Maddie Barkow

So here we go.  I do not even know where to start, but I will try to get through this. Maddie has not been feeling well for 6+ months. She would just always say "I don't feel good." A little more tired then normal, but nothing that we thought was out of the ordinary. We went to the Dr at least 1 time per week for the last 2-3 months. Strep test is always what they tested and it was always negative. This past Saturday she seemed to be a little worse.  By Sunday her fever was 101.  Monday it was 101.5 and Tuesday it was up to 102.5.  We brought her in and again they tested her for strep and yet another negative.  The response was it is viral.  If she is not better by Thursday come back.  By Wednesday night her fever was 103.2 and back to the Dr. we went.  They tested her for strep and again no strep.  They tested for her for mono and were pretty sure that's what it was. Unfortunately that was negative.  They finally did a blood draw.  It came back so abnormal they told her the machine was broke and they needed to draw more blood.  Again, her counts were crazy high and abnormal. They told us to go home pack a few things and they would be waiting for us at Children's hospital.  They drew more blood and within an hour the blood Dr. came into the room.  I could tell by the look on his face that it was not good news.  Then it happened.  Your daughter has cancer . Those are words a parent is never prepared to hear.   Maddie has very high risk ALL B Cell leukemia.  This our journey.  The journey we were given by God. Tomorrow she will go into surgery to have a bone marrow biopsy, spinal tap and to place her port in her chest.  She will also have her first dose of Chemo through her spine.  Our journey is going to last 2 1/2 years.  I will update as often as I can.  Thanks you for all of your love, support and prayers.


Kris