This is my sweet friend Maddie Skog from Minnesota. Maddie was diagnosed with a gene mutation (CDH1) a few years ago. This gene mutation leaves those who are positive for it with a greater than 80% chance of developing an extremely aggressive killer stomach cancer (HDGC or hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.) This is the same gene mutation and cancer that took the life of Maddie’s mother when she was only 12 years old. The national recommendation for a positive diagnosis with this gene mutation is to have the entire stomach removed when a person reaches the age of 20. Two of Maddie’s uncles who were also positive for the gene mutation and diagnosed with stomach cancer and also had a total gastrectomy. It is a very difficult life changing event.

In August of 2024 (Maddie was 20 years old) after counseling with her doctors Maddie made the difficult and brave decision to undergo a total Prophylactic Gastrectomy in order to preserve her own life. Maddie also suffers from Ehlers Dahnlos Syndrome or EDS which prevents normal recovery and healing due to very fragile and unhealthy tissue. This has made Maddie’s recovery even more complicated. She simply cannot heal correctly and since Aug. 2024 has been hospitalized 7 times with a number of surgeries and this has prevented Maddie from returning to work and life in general. Maddie has had a resection, sepsis, a feeding tube, several surgeries to resolve the feeding tube complications and so many other unforeseen complications from having her stomach removed. Maddie is just trying to survive and move forward but the weight of hospital bills and other living expenses now feel crushing and heavy without the ability to return to work or life in general. State disability is a joke and cannot supplement what the costs of Maddie’s life or hospitalizations are demanding.

We are reaching out to a community who steps up for one another in hopes that this sweet girl can find some relief and aid to help her move through this next chapter of her life.

As someone who also carries the mutation (along with my children) and who have also gone through the surgeries and watched my children suffer through as well, I am asking for angels here on earth to step in as proxy mothers and fathers to this young woman who has lost so much from this horrible disease. A little from many goes a very long way and any amount is appreciated. We love you Maddie and we are rooting for you!