Madelyn, called Maddie by her loved ones, is a spunky, loving, friendly girl. She loves playgrounds, her family, cats, swimming, movies, olives and tinned fish. She constantly makes everyone around her laugh and smile with her inquisitive questions and hilarious commentary about the world around her.

Maddie’s parents took her to the doctor when she wasn’t sleeping well and suddenly had a fever. She was diagnosed with an ear infection and given antibiotics, but the fever persisted. She became increasingly miserable, and began complaining of pain in her lower abdomen, so after multiple trips to her pediatrician she was sent to the emergency room. She had an ultrasound that revealed swollen lymph nodes, which were attributed to a stomach virus. Her parents continued to have concerns, so they brought her back to the pediatrician where she was diagnosed with Strep. Again, after multiple days of antibiotics, Maddie continued to get worse.

Maddie returned to the emergency room. Bloodwork showed signs of a minor infection so she was admitted for the night to be given fluids. Unfortunately, after going home, she continued to express that she was in pain and continued to have a fever. For the third time, Maddie returned to the emergency room.

This time, a full panel of bloodwork tested for a variety of infectious diseases and was given antibiotics for what looked like an infected lymph node. The antibiotics did not seem to be helping, and symptoms continued, so her medical team decided to biopsy her lymph node.

That’s when Maddie was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

For four long months, Maddie received six rounds of chemotherapy. Even through her toughest days she was running around the hospital, IV pole attached. She’s her mom Laura’s hero because of how resilient and strong she has been throughout her treatment!

Laura wants others who may be facing a childhood cancer diagnosis to know that it is tough, but to not give up. “There are so many hard days,” she said. “Just keep holding that baby tight, try to find joy in their smiles and laughs.”

She also hopes that foundations like Alex’s Lemonade Stand can help find less toxic and more effective treatments for cancers that have none. Maddie and her cousin Melody are helping out by hosting their first lemonade stand fundraiser during Lemonade Days this June – they have already raised more than $1,000 for all kids with cancer!

“I’M ALL DONE WITH CHEMO!!!” – Childhood cancer hero Maddie

Information provided by Laura S., Madelyn’s mom
Updated June 2026