Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

On December 6th, 2006 and at the age of 9 years old Maggie Gaal was diagnosed with an Osteo Sarcoma (a rare bone cancer) in her left tibia. Maggie's very normal 4th grade life took a turn through a new world which included pediatric oncologists and medicines named methotrexate, doxirubicin and cisplatin. Over the next 10 months, Maggie would courageously endure 153 overnights in the hospital which included 18 chemotherapies, 8 infections, 1 bone salvage surgery (insertion of a donor tibia), skin grafts and a bone graft.

Through all of this, Maggie never once complained and at times fully embraced the support that was there for her. She found ways, through new friendships and dedicated friends and family to pass the time, endure the rigors of chemo and fight her way through these 10 months. Maggie is now 8 months removed from her last chemotherapy and all is going well. She still has to go through physical therapy twice a week to improve movement in her ankle and lower left leg, but for the most part she is a happy 10 year old who enjoys her friends and family.

Maggie felt an immediate connection to Alex's story because she has been having lemonade stands in our front yard since she was a little girl. She is very excited to be holding her first "official" Alex's Lemonade stand this upcoming Saturday on June 6th, 2008.