Maddy Young's Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
UPDATE Oct 17, 2017: After what was thought to be successful treatment, Maddy’s cancer has returned. This round of treatment will be more intensive and twice the duration (one year) as her first round of treatment. We are re-opening the fundraiser with an even more aggressive goal to assist and support the Youngs for another year. I’ve added new details to Maddy’s story below.
Discovery
On what seemed to like a typical Saturday afternoon in 2016 Steve and Kristina Young took their four year-old daughter Maddy to the doctor with stomach ache and a slight fever.
After a quick check-up, she was transferred to the emergency room. There they were advised to seek additional medical guidance. Maddy then took a 100-mile ambulance ride to a specialist in Sacramento.
A Cantaloupe-Sized Tumor
At 1:30am Sunday morning, the Youngs were informed that Maddy had a nine by twelve centimeter tumor in her abdomen—about the size of a small cantaloupe.
Maddy had a Stage III Wilms Tumor, which, thankfully is treatable and curable.
Maddy had major surgery five days after she was administered into the hospital. The tumor, several lymph nodes, and her entire right kidney were removed.
Life in the ICU was hard. This four year-old girl was in more pain than most of us have ever known. It broke our hearts to see her like this, but we are extremely thankful that she's alive and the tumor is out.
Treatment, New Tumors, and More Treatment
After surgery, Maddy underwent radiation and chemo therapy for six months and things were looking good. There was no sign of cancer until a routine MRI showed new, small tumors on her diaphragm and lung.
Maddy had these new tumors surgically removed and now faces a year of even more intensive treatment. Every three weeks she will spend five days at the hospital undergoing chemotherapy. This schedule is expected to continue for a year.
Medial & Other Expenses
The road ahead of the Young family is a long one, which is why they need our help. Caring for a child with cancer is a full time job and the Youngs are already a two-income household. It’s likely they will give up one income to care for and homeschool Maddy.
Maddy's radiation and chemo therapy will continued well into 2018. The Youngs will hit the out-of-pocket maximum on their insurance for the third year in a row.
Finally, there are ancillary expenses few consider. They will stay at the hospital for about a week out of every month. They eat out three meals a day. They have to make several trips back and forth to their home, 100 miles away. That means more spent on fuel and auto repairs.
The money from this campaign will go toward paying the Youngs’ medical bills, covering travel expenses related to frequent hospital visits, pay for assistance with routine housework and supplement the lost income from taking a year off work.
Maddy will get the world-class care she needs, regardless of funding. However, by contributing, you're helping relieve the entire Young family of the emotional anguish that comes with severe financial strain.
The Young Family Needs Our Help
Imaging going through the heartache of having a family member diagnosed with cancer, only to be left with crushing medical debt and half your normal income.
We're all praying for Maddy's full recovery and, with your help, a return to normalcy for the Young family.
Discovery
On what seemed to like a typical Saturday afternoon in 2016 Steve and Kristina Young took their four year-old daughter Maddy to the doctor with stomach ache and a slight fever.
After a quick check-up, she was transferred to the emergency room. There they were advised to seek additional medical guidance. Maddy then took a 100-mile ambulance ride to a specialist in Sacramento.
A Cantaloupe-Sized Tumor
At 1:30am Sunday morning, the Youngs were informed that Maddy had a nine by twelve centimeter tumor in her abdomen—about the size of a small cantaloupe.
Maddy had a Stage III Wilms Tumor, which, thankfully is treatable and curable.
Maddy had major surgery five days after she was administered into the hospital. The tumor, several lymph nodes, and her entire right kidney were removed.
Life in the ICU was hard. This four year-old girl was in more pain than most of us have ever known. It broke our hearts to see her like this, but we are extremely thankful that she's alive and the tumor is out.
Treatment, New Tumors, and More Treatment
After surgery, Maddy underwent radiation and chemo therapy for six months and things were looking good. There was no sign of cancer until a routine MRI showed new, small tumors on her diaphragm and lung.
Maddy had these new tumors surgically removed and now faces a year of even more intensive treatment. Every three weeks she will spend five days at the hospital undergoing chemotherapy. This schedule is expected to continue for a year.
Medial & Other Expenses
The road ahead of the Young family is a long one, which is why they need our help. Caring for a child with cancer is a full time job and the Youngs are already a two-income household. It’s likely they will give up one income to care for and homeschool Maddy.
Maddy's radiation and chemo therapy will continued well into 2018. The Youngs will hit the out-of-pocket maximum on their insurance for the third year in a row.
Finally, there are ancillary expenses few consider. They will stay at the hospital for about a week out of every month. They eat out three meals a day. They have to make several trips back and forth to their home, 100 miles away. That means more spent on fuel and auto repairs.
The money from this campaign will go toward paying the Youngs’ medical bills, covering travel expenses related to frequent hospital visits, pay for assistance with routine housework and supplement the lost income from taking a year off work.
Maddy will get the world-class care she needs, regardless of funding. However, by contributing, you're helping relieve the entire Young family of the emotional anguish that comes with severe financial strain.
The Young Family Needs Our Help
Imaging going through the heartache of having a family member diagnosed with cancer, only to be left with crushing medical debt and half your normal income.
We're all praying for Maddy's full recovery and, with your help, a return to normalcy for the Young family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mike Wilhelm
Organizer
Chico, CA
Stephen Young
Beneficiary
