Setback Saturday

Madey has had a rough couple of days. She has been unable to keep much of anything down and running a fever. After a priesthood blessing, we took Madey down to Primary Children's. She was given an IV and began receiving fluids. She stayed at the hospital last night and we are unsure whether she will be home today or tomorrow. She is doing much better and we all hope that she will be home soon. Thank you for the prayers and please continue to keep her in your thoughts!

Fairfield Junior High Basketballer Battles Bone Cancer | Utah News, KUTV, 2News, Utah Community

Fairfield Junior High Basketballer Battles Bone Cancer | Utah News, KUTV, 2News, Utah Community

Here is the link to Madey's story on channel 2

Madey is Home!!!

Madeline has completed her first chemotherapy treatment and we got her home today around 12:30 pm. It was overwhelming for her as well as our family to see all the blue ribbons tied to trees and posts in the neighborhood. She was especially touched by all the signs welcoming her home and the expressions of love. Madey really liked the blue balloons. We want to send out a special thank you to all the members of the Creekside Ward for not only supporting Madeline but for the meals, phone calls, the kind words, and especially the prayers. We also want to thank the many others that are supporting her and our family at this time, it is a lot to take in, but we are truly grateful. We recognize that we are still in the early stages of our battle with cancer, but we feel as if we are already making progress thanks to the faith and prayers of others. We are also grateful to the coaches and players of the Layton and Davis High School girls basketball teams for encouraging cancer awareness by honoring many who have battled or are currently battling cancer. The T-Shirts and wristbands that were sold on Madey's behalf by her teammates and coaches from FJH girls basketball team were great. Madey is also grateful for the many cards, gift baskets, flowers, and balloons that she has received as well.

Baring no set backs we are scheduled to begin round 2 of Chemotherapy on February 4th. In the meantime we will continue to move forward exercising faith that the Lord will help us through this ordeal.

We also would like to let anyone who is interested know that Madey will be featured on 'Talking Sports' tonight at 10:30 pm KUTV channel 2.

January 21, 2010

Today, Madey started her chemo treatments. Things were a little behind due to a hiccup but everything is fine now. She's super tired because of the drugs they've got flowing into her system but they're definitely helping. This round of chemo should last a couple days and we hope to have her home this weekend. The Fairfield Jr High basketball team had another stellar win today over the North Layton Longhorns. The Lady Falcons have dedicated their season to Madey, so far it seems to be working. They're 4 and 0. Thanks girls! We love you all and are so thankful for your support!

Our Fight Begins

Today, Madey went to the doctor. Again. As they sat in the waiting room, Madey practiced wheeling herself around in our borrowed wheelchair. She stopped in front of our parents and looked down at her hands to see that they were lined with charcoal colored streaks. She yelled "Ew! Dad! I need hand sanitizer!!" He jumped up (ish) and got a humongous bottle of hand sanitizer out of one of the offices. He sat down and slammed the pump down to squirt out some of the stellar cleansing goo. Instead of squeezing out of the pump and into Madge's hands like normal, the giant glob shot sideways and splatted all over mom's pants! Dad looked shocked, Mom just stared at it and Madey about pee'd her pants she was laughing so hard!!
Hand sanitizer helped relieve the tension that filled the empty waiting room before the doctors came to let us know what comes next. We learned Madey's tumor is about the size of a small football, close to the same size as the one Landon got for Christmas (thus all the pain she's been in). Her tumor is in a "good" spot (if you can say that a tumor is a good thing...) This will help the doctors treat it easier and we're so thankful for all the little blessings that we've seen during this 'hard thing'.
Tomorrow, Mom, Madey, and Dad will go back down to Primary Children's Hospital where Madey will have an echocardiogram. Big word, not scary meaning. It just measures and watches Madey's heart to make sure she's strong enough to undergo chemotherapy. After that they'll meet with the oncologist, aka: the tumor doctor. He's kind of a genius! Then Madey will be admitted into the hospital because they rock at what they do! She will begin the first round of chemotherapy. The doctors described her tumor being like the sun baking the insides of her body. That's why it hurts so darn much. The chemo will be like pouring water onto it and will make her stop hurting. I really need the tumor to stop hurting her because when she hurts, I hurt. She will be in the hospital anywhere from 2 to 5 days. She's not allowed to have visitors once she starts the chemo treatments. Our house has to basically be quarantined and sanitized (maybe we should've kept that big bottle from the waiting room.. haha) We greatly appreciate everyone's love and support. Your prayers have carried us through so far and will continue to do so. Please remember Madey by wearing blue tomorrow and keep her in your prayers always.

A Fighter and a Forward

The title of our blog has many reasons. The first being that our Madey plays the position of forward in basketball; one of her favorite sports. The next reason is that on January 14, 2010, we learned that Madey has a form of cancer called Ewing Sarcoma. Since we've learned this its all felt like a whirlwind. It may only have been a few days ago but it seems like years ago. We've received much love and support from neighbors and friends. Shortly after we got the diagnosis, Madey received a forwarded text message from her friends telling everyone at school to "wear blue for Madey". She told Dad, "Dad I'm a forward." To which he replied, "Of course you are, you've always been a forward!" This gave us all a good laugh. We are determined to move forward with faith and to fight the cancer with all the resources we've been given. Madey has also told us that she's no baby and she's going to fight with all she's got; thankfully, she won't have to do it alone. Our family is growing stronger as the days go by. Everyday is a new challenge, a new experience, but we are moving forward, facing our fears, and keeping the faith...