Maddie

Maddie spent the first three years of her life in Montreal, speaking and learning both English and French. An independent, spunky, fun loving little girl, she was extremely inclusive, a strong motherly figure to others.

Her family’s devastating journey began in August 2013, when we noticed her left eye was droopy; her neck tilted to the left and she was slightly off balance. We took her to our doctor on Thursday, Sept. 5th and this was the day that everything changed.

Maddie had a tumour in her brainstem. Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glyoma (DIPG). Tumour management might give her a little more time with her family and friends. This was the day our life the way we knew it ended forever.

Maddie endured 30 rounds of radiation beginning on September 11th, 2013 which reduced the tumour and diminished her symptoms about 95%.

Her tumour returned January 23rd, 2014, exactly 3 months after her final round of radiation. On June 7th, 2014 Maddie died in her sleep, four days after turning 11 years old and 1 day before her sister Kayla’s 9th birthday.

Maddie’s greatest fear was that she would never see her family and friends again and she would be forgotten forever. Her loved ones’ continued support of MBF helps to build hope for other families and children, while keeping the memory of Maddie alive.