Inspirational Stories

I am the mother of Madelynn, aka Maddie, who was diagnosed with biphenotypic acute leukemia (BAL) on March 13, 2023, following months of illness initially thought to be a sinus infection. Despite multiple doctor visits and two trips to the emergency room, it wasn’t until Maddie’s condition worsened that she received the correct diagnosis, which involved both acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the Philadelphia chromosome. Maddie immediately began an aggressive chemotherapy regimen and spent the first month of her treatment in the hospital. The nurses, who became like family to us, were an incredible support throughout her journey. Maddie endured numerous challenges, including multiple infections, 15 lumbar punctures, and various outpatient procedures, all while remaining incredibly strong and maintaining her sense of humor. Her resilience and determination kept us laughing even on the hardest days ― she truly was our shining star. After six months of fighting a courageous battle, Maddie passed away on September 21, 2023, on day 10 of her stem cell transplant at the age of 22. 

Before her diagnosis, Maddie was a passionate and driven young woman. She was studying to become a veterinarian and worked at an animal hospital. She was a devoted daughter, a fun-loving big sister, and a doting mom to her dog, Daisy, who visited her frequently during her long hospital stays. A talented water polo player, Maddie attended the Junior Olympics three times and continued to compete at Sonoma State University, where she was also a dedicated student-athlete. Her infectious personality and zest for life made her the life of the party, and she touched the hearts of so many in her 22 years. 

Though we will never be the same without her, Maddie’s legacy will live on. We have committed ourselves to raising awareness and supporting others facing similar battles. We participated in our first Light The Night (LTN) walk in her honor and will continue to do so every year in her memory. We are deeply grateful to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for their invaluable support and the information they provided throughout Maddie’s journey. Thank you for helping us honor Maddie’s memory and for the ongoing fight against blood cancers.