On May 30th, 2020, our world turned upside down. We took our 3 year-old daughter, Madeline, into the emergency room for a persistent fever, but were suddenly and devastatingly hit with the news that she has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. In a matter of moments, our smart, kind, imaginative, and loving little girl became a childhood cancer warrior.

The first few months of treatment have been very intense for Madeline and difficult for us as her parents. She’s undergone aggressive chemotherapy and has already had two hospital admissions totaling 33 nights. As hard as this has been, Madeline has shown courage, strength, and positivity beyond measure. She hasn’t stopped smiling and encouraging the rest of us to stay strong. She’s especially encouraging to her six year-old brother, Austin, with who she shares an incredible bond.

The days following Madeline’s diagnosis were some of the darkest and most unimaginably difficult days of our lives. PCFLV stepped in immediately and offered help in multiple ways. They sent us gift cards to help cover the cost of food during our initial hospital stay and groceries when we returned home. They also offered support groups that immediately connected us to parents who have been in our shoes and are fighting the same battle we are. These family connections have been a light in the darkness for us. We are extremely thankful for the families we have met and for the overall support of the PCFLV.

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Written by her mom, Susanne