Miss Madelyn

Welcome to Madelyn's Neuroblastoma Journey.

When she was 15 weeks old, Madelyn was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma cancer, stage IV. She had a baseball size tumor removed and then went through four rounds of chemotherapy. As of Sept 1, 00, Madelyn has been cancer free! Today, she is a very active, loving and bright 8 year old! Although she is cancer free, she still will be followed for the rest of her life.....so her journey continues. Thankfully, she was too little to remember all she went through. However, many people have been touched by her story and her life. I know she has taught our family many lessons of faith, life, love and happiness. Please join us in sharing this journey with her.

***Please take a second and sign the guestbook. The girls love it when I read them your messages! Thank you!!

Journal

Saturday, May 9, 2009 7:34 AM CDT

Dates that change our lives- Dates we never forget- Today is one of them. Nine years ago today- the day Madelyn was diagnosed with cancer. As I look back on May 9, 2000- that day brings back so many painful and sad memories. It started out as a "normal" day with Madelyn being the very sick baby she was. Bob took Allie to daycare and went to work. I took Madelyn to our clinic for her ultrasound of her liver. I had called to get a follow up appt with her primary doctor following her ultrasound, so he could look at all of the mosquito bite like spots that kept appearing on her body- and then disappearing. During the ultrasound, I knew something was definitely wrong. The tech left the room and returned with other techs, to show them what he had seen on the screen. I questioned them if they could see her liver was enlarged. They looked at me with the sympathy look and said yes. Another tech had stuck their head in the door and told me I needed to go upstairs to see Madelyn's doctor before leaving. I knew I had an appt, however- they didn't- so I knew at that point something else was discovered during the ultrasound. Never in a million years did I suspect cancer. We were escorted into an exam room where I held Madelyn as we waited to her doctor. I remember when he walked into the room, pulled his chair right in front of us. He gently started rubbing rubbing Madelyn's head and asked me what was going on with her. I started explaining Madelyn's bug like spots- as I was telling him, I knew he wasn't listening to a word I was saying. I saw the sadness in his eyes- the tears were filling his eyes, and I could tell something was definitely wrong. I stopped in middle of my sentence- and said, "Something is wrong with her." That is when he said, "Madelyn is very sick. She has cancer." In a blink of an eye, the normal life I thought we had lived suddenly was changed. It started out as a normal day...I remember the sunshine and the happiness in our house that morning....and ended with us being in Children's Hospital- so cold and scared. I remember stopping by the daycare center- pulling Allie into the car with us, trying to explain to a five year old that her sister was sick and we had to go to the hospital. She was so innocent. She saw Madelyn throwing up so many times a day- that was her normal. She had gone with us to previous doctor appts and thought we were going to do the same with her this time. As we said goodbye to her, both Bob and I cried. I remember all the phone calls we made that day- changing their lives to. I remember hearing the pain in their voices- the fear and sadness they felt. It is like my brain has recorded every minute of that day- and all it takes is for me to hit replay- and I can relive it over in my mind and feel the raw emotions of that day. We had never heard of Neuroblastoma prior to that day. I had her Oncologist repeat that scary word and even spell it for me, as I wrote it on a napkin. Late in the evening, as Madelyn was sleeping in her metal hospital crib, both Bob and I tried to get some sleep in her hospital room- knowing May 9th was a day we would never forget. Yes, dates that change our lives. Even though it's been nine years, and Madelyn is doing so wonderful- I have learned to embrace the events of the day. Even though the day is painful to relive, it allows me to truly remember all I have to be thankful for. All the gifts and the lessons we gained, the people who have touched our lives, the friends we have met along this journey - yes, I feel so blessed. Today- I will hug Madelyn a few more times- hold her a little tighter- touch her a little more- smoother her in love a little more- make her laugh a little louder- and make her smile last all day long.

Sending all of you love!
Connie

Hospital Information:

Children's Hospitals and Clinics (Mpls and St. Paul)
2525 Chicago Ave South
Minneapolis, MN

Links:

E-mail Author: Roco595@aol.com

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