One Year Later...

Dearest Maddie,
One year ago, right now, at this hour, your Daddy and Mommy, and I waited vigil with you as you were being whisked off to a CT Scan at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Baltimore. Grandma Vicki, Grandpa, all of your Aunts & Uncles, cousins, and Josie were busy sending prayers up to God asking Him to make you well. A few hours later, you were shuttled by ambulance to Johns Hopkins’ Pediatric Emergency Room. The doctors performed a lot of tests and learned that you had a rare pediatric cancer, called Wilms Tumor. The doctors had the hard job of telling your Daddy and Mommy you were very sick. That’s the bad news; the good news is they said you had a 95% cure rate! Guess what? You are cured...God is so good!! Look at how healthy you look in these pictures!

Our good and gracious God showered you in His healing power, grace, and mercy. People from all over the world fell on their knees in prayer for you. All of us prayed, many of us fasted, those who weren’t sure of God’s presence in their lives found Him. The doctor’s told your Daddy & Mommy that they’ll watch you very closely for seven years to make sure you stay healthy. The doctors also want to check your developmental progress. What does that mean? Developmental progress is fancy talk for checking to make sure that you are growing, walking, talking, and doing all of the things a baby your age should do.

God really protected you, Maddie, you are right on target developmentally; I think you’re ahead of schedule! You’re talking up a storm, climbing, running, and so much more! You take my breath away each time I hear you chant”Grandma, Grandma!” I can barely keep my composure I take none of this for granted!

God healed you and has drenched you, your Daddy and Mommy, Josie, and all of us in love His love. Maddie, God is smiling upon you and is delighted that you’re healthy! He has a very special plan for you. As I think of the unbearable suffering and all you endured, I feel overwhelmed. I would have given anything to protect you from that excruciating ordeal. What you went through was torture for you, and also for your Daddy and Mommy, they were worried sick about you..we all were.

When you are older and learn all you went through as a tiny infant, remember the good stuff, not just the miserable diagnosis. You see, Maddie, God uses what He hates to accomplish what He loves! God was with you during this entire ordeal, and will be with you throughout your entire life. He held you in the palm of His hand, protected you, and healed you, and because of you...some people found God! Some learned to pray and some over time, will surrender to God and embrace Him unconditionally, the way you did during your surgeries and treatments. You model how we are all Called to rely on God in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health! Over time, it might be tempting to take your healing for granted. Maddie, please, please, please, NEVER take your miracle for granted, I don’t! God picked you out, because you are special. He has a job that only you can do!

Your sickness made you strong, courageous, independent, and confident; nothing seems to be an obstacle for you, Maddie! You are fearless! Monday night you were climbing on the new bike your big sister, Josie got for her fourth birthday. Nothing can keep you down, this is God’s grace!

I pray that your ordeal will make you faithful and faith filled! God gave you these qualities, no doubt you’ll need them to accomplish His plan for you. In fact, you are already touching lives. Every day you teach me lessons about grace, resilience, innocence, adventure, and fortitude.

You live every second to the fullest, using your dog, Abby, as your personal mountain to climb, scaling furniture, and so much more! You're healthy, beautiful, smart, creative, and lots of fun! You have lots of fun playing with Josie! She adores you - you love her with all of your heart!

Maddie, every single day at least one person asks me how you are...every single day! You’ve made a profound impact on the lives of literally thousands of people all over the world, at the tender age of 19½ months old! I can only imagine the impact you’ll have when you grow up!

You stole my heart when you were born, my heart broke when you were so sick, I praised God for your miraculous healing. Now you are well and ruling your corner of the universe! The BEST is yet to come, Maddie, just wait to see the blessings God has in store for you!

I love you with all of my heart, precious Maddie!