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Madison
Age 6
Quad Cities
Our daughter Madison was born on August 14, 1998. A beautiful 7 ½ pound baby girl. Our world shattered around us when just three days later a huge tumor was discovered in her abdomen and spinal canal. Early the next morning, Madison was transported to St. Francis in Peoria and it was there that we first heard the words "St. Jude".
Madison underwent surgery on her seventh day of life to determine what kind of tumor she was born with. It turned out to be Neuroblastoma, cancer of the central nervous system. Madison's chances of being born with this type of cancer were 8 in one million! Following the surgery, the St. Jude doctors met with us and described in detail a course of treatment and shared with us that survival rates for Madison's cancer were better than 95 percent. We had a plan, we had hope, and we had wonderful doctors. There was no doubt that she would be receiving the most up to date treatment developed to eradicate her cancer.
On her eighth day of life, Madison received her first round of chemotherapy. Her battle had begun and she was still just a precious newborn. She received a total of 8 rounds of chemotherapy over a 5 month period. And not a day went by that we didn't pray.
Madison's tumor did not shrink the way the doctors had hope in response to the chemo. Her final MRI prior to surgery stated that 65% of her tumor remained, still in her abdomen and scarier yet, in her spinal canal. We entered surgery on March 17, 1999 with a plan that the surgeons would remove as much of the tumor as they could without causing further neurological damage to Madison.
That's when the miracle happened! The surgeons came out of the operating room to tell us that there wasn't any tumor there! Madison's St. Jude doctors chalked it up to "delayed effects of the chemotherapy". We feel blest to have experienced the power of St. Jude and the power of prayer.
Madison is now a happy, healthy and active three-year-old. She attends Preschool four days a week and keeps up with the rest of them. Her favorite past times include playing with Barbie's, swinging on her swingset, singing, dressing up at her vanity, reading books, and loving up her baby brother Logan.
Madison continues to be followed closely by St. Jude with routine MRI's and clinic visits every three months. She will forever be known as "baby Madison" by the staff at St. Jude Midwest Affiliate. We thank God everyday for leading us to St. Jude and that is why we spear headed the Quad Cities to Peoria St. Jude Run. We feel that maybe in this way we can give back a little to the people who granted us the greatest gift in the world: our daughter's life!
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