th!
Call Miss Ann or Miss Kerri at (404) 325-7979!!

And--don't forget, Spa Sydell night next Monday at Camp Sunshine!
WE LOVE YOU MISS SYDELL!!!

And---don't forget the LightHouse Family Retreat Golf Turn-A-Mint at the St. Ives Country Club next Monday! That is gonna be a lot of fun too!
Call Robin at the LightHouse for more details!


See you guys soon!!

p.s...I will update right after my clinic appointment on Friday!

Lots of hugs to everybody!!



==================================
Sunday, October 30, 2005 10:50 PM CST

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
My webpage is read lots
Almost 100,000 times, yahoo!

WOW!

I just saw that almost 100,000 times have all my great friends been reading my webpage!
I am so blessed with so many Angel Stranger’s keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers!
I have certainly been blessed heaping amounts by leaps and mountains!

Thank you to all my Angel Stranger friends.
Blessings coming to you, seven-fold!

===========================================

HELLO PEOPLE!

I know I have not updated this past week---it has just been crazy busy for us!
My mom is working full-time, taking an ‘online’ class at the big school Gwinnett Tech College and taking care of me!
Ha!Ha!---and she is great to taked me just about anywhere that I ask her too!

And believe me!
That has been lots of places!
But, before I give you an update on how busy I have been, I wanted to give you a quick reminder about the fund raisers for the Golfing Games that you can call about!

Now, again, I'm not telling you what to do or how to spend your time and money, but you can have lots of fun at the "CureSearch Hayley Thomson Challenge" that will be held Monday, November 14 at Cherokee Country Club. You can get more information about the fun for my friend Hayley, now a Angel in Heaven at Hayley's Golf Turn-A-Mint.
My mom teld me that you can even might play golf with Tom Glavine! (He plays baseball! I love baseball!). Did I tell you that his wife Chris helped make up the “Quiet Hero’s” lunch along with my great friend Brandon’s mom, Miss Kristin? Well, the Glavine’s are like superhero’s for us kids who are fighting the Stupid Cancer! And, all the monies will go to CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation. They are the ones who promise to "Reach The Day" when we have a cure for all the Sweetie Children's Cancer!

I have a busy week planned out!

Tomorrow is Halloween!!!
BBBBOOOOOHHHHAAAAAAHHHH!!!!

I am going to the Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain “Hallejah Festival”!!
It is the most greatest fun that a kid can have!
They have music, games and tons of CANDY!!
I am bringing my friend Juleah too! We are gonna have a great time! I can’t wait!

Well, I have been super busy this past two weeks too!

Sunday before last, I went to the CURE “Off Treatment” Party at Six Flags!!
I saw tons of my friends!
And, I had a superfantabulous time! I am still talking about it to my mom!
It was just incredible, more than I could imagine!
I had a great time, even riding some of the very scary roller-coasters!
THANK YOU CURE CHILD HOOD CANCER!!

Then, I went to the Camp Sunshine “Fall Festival” last Sunday.
It was superfantabulous too! I saw all my friends and we has a just a great time!
Sometimes, I just miss my friends from clinic and am sad that not all of them can be there. But we had a great time! And, my mom has pictures that she is gonna try to get put on the web page soon.

This past Thursday night was the “Moon Light Madness” at the Kroger near us down the street. I got all dressed up and my mom taked me down there to play some games for my school. The Centerville Elementary school raised money for the Relay Team! It was a great time! My mom has more pictures and she is gonna try to get them put up soon. (I promise!)

And, I made it to church today too!
I was not scared one bit! My mom was just shocked that I went right into the class and gave her a kiss bye---I did not beg her to stay or cry to go home! I had a great time too! This is the first time in almost two years that my mom didn’t have to sit with me in my Bible Study room. She has been so great to come sit with me each Sunday because I feel so icky-sicky or am just too scared to be there without her, or my legs hurt too badly, or my back hurts too badly, or I feel like my head is gonna throw-up! I went to the class room not scared and she got to go to Bible Study all by herself!

I still have not found a kitty yet.
My mom’s friend we went to see had the kitty’s but they are too scared for me to touch them! They are kinda big too. My mom teld me we are going to try again maybe next week.

But next week too, my mom is also going to take me to a Art Show. She has a friend who is an artist that she knows from a long, long time ago. We are going to try to make it for next Saturday morning! It sounds like fun!!

And, oh yeah! Next week is NOVEMBER!!
My mom and me take down all our Halloween decorations and start to put up the Christmas decorations!
We just love to get ready for Christmas! I can’t wait!! It is going to be great!

Don’t forget that on Friday, November 4th, I have my next Clinic Appointment.
It is for 2:30pm. My mom is calling to be sure there are “no surprises” in store for me. I don’t want any arm pokes that I don’t know about!

I can’t remember if I tell’ed you that my brother Roe is having surgery?
Please keep my brother Roe in your prayers for this Wednesday.
He had fallen down some stairs and severed tendons in his shoulder that the doctor is going to put back together for him. Even though he does not live with me, I am worried about him. I am really hoping that he gets better soon!

My Aunt Rhonda is down in Fort Lauderdale with no electricity. The Hurricane Wilma went through that city and wiped out all the power poles. She said they will not get their power turned on until November 22nd. Right now, they are taking cold showers and all the people on her street are sharing what food they have. She teld my mom that one neighbor was sharing his generator and that they might get another one by tomorrow.
Please say prayers that she stays well and does not get sick because she has had lots of surgeries and has problems with asthma and breathing good. I hear my mom talking to her every night on the phone to check up on her and the rest of her family. I can tell that my mom is scared----even though she doesn’t tell me herself.

AND!
On Tuesday night, November 15th is the Camp Sunshine Thanksgiving Dinner!
I am hoping that I can see all my friends come for a great food and night of family 0sharing! It was just wonderful last year!

Thanks again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece.
It means more than you can ever know. Well, maybe you know!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!
And I know that because I have so many friends and families that are up in Heaven and talk to me all the time.
I have a very new friend up in Heaven too.
My friend Jaerah that I know from the LightHouse Family Retreat and Clinic became a Angel in Heaven back on the 19th. I really, really hate Cancer. I just really hate it.

Please pray for my other friend from the LightHouse and clinic who has learned that her Cancer is back. Haley is going to begin the fight again this week. Her family needs all the prayers for support that they can get, so please send them over!

Well, I’m gonna skoot!
It’s past my bedtime, and it’s worser with the time changing! My little body thinks that 8:00pm is really 9:00pm! YIKES!! I can’t stay awake that long!

Lots of hugs to you!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

========================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
I have a ‘new normal’ life now.
I can never stop the worry the Cancer is coming back.
I even talk about my funeral with my mom.
The worry is smaller than it was, but I can’t stop it. I hate that I can’t stop worrying about it!


BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Wow---this is gonna be tough because there is so much great going on for me!
I think it has to be the kindness of all my friends!
I’ve been kinda sad this month, but my friends have been doing so much to try to keep me going and stay happy! Especially my Angel Angela and my Angel Penny!
I love you guys!!
(….and my mom loves you too!)

:-)

Sunday, October 23, 2005 9:30 AM CDT

DON'T FORGET!!!

FALL FESTIVAL AT CAMP SUNSHINE HOUSE FROM 2:00 TO 5:00PM TODAY!!

CALL FOR DETAILS!
(or follow the link below!)

See ya there!!

:-)

==============================
Wednesday, October 19, 2005 9:30 PM CDT

One, two, buckle my shoe.
Three, four, fall down on the floor.
Five, six, watch out for the tricks!
Seven, eight, I'll tell it to you straight!
Nine, Ten, I'm back updating again!!
(back to back days! Wow!!)

Ha!Ha!
That was a great fun rhyme!
But, my mom helped out a whole lot!
Member? I am just only six and just learning how to read and spell most two, three or four letter words!
.....but just watch me!......


HELLO PEOPLE!

I know I just updated last night, but I forgot to add some important stuff for you to read about.

Now, I'm not telling you what to do or how to spend your time and money, but there are lots of things that you can do to help fight the Stupid Cancer that comes to us Sweetie Children.

One of the things that you can do is have fun!
Yep!
I said "Have Fun"!!
For any of you people that plays the golf games, there are lots of Fall Turn-A-Mints that are going to have tons of fun! And, oh yeah, play some golf too!

One of them is the "CureSearch Hayley Thomson Challenge" that will be held Monday, November 14 at Cherokee Country Club. You can get more information about the fun for my friend Hayley, now a Angel in Heaven at Hayley's Golf Turn-A-Mint.
Just think!
You might could get to play with Tom Glavine! (He plays baseball! I love baseball!)
And all the monies will go to CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation. They are the ones who promise to "Reach The Day" when we have a cure for all the Sweetie Children's Cancer!

I have a busy weekend planned out!
My mom and me are going to visit a kitty friend and her four babies to see if any of them want to come home and live with me! I am so excited, that I could just about scream!
I'm not sure when I could get one, but I can't wait to play with them!

And Sunday I go to the Camp Sunshine Fall Festival!
I get to dress up in my Halloween Costume and just have tons of fun!
I can't wait to see all my friends!
We are gonna have a super time!

And, please say prayers for my Aunt Rhonda and her family. They live in Ft. Lauderdale. I listened to my mom telling her to board up her home and come drive up here to Atlanta until the Hurricane Wilma is finished going through the state of Florida. But, I think she is gonna stay down there. I would really love to see my Aunt Rhonda and her family---it would be a super treat! Please say prayers that they stay safe.

And finally, I have a great friend who has been feeling sick for a couple of weeks. Ryan is in the hospital over at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. He has been having problems with his tummy and feels really crummy. Please send prayers to his family so they get great news pretty quick.

And, finally, really, finally, my mom has me to say that I have been running a small fever off and on over the past few days. I only mentioned it because today at the Montisorri School, Miss Michelle taked my temperature and the fever was 100! WOW! But, it went away before my mom came to pick me up.
I just hate those "Phantom Fevers"......yep. Don't like 'em.
But, I don't have any other problems going on, except the bruising from the low platelets. And, I'm so use to that, it's no big deal anymore.
It's nothing like the bruising I get when my platelets go under "20".

Now....if my teeth bleed when I brush them....NOW that is something to sit up and take notice!

That is how my mom could always tell if I needed platelet transfusions. She is so funny! She would always tell me to go brush my teeth----and if the blood seeped out around the bottom of them, that meant I needed the platelets and we were off to the hospital!
Now....I have not needed platelets in almost two years and it's no big deal to have low counts unless my teeth bleed! Who would have thought?!

But, thanks again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!






===========================
Tuesday, October 18, 2005 11:22 PM CDT

HELLO PEOPLE!

I just wanted to send a quick update to let everyone know that my good platelet count is no more inside me.

For some goofy reason, I have tons of bruises all over my legs, again!
I am so busy and play so much, I can't help running into stuff!
And with low platelets, even bumping into a chair makes a dark purple mark the size of a dime on my leg!

But, my mom is pretty convinced that it is the Bactrim that I have to take to prevent the new-moan-ya from coming to my lungs. She 'accidently' forgot to give it to me last weekend while at Camp SunShine and I had no bruises at all!
:-)

If they get worser, I will let you know!

Thanks for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece!
You guys have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Lots of hugs to you!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!



==========================
Thursday, October 13, 2005 10:22 PM CDT

There was an old lady who lived in a shoe,
And she hogged up all the computer time, too!
She worked on school homework, it took forever all week!
Then FINALLY she finished, and her child got time to speak!
And updated her web page for you!

Ha!Ha!
I don't live in a shoe....and my mom is not "old" either. But I thought that rhyme sounded really good!

=======================================

HELLO PEOPLE!

I can't believe that my mom was hogging up all the computer time to do school homework! What is she thinking?

I am actually just joking-----because I LOVE SCHOOL!!!
But seriously, my mom needs her "own" computer and needs to stop hogging up mine! (mom---do you get the hint?)

See the picture up top?
That is a picture that I taked of me and Jordan at the Camp Sunshine Family Camp over this past weekend!
I had a superfantabulous time!
My mom has updated all the pictures, but it was hard for me to pick the ones to use up. My mom takes so many of them!

But, I need to update everyone on my visit to the clinic this past Friday.
After a day of driving and swapping out the rental cars because our car has been in the shop, I finally made it up to the clinic at Scottish Rite.

Then, there was a big mix-up about my testing.
I heard my mom talking and I think I was suppose to get my arm stuck with a big needle!! YIKES!!!!
I was not ready for that!

So, they did a finger poke and still ran a bunch of tests.
One of them was for a "retic".

Now, I'm not sure what that does or what the heck it means.
Dr. B came back into the room holding the paper and said that my blood tests came back "very interesting". He said that I was "hyper", but that we already knew that, right?
Ha! He is so funny!

He showed my mom the paper of the tests numbers, but we don't know how to read the crazy thing! He said that my red blood cells are "hyper" and that they are holding lots of the red stuff (or iron maybe?), about 3 times what they should be. My mom was wondering if it might be 'iron overload', but Dr. B didn't seem to be too worried, so we are not worried either!

I think he said we would check it again next month to see if it changes.

AND---The great news is that my platelets jumped way up to "233"!!!
WOOOHOOOOO!!!
Talk about yelling---my mom almost did a little dance!
She told Dr.B that she was holding her breath for the last five months----and now she could breathe again!

My other blood counts are:

WBC: 7.79
HCT: 36.9
HGB: 12.9
Platelets: 233
Weight: 51.7
Height:

I know the white blood count is high....higher than I had thought it would be. That is bothersome, but just a little. Remember now, the white cells can go as high as 12 and still be 'normal'.

AND-----The other thing at clinic that was great is that I have reflexes again!
Another WOOOHOOOO!!!

Since taking the "Mean Christine" Vincristine chemo, I have not had the reflexes in my legs for over two years. Dr. B had teld my mom that I would not get them back for at least a year off the treatment. He said that the "Mean Christine" Vincristine affects the muscles so badly that it takes a long time to get them back to working again.

But not me!

You should have see'd Dr. B face when he saw that my knee moved when he tapped on it!

He was shocked! He said he had not ever see'd a Cancer Kid get muscle tone back so fast like me! He asked me if I was using the "Wee Workout" tape that I got from my Dance teacher, Miss Linda. I told him "yes"! It has been working great! (and of course, the PE!)

He had me walk around the room....then walk on my tiptoes....then walk on my heels........then walk some more.....then he pushed and pulled on my legs---mostly the right side of me (that side is still weak).
He just could not believe the changes!

And, I got the stupid Flu Shot!
THAT HURT BADLY!
I screamed and cried lots!

And then my mom and me left the bag of surprises that we had taken up to the clinic for the Treasure Closet. There are all kinds of toys on the shelves for the kids to pick from when they get the badly back pokes or hip pokes or the double PEG shots!

And this weekend is the CURE Childhood Cancer celebration for "Off Treatment"!! It is at Six Flags on Sunday! I can't wait! I am so excited---I have never, ever, never been to Six Flags and I just can't stand it!
It is going to be so much fun---I can't wait!
I get to see most all my friends who have stopped treatment! We are going to have so much fun!

Well, I have to run.
It's late and I have to get to bed.
Tomorrow is Friday, the last day of school for the week.
I love school, but I love Friday's even more!

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers for us to get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece! It has helped us so much, more than you can imagine! I know that you all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

========================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Ha! That is 'no brainer'!
The FLU SHOT---of course!
That hurt like crazy!---I mean, what do think we kids are? They use a needle that is the same size that was used on my mom's Flu Shot! I mean really, get some kid size needles please!!! (well, they LOOKED like mom size needles!)

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Okay now, another easy 'no brainer'!
The CURE people!!
CURE Childhood Cancer!!
I just love you guys!

Friday, October 6, 2005 7:22 PM CDT

WOW!!
MY PLATELETS ARE 233 TODAY!!!
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN THAT HIGH SINCE MAY!
I don't know what's happening, but I like it!
I'll update more later.
I'm off to Camp Sunshine Family Camp!

==================
Thursday, October 6, 2005 9:22 PM CDT

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
I L-O-V-E Halloween!
I bet you do too!
........................
(booowhhhaaaaaaa!!!)
Did I scare you?
That was fun!
Wait till next time!

=====================================

HELLO PEOPLE!

I wanted to update to let you know that I am going to clinic tomorrow!

I'm kinda scared because I get a Flu Shot!

YIKES!

My mom got her shot on Tuesday, after coming to eat lunch with me. I got to leave school and sit with her while she got her shot at the Kroger Flu Shot Clinic.
I held her hand really good---she did really good!
So, now tomorrow, my mom is gonna hold my hand!

We are gonna cheat and put the EMLA cream on my leg and cover it up with the "Glad-Press-N-Seal". That way, it won't hurt me so badly. So, I'm not too scared about it.
I think Nurse Mary will let me pick from the Treasure Box too! That is gonna be just great!

And tomorrow night, we go to Camp Sunshine Family Camp!
I can't wait!
I get to play with all my friends---we are gonna have a superfantabulous time! YIPPEE!!!
I promise to update with my counts for just a quick note. My appointment is at 1:00pm, so that gives me time (I think?) to run by home and let you guys know how things went.

I might get to see Keegan tomorrow too! His mom said he had clinic at 11:00, so he might still be stucked at the clinic by the time I get up there!

And....I'm going by my Aunt Kelley's new Frame Shop tomorrow!
My mom and me are off school and work, so we have lots of errands planned. In between packing for Camp, we have to squeeze in errands all over the place!

WOW! I forgot to update you guys on what I did this past weekend!
My mom was so great, she taked me to see the North Georgia Indian Festival!
It was so great----I just loved it!

Sadly, I didn't go the Road Atlanta Petite LeMans with the LightHouse Family Retreat. My mom had hurt her knee and it was still hurting her to walk on it. But, I also found out that Melinda was busy in Florida and would not be there to have fun with me! I did not want to go if Miss Melinda wasn't gonna be there!

But...I did get to go to Jacey's birthday party later on Saturday afternoon!
My mom and me got lost! It was so funny!
She could not find the Swim Atlanta place!
I got there kinda late, but still swam for a few minutes and ate great cake! It was delicious!
I was surprised how much fun you can have getting lost!
We just laughed and laughed about going around in circles!

And!
I lost ANOTHER tooth!
Wow, they are falling out all over the place!
BUT--there was no root on it, so my mom says 'Not to Worry!'....Miss Paula said if the teeth don't have any roots on them, it's okay and not to worry. When you lose a tooth and it has roots on it, that is when you have to worry!
But....it is kind of strange that I have lost 6 teeth since coming off the chemotherapy.
Kind of strange, huh?

Well, I have to skoot!
Thank you so much for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece! You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

:-)

========================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: Taking the ikky tasting Bactrim each weekend! That stuff is just about enough to make you puke!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: I only have two words-----
CAMP SUNSHINE!!!!

Friday, September 30, 2005 10:39 PM CDT

Heaven has a new Angel.

My mom is part of a huge family.
The family is all about parents who have kids with the same sick blood as me. All the mom's and dad's type letters and make notes on the computer.
It's really great!
If you have a problem, you can post a note on the computer and somebody will make an answer for it.
It's really great!
The family is HUGE!!
It is all over the planet!
My mom talks to parents from England, Canada, Japan, South America, Spain and Australia, just to name a few places!
And all us kids have the stupid Cancer Leukemia.

One family of friends live in Maryland.
Their little girl got the sick blood and did really good with the treatments.
She was doing great for 16 months after finishing her chemo.
She had no Cancer that the doctor's could find inside of her.
She was in Second Grade.
Back in May, she had lots of pain in her legs to show up.
The Cancer was back.
She had a bone marrow transplant and her little sister gave her the special blood that replaced all the bad, sick blood.
The little girl got really sick and she couldn't breath without machines.
The doctor's made tests and found out that she would never get better.
The machines stopped helping her to breathe yesterday.
My friend Clare became a Angel in Heaven yesterday.

She is a beautiful Princess in Heaven.

Please go by her 'gess book' and leave good words for her mom and dad to help them get through this sadly time without their sweetie Clare. I know they would love to read good notes! Please tell them that Madie sent you! I know that all you "Angel Stranger" friends will love to help out!

I hate cancer.
I HATE CANCER.
I H-A-T-E C-A-N-C-E-R.

Hey!
Did I tell you that I just hate Cancer?!

Lots of hugs and bunches of love!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug.
---------------------------------
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: I hate that there is no cure for the stupid Cancer. About 2 out of every 10 kids with the Stupid Cancer Leukemia "ALL" like I have will not make it to be a grown adult with a family of their own. We are close, but there is no cure.

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: Seeing so many people love Clare's mommy and daddy by writing notes to them to keep forever. That is pure love for each other.


======================
Monday, September 26, 2005 10:05 PM CDT

I see that my mom always started with a rhyme.
They weren’t very long and had just the right line.
This update is not mom, but is from me!
From your great friend, little Miss Madie!

(Ha! That was fun!)
==================================
Hello People!

Well….my mom has been hogging up all the computer time and updating my webpage, huh? She writes good, but I write gooder!
She leaves out the good parts of all the stuff I do, but she is my mom.
So, I’m here to update you on the last week of stuff that has been going on for me.

Today is Monday. For some strange reason, I don’t have school today or tomorrow.
What’s up with that??
I am mad----I don’t get my PE now! I love school and I don’t like it when I don’t get to go. My mom says that the Governor is trying to save money on gasoline to run the schools, but I’m not sure this is a great idea.
I really don’t like change, and I was up three times last night. I was so worried!
What is gonna happen to Ms. Wallace, my teacher? Where is she now?

My mom is trying to help me stay calm and not to worry.
But, I can’t help it.
I worry a lot. Most especially when things don’t go according to what they are suppose to go! Which means, don’t go changing things on me!

My Aunt Sara has been here helping me and my get our house all beautiful.
We had the best time shopping for some fabric for new kitchen curtains and seat cushions. She is even going to make me my Halloween Costume! I am going to be the most beautiful Princess that you have ever see’d before!

Before I update any more, please go by another beautiful Princess and leave some good words in her “Guess book” to help her get all better. My friend Clare had a bone marrow transplant not to long ago. She is having problems with her lungs and needs all the prayers that you guys can send over! Please take a minute to go by and visit. Her mom and dad need some hugs right now. I really appreciate it!

Well, you are not gonna believe it but I have a backyard now!
For my family and friends who know me, you guys know that the back yard has been all woods and very tall bushes, right? Well, my mom got a small loan from the bank and she used it to get the back yard all cleared out! It looks totally different! She tooked pictures of me with Mr. Brooks from Brooks Tree Service who did all the work. And it was a lot of work, believe me! I can’t wait to swing and run around on the grass that is gonna be growing pretty soon. Right now, it’s just a bunch of dirt---so you have to close your eyes and pretend that everything is all fixed up! I can’t wait!

Another great thing that I did was to go to JumpZone last weekend!
Boy! Was it so much fun!
It was for my friend, Brandon Connor. He had a birthday party there! It was just fantastic. I even got my mom to slide down one of the great big slides!

Another great thing that I did was go to the Gwinnett County Fair this past week too!
My mom got home and picked me up around 6:00pm. We went with my Aunt Sara and met my friend Julia with her mom over there a little bit past 7:00pm.
My mom said it was “meant to be” because we ran into another little girl who was so sad. She had on a scarf to cover her head because she had no hair. My mom talked to her Grandmother, and found out that she goes to my clinic! She see’s Dr. Lew and has the same sick Cancer Blood as me!
My mom gave her tons of information about Camp Sunshine and our phone numbers----she tell’ed her to call and start coming! I hope I get to see her!
Having Cancer is not fun---it is very horrible and scary!
But, we rode so many rides and just screamed, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed! It felt GREAT!!!!!
My mom even rode some of the rides too!
We had a superfantabulous time! It was AWESOME!!


Did you know that this month is CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS month?
Well, it is!
And I have not been able to update to let everyone know about the great work that Chili’s is doing for us kids! They have a program that you can go by and create a Chili Pepper and make a donation for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. It is wonderful!
Please take a minute to go by and see what you can do!

Well, I also have to update to say that I have a tooth that is so loose…..it is just about to fall out hanging on by just a tiny thread! I can’t believe that I am growing so much!
I even have my great big six-year old molars coming in too! They make me feel kinda weird. My mom says that teeth can make you feel all kinds of strange things in your head. Lots of time, I feel hot.

Last week, I felt so hot, I swore that I had a fever!
I got to the Nurse’s clinic and saw Nurse Diedre.
She called my mom. But, I did not have any fever. But I just knew that I did! I tell’d my mom that just because the thermometer did not say I had a fever, it didn’t mean that I didn’t. (does that make sense?) I felt really hot---but it was just because I WAS hot! My mom thinks it is my teeth again!

Anyways, my mom wanted me to update everybody and say that I am eating really good and growing tall! My foot has grown again---and now my size 12 shoes don’t fit me anymore! YUKKKKK!!! I just got those new shoes! Now, I can’t even get my big toe in them!
I am so sad----and mad!
All those beautiful shoes have to go to Goodwill. (sigh……)
But, my mom says that some little girl will be very happy to get them! She will give them a good home!

And, just in time, my mom taked me shopping over the weekend and we found some new sandals that were put out on clearance! You can’t beat beautiful sandals for $3, can you? And, my mom was so sweet too! She got me the “cowgirl” boots at Old Navy yesterday!
Yeeeeha!
I just love them!

AND!!
You are not gonna believe this!
But, I found my wonderful “Mary Kate and Ashley” brown boots! They are just awesome! They are my favorite pair of boots that I out-grew last year!
Wal-mart had them. I have a pair, and they are sitting in my closet waiting for the weather to turn cold!
I can’t wait!

So, I guess it is good that I am growing. But, I just don’t like it that I grow so much so fast!

And last, my mom wanted me to update and say that my platelets must be doing great!
All the bruises have gone away from my legs!! You won’t believe it!
She talked to my wonderful Kroger Pharmacist (Miss Ann!) and she looked up the Bactrim that I take each weekend. It said that it can make my platelets run down to low numbers! Imagine that!
And, I also need something called “Folic Acid” along with B-12 to make the platelets grow more. My mom has been making me eat breakfast each day, which I just hate! I am so scared to death that I am gonna just throw up all over the place! I mean, hey! For the last three years, every morning I would sit up in the bed and just about puke all over the place! I had two Easter buckets that sat at my head, it was that bad!
And now my mom wants me to eat breakfast?
You can just forget it! No way am I gonna put something in my tummy to just have it come right back up!

But----my mom made me eat!
She got mad and said that I had to try, no matter what!
We started out with tiny drinks of milk.
Then, she gave me my Calcium Bears to eat.
Then, she gave me wheat toast to eat.

And now, my tummy is doing much better.
And, it even helps me with my school!
I can sit and hear Ms. Wallace without running to see Nurse Diedre each day!

And, I have not throw-ed up yet! Yeah!!!
Maybe I’m not gonna get sick after all?

I’m just so glad that the terrible bruises on my legs have gone away!
That is so fantastic!!!

Well, this weekend on Saturday, October 1st is the Chili Pepper Racing Team sponsoring the Light House Family Retreat at Road Atlanta’s “Petit LeMans”!! I just love this race!!
If you are a Cancer Family and want to join us at 9:00am on Saturday, please contact Robin at the LightHouse as soon as you can! You can email or call my mom for more information.

And, I have a birthday party on Saturday afternoon too!
My Cousin Jacey is turning 6! It’s a “swim party”----and I just love the pool!

Well, I also have to tell you that my mom has been having a tough time with all the stuff that has been going on for my older brothers. Did I tell you that my Bubba Rhyne even got hurt at work the other day? He had a socket fly off the air gun and hit him in the face! It broke his nose----he had to have stitches too. And, my Bubba Roe cut his foot and it got super infected. His foot swelled up to the size of a basket-ball and the doctor almost put him in the hospital! She was very scared that the antibiotics were not working and he might lose his foot! I think I heard my mom say that he is doing much better. We hope to go see him one day this week.

I go to Camp Sunshine Family Camp on the October 7th! I can’t wait!
That is just the best fun on the planet, for sure!
And, October 16th is the CURE Childhood Cancer “Off Treatment” Party!!
I can’t wait to see all my friends that are “off treatment” out there at Six Flags Over Georgia!! It is going to be just fantastic!

Thank you guys for checking up on me and my mom!
We really, really appreciate it.
As you can see, it has been a very terrible few weeks for us and we have been worrying ourselves sick.
Thank you so much for all the prayers, good thoughts and healing words that you have been sending to us!
You guys all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug! (aka….Pumpkin Girl!)

=================================================

WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: I don’t like that I got to have tons of shoes before while on chemo because I was not growing. Now, in just a few short months, my foot has grow’ed from a size 11 to a size 13.5 and even a 1! All those shoes had to get given away! RATS!!!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA: This has to be getting to ride in the Pace Car at the Petit LeMans! Did I tell you that I just love cars???? I do!!
VVVRRRROOOOOMMMMM!!!
The faster, the better!

Monday, September 19, 2005 10:23 PM CDT

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
This update is mom---Not Madie at all!
At times it is crazy, and even bizarre.
Just a tiny small peek at who we really are!

=====================================

Hello People!

You will notice that I updated and changed pictures on the webpage.
I take so many pictures now…..it’s difficult to find just the right ones to post!
Lots of times, the decision is based on the writing for the day.

For some reason, I have struggled with this writing for over a week.
Maybe it is just being short of time?
Could it be that my brain is too jumbled with work related worries?
Tonight, I think I have settled on the excuse that the past week has been an intense struggle for me to come up for air from the bottom of a murky pit of mire and despair.
Dark….thick……muck. The kind that wraps around you and sucks close to your skin and shoes. Like quicksand, the more you struggle the deeper you sink.

It’s not like me…..not like me at all!
I hate it.

Our good friend Brandon’s birthday party yesterday was the jolt that catapulted me up over the thick mucky substance that I was struggling to become free of.
Some of it still remains stuck to me. But, I’m trying to get it off.

Brandon’s party was at a place called "JumpZone".
If you have never been, let me describe it for you.
Imagine that you are shrunk down to kid size again and someone told you that it is okay to jump on the bed!

Wow!

Now, imagine that someone just told you that it is okay for you to jump on all the beds at the Mattress Showroom!

Whoa!

Wait! I’m not done yet!

Imagine that someone builds a two-story slide out of soft beds and you zoom down it, only to land in a pile of soft bedding!
Do you get the picture yet?

Of course the place is loud.
Kids are screaming, squealing, laughing, running and it appears to be total chaos. Except there is a method in this madness.

Madie had convinced me to climb the huge behemoth of a slide that was made to look like a fire truck hook and ladder.
I remember thinking how silly I must look----but she was begging and pulling me to go with her. She was talking ninety-to-nothing….I could barely hear her. My ears were pounding. I dare not look down! No! Don’t look down! Mom! Slide with me! Come’on! Slide now! No! You go first! MOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

And then she was gone!

She had let go of my hand and I saw her slip away.
I couldn’t grab her.
I couldn’t stop her.
She had left me.
I was alone at the top.
I could hear my own heart pounding so loudly in my chest. I was scared. I was stuck! Only one way out!

I looked up and out over the huge warehouse.
It was so far down. I just couldn’t do it. My chest hurt.
But, I had to.

The next second I had let go and was falling at the speed of about 50 miles an hour (or so it felt). I remember screaming, but it was muffled and merged into all the other screams at that one moment in time inside the building.

Madie met me at the bottom.
She was so excited that I had been on the slide with her. She started to talk ninety-to-nothing again….but I have to admit that I did not hear her. My heart was still pounding, pounding so loudly in my chest that I thought it would explode!
I was so excited!
I had gone down that stupid slide! And it was so high up!
I had been scared out of my mind.
So…..this is what it’s like to be a kid?
I had let myself forgot how much fun it was to have fun!

Madie was pulling me to my feet and breathlessly asking to “go again”! But, we heard the announcement that Brandon’s party was called for cake and ice cream. We raced over to the Party Room, still laughing and screaming from the fall we had just taken.

It was exactly what I had needed for the past week.
You see, for the past week I had been weeping. I had been sobbing, inside. I was slowly coming apart at the seams, struggling to find a way to keep it all together.
I bet you didn't see me doing that, did you?
I felt like pieces of me were falling off, tiny bits at time. I was frantically trying to find them and stick them back on to me.
They were peeling off of me faster than I could rub them back on!
Like jello starting to melt.
A great big blob of goo.

The Saturday before last was the “Quiet Hero’s” lunch that was given to honor mom’s (and dad’s) of children in the Atlanta area who were fighting or who had been fighting Childhood Cancer.
It was a beautiful event.

I met lots and lots of mom’s that I have come to know and love through the AFLAC clinic, Camp Sunshine, the LightHouse Family Retreat and CURE. We are a close bunch.
Like a Fraternity, once you join you never leave. And, like a Fraternity, bonds of sisterhood take shape that no amount of welding can bend or break.
Maybe it’s that crazy duck? AAAFLAAAAAAAAC!
Madie loves her crazy duck.
We all love that crazy duck.

But, I have to go back even further to the Friday before the lunch.

That Friday, I had taken Madie into the clinic for her monthly checkup and blood work.
Once again, the stupid platelet number for Madie had fallen.
As you know, Dr. B and I had talked about it. He said that “Madie is all done with Cancer!”
Now, it’s not that I don’t believe him.
Totally, of course I believe him!
He believes her numbers are great. He is not worried at all about the numbers going down from earlier months. He thinks it could be anything.

Now me……I’m worried.

I’m a Business Analyst and by nature, I over analyze everything!
Most especially, I will over analyze my daughter who is fighting off a Cancer Monster that can take her life away.

And, as a Business Analyst, I realize that blood counts are a finite number.
When blood counts drop, they will eventually reach zero.
I know that Madie can not continue on this slide of falling platelets, no matter enticing the ride might be.
I hope and pray that it is just her bone marrow, trying to find a new number for her.
Perhaps it is this last count of 157? Perhaps it needs to go a bit lower? Perhaps it will go a bit higher?
I am praying that next month we go back in and the platelet numbers will be back up to 190! Or, Heaven forbid---Maybe in the 200’s again?! Like before! Or, maybe even in the 300’s!! WOW! And, she has been in the 300’s before. I would have to look in her journal history, but she has.

So, there you have it.
My brain was stunned and reeling with the information that Madie’s platelets had nose-dived once again. That entire Friday night I was paralyzed with fear. I had to be extra careful that Madie did not detect any holes in my stories or glimpse a single tear coming from my eye.
She is sharp as a tack and will see through any ruse!
I just can’t have her worry----she has a tough job as it is.
I was spinning every brain cell grasping for reasons of “why” these platelets numbers constantly sliding down could not be the Cancer Leukemia coming back.

I was not being one-hundred-percent successful.

On Saturday morning, I drove over to Lenox Square for the “Quiet Hero’s” lunch.
This lunch began as an idea from Chris Glavine. Yes, she is the wife of Tom Glavine. The Glavine’s have infused the fight for Childhood Cancer in so many ways, you would not believe. God is working in that family---he is helping them to move mountains.
Chris and my friend, Kristin Connor planned the “Quiet Hero” lunch.

I was over-whelmed.
Actually, I was stunned.
It was breath-taking.
Great care had been taken in everything---down to the tiniest details.
I felt like Royalty.
I choked back tears with each friend and mom that I met.

I was so excited to see Christina Lilig. She has done awesome work with “Cancer Warriors”. We spoke briefly---we are both worried about a relapse in our little girls. She recently received great news that Ashley continues to be in remission.
I say prayers for small miracles each day.

It was a wonderful lunch!
While trying to eat the delectible food set before me, Chris and Kristen had arranged for guest speakers.

That day, Linda Armstrong spoke about her son, Lance. She talked about his fight with Cancer and how they never gave up hope.

Lesa Scott spoke about her daughter, Alex. Alex had a drive for life and a fighting spirit that reminded me so much of my little Madie Rylee-bug.
Lesa spoke with such gentleness of spirit and pure love for her child.
It was an heroic battle.
I glanced over and noticed that the waiters were fighting their own tears as she spoke of her high-spirited child.

I watched and listened to this wonderful lunch. Just a quick break in the huge span of time during this horrifying battle. I watched the work of these passionate and caring women to come to life.
These woman brought our kids closer to a cure for the horrible Cancer that ravages their little bodies and steals their childhood.

I watched mountains being moved.

Another family I know that is trying to climb the highest mountain that any of us can attempt is Clare’s family. They are from my “on line” family of Cancer Kids. Our group is all over the planet and we all share our lives together. We all have one thing in common----Cancer Leukemia has come to our children. Clare had a bone marrow transplant a little over 50 days ago. Sadly, Clare developed problems with her lungs and she is in PICU on an ECMO machine. Please go by her webpage and leave good words of encouragement for her parents.
The waiting is so horrible.
The waiting gnaws away at your courage and resolve----but we have to be steadfast and strong. Words mean so much when that is all you have.

Leaving the "Quiet Hero's" lunch, I was overwhelmed.
I walked to my car, unlocked the door, slowly pulled myself inside and shut the door.
The silence was calming.
My brain was reeling from being bombarded with yet another story of a child who had lost the Cancer fight.

I can't remember the drive home.
My hands were shaking.
My legs were shaking.

I think all the things that had happened to me in the past four months all swirled together and created a Hurricane inside my head the likes of which I had never seen.
Rachel's death.
Ethan's death.
Madie's platelets falling.
It was too much.

I limped through the week, coming apart.
I was seeping....oozing.....losing sanity.
There seemed to be no escape from the sadness that had taken up residence in my heart and head.

Then, God sent me to Brandon's party!
God's "Perfect Timing"!
Being scared out of mind on the slide at Brandon’s Birthday Party jolted me out of my fear and gave me my resolve back.
How strange.
It was Brandon’s party, but I was the one who got the greatest gift.
I need to be sure to tell Kristin that.

My sister Rhonda is preparing for yet another hurricane in her city.
She lives in Ft. Lauderdale.
They have prepared as best they can and are now waiting for the Hurricane Rita to see how much havoc she is going to wreak the next two days.
I spoke to her tonight and she said the stores have already been getting ready---the food is scarce.
Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers as our nation prepares for the onslaught of this next great hurricane.

So, again I have to leave you now.
Still clinging to Dr. B’s words that “she is all done with Cancer” and rationalizing all these other problems away into perfect explanations of other maladies.

I believe Dr. B.
But, I also believe that something has to be affecting Madie's platelets.
I am asking the pharmist if the Bactrim could be having an effect on them and make them sink like they are.
That has to be the only explanation for it. All her other counts are great! (for her!) and she looks so great! She does have some problems, but none so major that you can detect them unless you go looking for them!

Thank you so much for the prayers, good thoughts, Reiki, and any other distant healing that you are sending our way.
Like I said before, words mean so much when that is all you have.
You all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Madie's next clinic visit is October 7th.
That is also the day that we go to Camp Sunshine's Family Camp for the weekend! Yeah!!

We have Family night tomorrow night at Camp Sunshine House.
Madie and I both have huge healing during those nights.
We love the House.
I'm trying to squeeze in time for the Gwinnett County Fair---I know that Madie will love to go! She and I have never been, so that will be a huge treat for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend, Regina (mom to Madie Rylee-bug…a.k.a….Pumpkin Girl!)

===========================================

WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LUEKEMIA:
Worrying so much that you become paralyzed and afraid to do anything. Or worse, you become so scared that you want to do everything before it is all taken away from you!
And oh yeah…..the WAITING!! ..and more waiting!
(did I say that I hate the waiting???)

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Being able to witness pure childhood joy. In myself.

Friday, September 9, 2005 10:41 PM CDT

Hickory Dickery Dock.
An update from Madie, this is not!
All the King’s money, a hundred times ten,
Could not drag us back through to where we have been!

*************

Hello People!

Did you ever wonder where that opening greeting came from?
That is Madie’s most favorite greeting when she comes into a room.
When she steps into the classroom at her Daycare she shouts it out.
“Hello People!”
So full of life…..so cheerful…….so happy…….pure sunshine.

When every 18-month old in the room greets her back with tiny voices of "Maadeee"!.....it touches my heart.

I am humbled in her presence.

It can happen anywhere.
It can happen anytime.

Stepping through the doors at Kroger last night, it happened.
A woman was pushing her buggy cart out and we were on the way in to pick up a few items and some of Madie’s medicine.

Madie shouted “Your XX’s mom! Hi! Did she go to Steak-n-Shake?”

The woman was startled by Madie’s loud voice.
She said “yes…I am XX’s mom! I know you! You are Madie!”

Then she stopped and thought…..”No. We didn’t go to Steak-n-shake.”
Madie insisted.
Madie pointed to her own shirt, at the top left shoulder and said “Well, she had a sticker on her shirt today! I saw it!”.
The woman thought a moment..….”Yes! Yes, she did! It was a couple of night’s ago.”
We chatted for a few more seconds, but she had to go. The groceries were needing to be taken home pretty quick.

Madie said “bye”.
The woman said “bye”.

I didn't even have to be there.

Yes…….Madie talks to just about anyone. She has never met a stranger.
For those people who know her, they understand of what I speak.
She lights up the room.
Truly……..she lights up the darkest spot of any dark room.

Madie has a huge spirit and a driving force that can spark a coal into diamonds in the blink of an eye.
I have seen her screaming in pain from a spinal tap, begging for the torture to stop. Then an hour later she is skipping and dancing down the hallway on the way out of the clinic.
Pain? What pain? Oh that? Just a little, that’s all! Nothing to worry about!

Today at clinic, she found a new game.
The new game is called “Elephun”.
You put butterflies inside the Elephant and they blow up and out the trunk when you turn it on. The object is to catch the most butterflies with your net.
Madie cohersed me into playing, mostly because I was “the tallest” person who could hold the Elephant trunk straight.
I was “the tallest” because Madie’s magical voice had attracted the attention of several other kids who wanted to play. They left parents behind in observation rooms to come see. For ten minutes, these kids forgot they had cancer. They forgot they were getting poked and they forgot that blood was going to be taken out of them. They forgot they were getting chemo. They played like normal kids.

Until the parents had to come drag them back into the observation rooms with promises of more play. Nurses and doctor's were waiting, ever so patiently.

It brought back memories of when Madie would be in the Infusion Room for the day, all hooked up for blood transfusions. I remember one day in particular. She had convinced three other kids to play hide-and-seek. Now, the rules were that you could not look at the IV Poles. Madie even threw a white sheet over her pole!
It was so funny to watch! Kids running! Mom’s chasing behind them with IV poles so they wouldn’t pull out the lines!
Lots of giggling……lots of squealing.
“Ha! I found you!”
Now that was a “Kodak Moment”.
Actually, that was a “Madie Moment”.

I love it that I have thousands of those “Madie Moments”.
There is not enough time or paper for all of them!

Now…..let’s see……What a week……what a week…….what a week.

My son Rhyne was in a car wreck Wednesday night.
Someone ran into him as he was trying to turn into our subdivision.
How crazy is that? People are in too much hurry today.
I had to watch the paramedics take him out of his car and buckle him onto a flat board so he would not injure his neck and back any more.
Madie was a nervous wreck. She did not want Rhyne out of her sight and became very angry at me when I did not leave right away to follow the ambulance as they took Rhyne to the hospital emergency room.

I was so calm----Rhyne was so calm.
It was kinda eerie.
We have been through so much worse, this was just like a minor splinter compared to the wounds we have suffered before.
Maybe because there was no blood gushing or life-threatening trauma?
Just caution......steady and slow.

The paramedics were super wonderful and took great care with him.
Steady and slow.
Our wonderful neighbor Brad was to drive Rhyne's beloved Honda Hatchback back to our house.
I think Rhyne was more worried about his car than his back!

Once at the hospital, we only had to wait a few minutes before we got to see Rhyne.
He was doing better because the doctor gave him some pain medicine and then he was going for an Xray of his back and neck.

Madie knows about Xrays!
I think she would glow in the dark if I ever turned out all the lights in the room at night!

The hospital staff was wonderful. They took great care of him.
Thankfully, nothing was broken.
Rhyne is just having lots of back pain, which is to be expected.
I understand that back pain can be the worst.
Ouch-----that is all I can say.

And, before I update you guys on Madie’s blood count results, I want to post a note about our friend Clare. She is from our “on line” family of Cancer Kids. Our group is all over the planet and we all share our lives together. We all have one thing in common----Cancer Leukemia was diagnosed in our children. Isn’t that a terrible club to belong to? But, it is a great support network. Anyway, the “Stupid Cancer” came back to Clare and she had a bone marrow transplant a little over 50 days ago. Sadly, Clare developed problems with her lungs and she is in PICU. Please go by her webpage and leave good words for her parents. And, oh yeah, if you have a prayer or two extra----please throw them over in her direction. Waiting is horrible.

And boy, do I know about the waiting!

And, so you don’t have to wait anymore, here are Madie’s counts from the clinic today:


WBC: 4.62 (was 5.04) Normal is 4.5-13.5
HGB: 12.7 (was 13.3) Normal is 11.5-15.5
MCH: 30.3 (was 31.0) Normal is 25.0-31.0)
Platelet: 157 (was 176) Normal is 175-525
Plt Volume: 6.3 (was 6.6) Normal is 7.1-9.2
ANC: 2280 (was 2770) Normal is over 2,000
Height: 112.7 (was 111.3cm)
Temp: 99.7 (was 99.5)
Weight: 50.2 (was 49.2)

I know in the past, I have mentioned counts from the Snellville Pediatrics.
I said that we can’t compare numbers from the CHOA clinic to their numbers.
I had thought that Madie’s platelets were stable and “unchanged”, but today’s numbers have proven that theory wrong.

Here is the history of her platelets since her last chemo back in May:

May – 221
June – 192
July – 167
August – 176
Sept – 157

Dr. B checked Madie over really great, from head to toe.
He said that they don’t worry about the platelets unless they go under 150. Even though “normal” begins at 175 and average around 300, Madie is still okay. These are still good numbers. Albeit, they are not all over the place, like I keep getting told. They are sinking.
I asked Dr. B about it.
He is thinking there might be an underlying syndrome that is genetic to our family.
I explained to him that my oldest son had lots of bruising while he was a child.
I asked him if he agreed with me that if this was Cancer, wouldn’t the numbers fall dramatically by now and not slowly sink? Wouldn’t the Cancer Leukemia squeeze out the good cells at a really fast rate? Since this is happening so slow, this can’t be Cancer, right? He agreed.
Dr. B said that “Madie is done with Cancer!”
He said she looks great and all the other problems she has like the bone pain and fever can be almost anything. He said the first six months after the chemo stops, it can be anything.
Just about anything.
We just have to wait.
I hate the waiting.

He wants to test her for that syndrome that he mentioned. I will call him back on Monday to find out if that is a finger poke or an arm stick and “when”. Madie has never had the arm stick since her port has been taken out. That will certainly be a feat to accomplish! I don’t cherish the thought of putting her through that, not at all. I have thought about it and I really don’t want to wait around another month to have her platelets drop again. I would rather find out all I can right now to see if we can do anything to stop the sliding numbers. I am worried they will slide way down and she can’t get them back up.
I try not to think about that.

This weekend, we have all kinds of things planned out.
I have been invited to the “Quiet hero’s” lunch that is being hosted by Chris Glavine, the wife of Tom Glavine (for all you Braves Fans!). This is one woman who has taken to heart what it means to care for child with Cancer. She does not have to do anything, but she chooses to help the most helpless of all.

The Yellow Daisy Festival is at Stone Mountain Park!
I am hoping to squeeze in a few hours with Madie!
Maybe some more of those “Madie Moments” coming!

And, it is getting late.
I have a thousand things to get done before tomorrow, so I need to leave off.
I know I have left out a hundred other items to update, but I wanted to get the blood counts posted for all those folks who are following the progress closely.

So, I leave you now. Clinging to Dr. B’s words that “she is all done with Cancer” and rationalizing all these other problems away into perfect explanations of other maladies.

Thank you so much for the prayers, good thoughts, Reiki, and any other distant healing that you are sending our way. It means so much more than I can express in mere words. You all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you again soon!
Your friend, Regina (mom to Madie Rylee-bug…a.k.a….Pumpkin Girl!)
===================================================

WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LUEKEMIA:
Waiting………..Waiting……..Waiting…..and more waiting!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Being able to witness pure joy. In multitudes.

Sunday, September 4, 2005 2:30 PM CDT

HI ANGEL PENNY!!

I am so, SO happy that you are okay!
I keep your picture taped on my refridgerator (it's covered head to toe with pictures from family and friends--everyone who sended me pictures!) so I see you guys every day!
You are in my heart and prayers!
And....I am so thankful that you guys are all okay!
:-)
Hugs to you and your family!

p.s........
Each day, since I've been borned, when we come home from work and school, my mom opens the door and spins around the living room while she tells me that is so fantastic to have a home with electriciy and running hot water! It is so great to have a home! And we are so blessed! We have food in the pantry for more than one day and more than two pair of shoes in the closet! Wowweee!!

I think my mom grew up not so rich as we are now.
She has tell'ed me lots of stories about when she was a little girl.

Personally, I use to think she was a little bit crazy. Everybody has more than two pair of shoes to wear, right?

Watching all the terrible stories about Hurricane Katrina, now I know what she has always been talking about!

God bless all of us and keep us safe tonight.


==============
Hello People!

I know it has been lots of time since my last update.
I have been kinda busy, kinda sick, and kinda worried.

Hurricane Katerina has been making me really worried. So much worried, that my mom won't let me watch the news or read the newspapers. So many people are crying and died. It's terrible.
I am very worried about one of my "Angel" friends.
"Angel Penny" Musacchia lives in Tickfaw, LA. That is next to Hammond, LA. It is just north of Lake Ponchatrain. She has a husband and three boys. One of her little boys has kidney problems, so we are praying that they went to another city for safety.
My mom has tried calling, but of course, the phones are gone.
My mom has been looking on the internet all week, trying to find information about the city. Today, she finally found a newspaper that reported the Tickfaw well water is back working as of Sept 3rd.
That is good news and means that maybe part of the city did not get hurt horrible badly.
We are praying every night for "Angel Penny" and her family.

And, I have been kinda sick.
My fevers kept going up. When they reached 100.1 and I was coughing lots, my mom taked me back to the doctor (twice in one week!). She checked me really good and believes that I have a sinus infection, so she started me on some antibiotics.
That has helped greatly!
My fevers are almost gone and only up to the 99.1 now.
She wanted to check my blood counts (my mom did not!) to be sure that I had enough white cells to fight an infection. My white count was down to 3-something and my platelets were down to 151.
BUT!
My mom remembered that my platelets were 147 at the doctor's visit from July 26th, so really, these numbers of 151 are kinda around the same level.
So, my mom has been thinking all this time that my platelets are sinking trying to find my new "normal" numbers. Since it has been a month, this might be my new normal number! Yeah!! It is low, but....hey! At least the number is not sinking anymore! Woohoo!!!
(now watch....I will go on Friday and the number will be lower! Just my luck!)

And, before I get started on my update for me, please don't forget to go by and visit my friend, Catie. She is trying to get the doctor to say it is okay for her to have special "Ray-Don-Beam" treatments. They will be in Boston for a long time! She has just got to get rid of that tiny speck of Stupid Cancer that is stucked inside Cutie Catie's head! Please leave good words of encouragement for her and her mom.

And, another friend of mine from our "ALL-Kids" list has been having problems and needs all the prayers that you can throw at her! Clare had the Stupid Cancer come back to her and she has gone to a bone marrow transplant. She is having just terrible problems with her lungs and they just can't get back to normal like she needs them to be. Please go by her *Gess Book* and leave lots of good words for her mom and dad.

And, the only other bad news that I have to report is that my legs are all bruised up this weekend. I'm kinda tired, but guess what?! My legs don't hurt and my back doesn't hurt!! YEAH!!!
For the last week at school, I did not go see Nurse Diedre at all!!
WOW!!!
Not one time!!!
But then, I was on antibiotics for this crazy sinus infection.

And! I have another loose tooth!
It is another one on the bottom!
WOW!!
I can't believe that I have lost five teeth, and that four of them have come out in the last two months!
My new teeth are trying to grow too, they are just tiny points now, but I can feel them trying to come down!

And, I love school!
Miss Wallace has been just great.
My mom is so crazy---we actually read part of the newspaper today! (not the sad parts). And, I read a story to her out of a "Reader" that I have. I know lots of words by sight and she has been helping me to read by myself!
I can't believe it! I am so excited!
I'm a READER!!

On Tuesday the 6th, my mom has to come to school for my IEP meeting.
She is going to sit with my teacher and the other people from school to talk about what they can do to help me be the best First Grader that I can be!
They are going to talk about Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy for me!
Wow---those are big words!
Of course, I don't have a clue what they mean---my mom promises to let me know.

And, I have my clinic appointment on Friday, September 9th! I will be at the clinic at 2:00pm for my lab work.

Well, I have to run. It is a busy weekend for me, we are doing all kinds of errands around here!
My bubba Rhyne has moved back in with us for a month while he looks for a house to buy with my other brother Roe.

And, oh yeah! My brother Roe is doing much better! I can't remember if I said before, but Roe takes a lot of medicine. Because my sissy-Rachel had died, my bubba Roe had forgot to take his medicine. Over the past four weeks, without his medicine, he got really, REALLY, BADLY sick! Uncle Jerry, Billy, my mom, Aunt Marie, Gordon, Bubba Rhyne and Roe's friend Paxton is helping him to remember to take it and he is doing much better! He saw his new doctor on Friday and she is changing him to some new medicine! And, he is moving in with Paxton and his wife. They are gonna try to take care of Roe and keep him to remember to take his medicine. We are all trying hard to keep him from being sad about Rachel. It is a tough job, for sure!
I know---sometimes I even cry!
I miss Rachel really badly.

Thank you again for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get though this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece! It has been just a horrible thing to live through, but you guys have really helped more than you can imagine. You all have Angel Wings coming, for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie "Pumpkin Girl" Rylee

p.s......I love Halloweeen!!! I's coming!


And, don't forget to go by the Light The Night web page! The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society have done so much to help me and my mom. They are just fantastic here in the Atlanta Area. And remember, you can give as little as $5---We will take any amount!

====================================================
WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER:
Well, I think the worst thing today is that I get too tired all the time!
The most Wonderful People at the CURE Children's Cancer sent to us tickets for the Braves Game last night, but I was just too tired to go! My legs hurt and I just wanted to stay home. RATS!

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER:
I have so many people who care about me and love me!
Miss Melissa sended to me a wonderful cross-stitch picture of my name for my room! I can't wait to hang it up! THANK YOU!!!
How blessed am I!

:-)

Tuesday, August 23, 10:05PM

Hello People!

You know, I just went back and see’d that I had not updated in a week.
My tooth had come out and now I have no front teeth! It’s been kinda hard to figure out how to eat, but I’m learning as I go.

And, before I get started on my update for me, please don’t forget to go by and visit my friend, Catie. She is starting her very last round of chemo and then she is going to Boston for some special “Ray-Don-Beam” treatments. They will be in Boston for a long time! She has just got to get rid of that tiny speck of Stupid Cancer that is stucked inside Cutie Catie’s head! Please leave good words of encouragement for her and her mom.

And, another friend of mine from our “ALL-Kids” list has been having problems and needs all the prayers that you can throw at her! Clare had the Stupid Cancer come back to her and she has gone to a bone marrow transplant. She started to have problems with her lungs and they just can’t get back to normal like she needs them to be. Please go by her “Gess Book” and leave lots of good words for her mom and dad.

Well, the bad news is always first, right?
On Friday, my ear hurt badly at school, so I went to see Nurse Diedre.
Everything looked good, so she sent me back to class.
But, I teld my mom that the Tylenol worked great!
I had no pains in my back or legs all day long! It was fantastic!

On Saturday, I had those annoying fevers again---but not too badly and just 99.3 and 99.4 when my mom checked them on me the few times I looks “funny” to her. Then, on Sunday and Monday, I didn’t have the badly fevers. But last night, my neck hurt for some strange reason and I was just watching TV! Imagine that! It hurt so bad that I started to cry and my mom got me the “I-blue-pro-fen” medicine to take. I felt much better!

Today, I had a fever of 99.9 and 100 at school this morning before lunch!
We had a substitute Nurse today and she called my mom to say I was running a fever of the 99.9 and that my stomach hurt. My mom left work to come to get me and tooked me over to see Dr. Deganian to be sure that I was okay. By the time I got to the doctor’s office, my fever was only 98.9! My mom even called the Nurse back to ask if she had give me Tylenol for the fever and she said “NO!”.

So, the badly fevers are now getting to be very “annoying” badly “Phantom Fevers”!
Because I had so many weird complaints the last week, my mom wanted to be sure that I did not have a sinus infection or a ear infection, so I saw Dr. Deganian. He said I looked fine---no, he said that I looked GREAT!! YEAH!!
My mom said she thought it was all related to me growing and my huge six-year-old molar that is trying to grow in my mouth. Dr. Deganian agreed with my mom that teeth can cause just about anything to go haywire in a little six-year-old girl!

Okay, now I can tell you about the great stuff that happened to me this past week!

THANK YOU MISS AUDRA!
Keegan’s mom sended me and my mom new pink wish bracelets from Julianna Banana!.
They are just beautiful!! My mom promises to take pictures and put them up very soon!

And, don’t forget to go by the Light The Night web page! The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society have done so much to help me and my mom. They are just fantastic here in the Atlanta Area. And remember, you can give as little as $5---We will take any amount!

On Saturday, I got to go see my friend Juleah and visit at her house! It was great!
My mom said it was “Supergreat!” because she got to go shopping for a few hours without me bugging her to look at shoes!
Hey!...I can’t help it! My foot has growed too much when I stopped the chemo and I had to give away two bags of my beautiful shoes! I went from wearing 11.5 or 12 all the way up to 13.5 and even had to buy a pair of “1’s”!! That is a big jump for tiny girl like me!

Now, I do have to be truthful and say that my mom has been superwonderful and she has paid for me about 8 pairs of shoes since the end of June when my foot started growing.
Most of these are summer sandals that were on sale, but I love those the most!
I have to say that she has been very sweet to me about that!
Now……where are those boots that I need? Hum….I need ankle boots, knee boots, granny boots, Ugg boots, black boots, brown boots, and COWBOY BOOTS!!
Man! I need to get a job to pay for all those!

After spending the afternoon with Juleah, my mom and me went out to find a new queen size mattress/box spring for my big bed that my Aunt Catherine has give to me! It has been in the garage, waiting for me to get enough courage to stay in my room and sleep on it! And, for the past two weeks, I have stayed in my own room and sleeped in my own little bed that I had since I got the Stupid Cancer! Woohooo!
Anyway…where was I?...oh yeah!
My mom and me went shopping for a new mattress. We stopped at a place called “Mattresses to Go!” and the man was very, very nice. My mom was writing down the prices and he even had some mixed up parts that were not very much money at all, like about $100-$150 for a set. My mom was talking and telling him “why” we needed it and he said “What! She has been through so much already, please let me give you the pieces!” We both almost started to cry!

I picked out my new bed and he tied it up to the top of our car to take home!
It is so beautiful! I can’t wait to get it setup in my room!
I have to wait for my new blankets and sheets that I picked out for my new “Princess” bed (my mom says “Queen”---but I say “Princess”!) to come in the mail cause we don’t have any that size, then I can use it!
It is going to be beautiful because it is black iron with top canopy rails!
And I picked out “Regency Zoo” for my bedcover! It is black and gold and has two leopards on it! Just wait till I can show you pictures!
Thank you again Mr. Joe at “Mattresses to Go!”
You are so wonderful!

Then, on Sunday, me and my mom ran our errands to the library, the store and then on to church for bible study! Us kids all got promoted, so I am now with the big kids in the First and Second grade room at Calvary Chapel! It is awesome! I had a great time!

Oh yeah, I forgot to add one more thing.
If you can, please say prayers for my bubba Roe.
Something is wrong and he is not doing very good since Rachel went to Heaven.
He saw his doctor this morning and he has an appointment with a new doctor this Thursday morning at 8:00am.
Please say prayers that the new doctor can order some tests and find out what is wrong pretty quick.

Thank you again to everybody who has been keeping me and my mom in your prayers to help us get through this terrible Stupid Cancer journey all in one piece. It means more to us than you can ever know! Sounds crazy, but we can actually feel the difference! Thanks for everything---prayers, thoughts, healing thoughts, REIKI, and anything else that you can send down! (or up!)

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie “Pumpkin Girl” Rylee

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WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER:
Well, I think the worst thing is that you never, ever, never, ever, never get to stop worrying about the Stupid Cancer to ever come back to me! Just so you know, the signs of the cancer coming back are “phantom fevers”(check), “back pain” (check), “bone pain” (check), “sinking platelets”(check), “phantom pain” (check), “weight loss” (check), “night sweats” (check)….hum…is there any sign of the Stupid Cancer coming back to me that I don’t have??????

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER:
My mom is the best! No matter what is going on, she keeps telling me that it might look like the Stupid Cancer is coming back to me, but that it can also be just my molar teeth or me growing! What a trick! I never thought that teeth can make you feel so weird, but she swears they can! And I believe her!!

:-)

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Wednesday, August 17, 10:23PM

HELLO PEOPLE!

Wow, again!
Another update!
My mom got a picture of me with no front teeth added into the Photo Album page! I can't believe that I have no teeth! It looks really strange!

And!
She finally got the Light The Night web page to work! Yippee!!
We have joined "Keegan's Krusades" and will be raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

And!!
The annual WSB Care A Thon for AFLAC is going on Tomorrow and Friday!
Please listen in on all of us kids stories who are a part of the AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Clinic! Your donations are greatly appreciated tremendously!

And, I got a wonderful surprise from Mr. Lowell Crawford!
He is a artist that my mom knows waaaaaay back from her High School. He sended us three beautiful pictures that we can frame. My mom says we can put it up next to the one she has had since High School!
He is so sweet!
THANK YOU MR. CRAWFORD!

And, I broke my record for not having to go visit Nurse Diedre at the school clinic. My back hurt so badly when I got to school this morning, first thing. Before school started when I got off the bus, I had to go run into the clinic and ask her really quick for some Tylenol. It worked great! But, the I-blue-pro-fins work the best! My mom won't let me take those right now on account of my low platelets. RATS!

Well, got to run!
Have a super week!
Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while I get through this Cancer Journey all in one piece! I really appreciate it!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!
:-)

(a.k.a.....Pumpkin Girl!--I just love when my mom calls me that!!)


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Tuesday, August 16, 11:23PM

Hello People!

Wow---it is only Tuesday night and I have been so very busy!
Where does the time go? I don’t know!

Well, first of all, the most important news is that I lost my other front tooth!
Now I don’t have any teeth in my front smile and it is very bare!
My mom taked a picture, but I just did not feel good so I think it looks terrible. I am going to try to get her to take another one, so look out for it!

And, tonight I went to Camp Sunshine Family Night.
I saw my friend Keegan, from my clinic. His mom, Miss Audra, said we could join his “Light the Night” team! So, here is the link for the Light The Night web page! The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society have done so much to help me and my mom. They are just fantastic here in the Atlanta Area. And remember, you can give as little as $5---we don’t care. We will take any amount!

Don’t forget to go by and visit my friend, Catie. She is waiting for good words from Dr. Claire on when to start back her next rounds of chemo. She has just got to get rid of that tiny speck of Stupid Cancer that is stucked inside Cutie Catie’s head!

And, my mom wanted me to update that I have been doing good so far this week at school. I did not have to go see Nurse Diedre at all so far this week! Last week, I went bunches, but this week…..I have been doing pretty good! I did point out my new bruises to my mom. Sometimes, they worry me and she is great about saying “not to worry”.

And, I want to say “thanks” for all the people who have been sending me messages and good thoughts or prayers to help me get through missing my big-sissy Rachel. I have been doing better and only cried just a few times the past few days. My brother Roe is doing worser than me. He can’t sleep too good and it is making work pretty hard. He works for his dad (that is my Uncle Jerry and Aunt Marie!) and they have been great helping him. Oh! I almost forgot! My Aunt Marie broke her toe last week and we taked my mom’s crutches over there for her to use. She said it helped tons, so I’m glad that I can help out. Especially because her toe looks just terrible! I don’t know how she is going to drive up to her brother’s house this weekend!

Well, I have to skoot! I have tons of stuff to do to get ready for school tomorrow.
Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece. You guys all have Angel Wings coming, that is for sure!

Talk to you later!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

AKA.....PUMPKIN' GIRL!!!
:-)





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Friday, August 12, 2005 9:20 PM CDT

Pssssst!!
I forgot to say that I saw tons of my friends at the clinic!

I saw Kendrie, Will and Joshua!
Will is going on to Big School College at Auburn....that is just super!
I think it is just awesome that us Cancer Kids can still be able to live normal lives----who would have thought!
Living through Cancer.
Actually.....it's "Living through "STUPID" Cancer!"

Talk to you later!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!
:-)



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HELLO PEOPLE!

I promised to update about clinic as soon as I could---and traffic was so terrible getting home! The I-285 freeway was a nightmare---there must have been ten hundred thousand cars all just crawling along the highway on the way home!
It was the worsted that I have ever seen’ed it in my whole life!

But---we finally made it home!

And---I have good news to report!
Ah…hum…well, maybe good!
My mom says it is kinda “mixed” news.
But---all I care about is that Dr. B said I was “normal” this month! WooHoo!!

Here are the counts from clinic today:

WBC: 5.04 (was 5.19) Normal is 4.5-13.5
HGB: 13.3 (was 12.9) Normal is 11.5-15.5
MCH: 31.0 (was 32.3) Normal is 25.0-31.0)
Platelet: 176 (was 167) Normal is 175-525
Plt Volume: 6.6 (was 7.2) Normal is 7.1-9.2
ANC: 2770 (was 2680) Normal is over 2,000
Height: 111.3cm (was 110.5)
Temp: 99.5 (was 98.8)
Weight: 49.2 (was 50.1)

And, even though I had blood tests done at the Snellville Pediatrics, I have to use the clinic numbers because they come from the same machine.
So, technically, my platelet counts held out steady and ticked up from the “167” to the “176”. Which is great, because they did not sink any lower for me! Yeah!!

But---my mom was kind of frowning that they didn’t jump up a huge amount into the “200’s” like they should be for me. They just barely squeaked to “normal” at 176.
So, for me, the Platelet numbers have been:
May – 221
June – 192
July – 167
August – 176

And…my mom also frowned when she saw that I lost weight.
Most of us kids that get off the chemotherapy start to put on tons of weight—not lose it.
Dr. B noticed my weight loss and said something about it was good that I had not gained too much weight since coming off the chemotherapy. He is so great---he stays so happy and positive! My mom still believes that he is Santa Claus! If you saw a picture of him, you would think he was Santa from Denmark too!
And I have been eating lots too! It’s just weird that I would lose weight. Actually, I don’t think that I have ever lost weight before since getting on the Long Term Maintenance part of therapy a year ago May 2004!

And, I thought I had growed a whole bunch, but I only grew an itty bitty bit.
My mom has been frowning about that the whole past three months.
She was expecting me to shoot up an inch a month now that the chemo has stopped!
At least, other kids that get Off Treatment grow by leaps and bounds!

I still have that stupid low grade fever and I teld Dr. B that my legs, back and hips hurt lots. It is getting better---but they still hurt lots.

And, of course my mom is thinking about all the things that could be going wrong right now. We all know that “weight loss” is a sign of children’s cancer. Low grade fevers or high grade fevers are a sign of children’s cancer. Pain in the back is a sign of children’s cancer. And, the low platelets not jumping up to the numbers I had in June or May can be a sign of children’s cancer. But—the greatest news is that my platelets did not fall lower! That is VERY important to keep remembering! AND---my HGB is holding steady too! That is superfantabulous news, for sure!

Thank you to everybody who has been sending prayers to help me and my mom get through this terrible Cancer journey all in one piece. You guys have no idea how much it means to us! You all have Angel Wings coming for sure!

Talk to you soon!
Your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

:-)

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WORST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Well---that is easy! I am too tired all the time! I stayed “pooped out” and can’t even keep up with my mom! And she is OLD!!! O-L-D!! (even with the high HGB now!)

BEST THING TODAY ABOUT HAVING CANCER LEUKEMIA:
Hey! I just got word that CURE has tickets for us Cancer Kids for the Braves games coming up! I can’t wait to see those Braves beat the pants off those Reds! GO BRAVES!!! (and MLB! Helping us Cancer Kids!!)

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Thursday, August 11, 2005 10:12 PM CDT

Hello People!

It has been a crazy busy week--that is for sure!

And my brother Roe came over tonight!
He called my mom on Saturday and said he was cutting off his long, beautiful hair! WOW!
He came by tonight, and it is really short! You can see in the pictures. It is very short. He told my mom that he had no reason to keep it long, now that Rachel is gone. She loved his long hair.

He misses Rachel.
I miss Rachel.

Roe is giving me his hair to keep.
He said he knew that I am having problems with my platelets and that it can mean the Stupid Cancer is growing inside of me. If that happens, then I have to start the yukky chemo all over again.
He wanted me to have his hair to make into a something that I could wear if I lose my own hair.
He is so sweet!
And, if I don't need it, then we can send it in to the "Locks of Love" people. They are always asking for hair to use to make wigs and hats!

I got to go to Spa Sydell at our Camp Sunshine House in Decatur on Monday night!
It was just superfantabulous!

My friend, Genievive was there! We had the bestest time ever in a million years!
I got my feet massaged and a great back massage!
THANK YOU MISS SYDELL!
I LOVE YOU!
And...oh yeah, I love CAMP SUNSHINE!!
WooHoo!!

And...this week is the first week back to school.
I have gone to the clinic every day this week. Well, not for today. My mom was so excited when I tell'ed her that I did not have to see Nurse Diedre today. But, I have been going each day because my tummy hurts or my legs hurt or my back hurts or my hips hurt....well, something hurts!
But it has also been great!
My new teacher, Miss Wallace, is the best teacher in the whole school! I tell'ed my mom that I am so lucky to get her! She is the best!

Oh yeah!
My mom and me went to Ethan's Funeral this past Saturday.
It was so beautiful.
At the end, we all released about 500 purple ballons. I tied my picture to my balloon and sent it off to Heaven for Ethan to read.
I know he was so happy to see those balloons rising up to the clouds so he can see them!

Thank you guys for keeping me and my mom in your thoughts and prayers while we get through this terrible Cancer Journey all in one piece.
I promise to post as soon as I can to let you guys know about my platelet counts.

My mom and me are feeling great that my counts are up and my platelets are doing better. But, sadly, I have more bruises on my legs again---but that still doesn't mean anything! I have had them bruised up before like this and had high platelet counts too!

I think it just means......that I LOVE to play! and I play "hard"! Just like the boys!

Hey! Life's tough! Play hard!

Thanks for checking in on me!
Lots of hugs!
Talk to you soon....your friend, Madie Rylee-bug!

:-)