Hi everyone, it’s Lexie. I’m writing this on behalf of my uncle, aunt, and my cousin Maddie during this incredibly difficult and scary time. ❤️
Please take a moment to read and understand what Maddie and our family are facing. Prayers are desperately needed as Maddie goes under tomorrow for her first surgery. 🙏🏼
Please keep Maddie, her parents, her doctors, and our entire family in your prayers. We are holding onto faith, hope, and the power of prayer. ❤️🙏🏼
💗 PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR GIRL. 💗
Sometimes life changes in a single moment. One minute, you're making plans for the weekend, worrying about what dress you're going to wear to Homecoming, thinking about getting your driver's permit, and dreaming about all the places life is going to take you. And the next, your entire world changes.
Our beautiful 15-year-old cousin went for what was supposed to be a simple eye exam. She needed her paperwork signed so she could move forward with getting her driver's permit. But during her exam, they discovered something wasn't right. Her vision had become blurry, and when she tried to focus, her eyes were shaking in a way that needed immediate attention.
What started as an ordinary eye appointment quickly turned into an emergency room visit, more testing, and eventually a transfer to Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
And that's where our family received news no parent ever expects to hear.
Doctors found a tumor involving her spinal cord and brain stem. Because of its location and the way it is intertwined with important nerves, they have told the family that they cannot simply go in and remove it. The area is incredibly delicate, and attempting to remove it could cause serious damage.
Right now, doctors are preparing to perform surgery to obtain a sample and determine exactly what they are dealing with. Cancer is one of the possibilities being considered, but we do not have a diagnosis yet. We are praying for answers, for wisdom for every doctor involved, and most of all, for the best possible outcome for this beautiful girl.
And somehow, through all of this, she is still smiling.
She is nervous. She's scared. She's upset. And honestly, she has every right to be.
She's 15.
She's supposed to be worrying about Homecoming this weekend-not hospital rooms and surgeries. She's supposed to be picking out her outfit, laughing with her friends, making memories, taking pictures, and living the carefree teenage years she deserves.
Instead, she's facing something no 15-year-old should ever have to face.
Yet somehow, she continues to bring light into every room.
Her spirit is still so incredibly positive. She has this beautiful energy about her that makes people want to be around her. She is strong, she is loved, and she is surrounded by people who would move mountains for her.
She has SO MUCH LIFE LEFT TO LIVE.
There are driver's licenses to earn. Roads to travel. Graduations to celebrate. Friends to make. Concerts to attend. Sunsets to watch. Places to see. Dreams to chase. Maybe one day, she'll look back at pictures from this time and realize just how incredibly strong she was.
There are so many moments waiting for her.
Homecoming can wait.
Her future cannot.
And behind this beautiful girl are two parents who are fighters themselves.
Her mom and dad have both served in the military. They know what it means to stand strong when things are hard. They know what it means to fight. But no amount of preparation can prepare a parent to hear that their child has a tumor involving her spinal cord and brain stem.
Right now, they need to be parents.
They need to be beside their daughter.
They need to hold her hand, advocate for her, listen to doctors, make impossible decisions, and help her through what could be a very long road ahead.
They shouldn't have to be worrying about everything else on top of that.
So we are asking our family, friends, community, and anyone who sees this to please lift this girl and her family up in prayer. 🙏🏻
Pray for her doctors and surgeons.
Pray for steady hands and clear answers.
Pray for protection over her brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Pray for strength when she's scared.
Pray for her parents when they feel overwhelmed. Pray for her siblings, family, and everyone who loves her.
And pray that when that biopsy comes back, we receive the news we are all desperately praying for.
And if you are able, donations are deeply appreciated. ❤️
This is going to be a long road. There will be surgeries, testing, appointments, travel, recovery, medical bills, treatments and countless unexpected expenses. Every dollar raised will help give her parents the ability to focus where they need to be most-on their daughter and her recovery.
If you can't donate, please don't think that means you can't help.
Share this.
Pray.
Leave her some love.
Tell someone else about her.
Sometimes a share reaches the one person who can make a difference.
Our girl, you may be 15, but you have already shown more courage than most people will ever have to find.
You are beautiful.
You are loved.
You are surrounded.
You are not alone.
And this diagnosis-whatever it turns out to be-is not the end of your story.
There are still so many chapters waiting to be written.
So right now, we are going to believe in the next chapter.
We are going to believe in miracles. We are going to believe in answered prayers. We are going to believe in the incredible doctors fighting beside you. And most importantly, we are going to believe in YOU.
Because this girl has too much light in her to let the darkness take over.
Please pray for our beautiful 15-year-old. 💗🙏🏻
If you would like to help the family financially, donation information is below. Every prayer, share, kind word, and donation means more than you know.
#PrayForHer #FightLikeAGirl #ChildrensNational #PrayersForHealing #KeepFighting #Hope #Faith #Family #HomecomingCanWait
