Maddy's March
Donation protected
Sarah and Jay Clemens daughter Maddy was diagnosed with leukemia Tuesday in Springfield, they were quickly sent to St. Jude’s in Memphis for more testing and treatment. Today we have received a firm diagnosis. Maddy has Acute Lymphoblastic B cell Leukemia. This is the kind that will require 6-8 weeks of treatment in Memphis. For the next 2 years she will follow up once a week at Mercy Kids in Springfield, and possibly trips back to St Judes in Memphis.
Even though they will return home Sarah will need to remain home with Maddy for a significant time which will continue to cause a financial strain.
Although the leukemia diagnosis is not the best news, this type of leukemia requires less aggressive treatment and a shorter stay in the hospital which is an answer to prayers Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
St. Jude’s is a great hospital and covers everything Maddy needs and housing for Sarah. What they are in need of is financial assistance for travel and things that they will need that aren’t provided by the hospital as well as for when Sarah's leave runs out. Thank you all for your support and prayers. Please know that even if Sarah and Jay can’t respond they are very thankful for everything.
~ Chris (Big Sister)
How it all started:
A person never knows what to do in a situation like this. This all started back in November with knee pain. Madelyn was complaining most days of the week that she had pain in her left knee. We went to the doctor on November 14th, lab work was ordered along with an X-ray. We were referred to an orthopedic surgeon. After an MRI we had an initial diagnosis: discoid meniscus. She continued to complain of pain off and on, but for the next few weeks more days were good than not. Fast forward to Friday, December 27th. Maddy woke up with pain in her left ankle so bad she wouldn’t walk. I thought maybe it was just really awful growing pains and decided to wait through the weekend to take her to her doctor. As of Saturday she was still in pain and refusing to walk so we went to urgent care. They did an X-ray and told us they had no clue what was going on. We were directed to see her pediatrician. On Monday, we visited Dr. Kosuru and he ordered more lab work. On Tuesday, December 31st, my world as I knew it stopped. Dr. Kosuru called to tell me that the blood work showed signs of abnormal cell growth and we needed to rule out leukemia. We were asked to travel directly to Springfield for further testing. They were unable to rule it out. Dr. Fasipe in Springfield says she did see leukemia cells when she studied Madelyn’s blood. We have been directed to go immediately to St. Jude’s hospital in Memphis, TN. We will find out what type of leukemia this is and what the plan will be. Nothing would thrill me more than to get there today and be told that they were wrong. However, if that’s not the case, we are in this for the long haul. I’ve shared this with a variety of people who all play a role in my family’s life in some way. I leave today for Memphis and will likely be there for the next 6-8 weeks, maybe longer. My mom is at home with James and Alysa, I will be needing help getting the children to different practices and activities while I am away. I don’t know how this will all work out. If you can help in any way, let me know and I’ll keep a list of who I can call on. In the mean time, please please pray.
~Sarah
Even though they will return home Sarah will need to remain home with Maddy for a significant time which will continue to cause a financial strain.
Although the leukemia diagnosis is not the best news, this type of leukemia requires less aggressive treatment and a shorter stay in the hospital which is an answer to prayers Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.
St. Jude’s is a great hospital and covers everything Maddy needs and housing for Sarah. What they are in need of is financial assistance for travel and things that they will need that aren’t provided by the hospital as well as for when Sarah's leave runs out. Thank you all for your support and prayers. Please know that even if Sarah and Jay can’t respond they are very thankful for everything.
~ Chris (Big Sister)
How it all started:
A person never knows what to do in a situation like this. This all started back in November with knee pain. Madelyn was complaining most days of the week that she had pain in her left knee. We went to the doctor on November 14th, lab work was ordered along with an X-ray. We were referred to an orthopedic surgeon. After an MRI we had an initial diagnosis: discoid meniscus. She continued to complain of pain off and on, but for the next few weeks more days were good than not. Fast forward to Friday, December 27th. Maddy woke up with pain in her left ankle so bad she wouldn’t walk. I thought maybe it was just really awful growing pains and decided to wait through the weekend to take her to her doctor. As of Saturday she was still in pain and refusing to walk so we went to urgent care. They did an X-ray and told us they had no clue what was going on. We were directed to see her pediatrician. On Monday, we visited Dr. Kosuru and he ordered more lab work. On Tuesday, December 31st, my world as I knew it stopped. Dr. Kosuru called to tell me that the blood work showed signs of abnormal cell growth and we needed to rule out leukemia. We were asked to travel directly to Springfield for further testing. They were unable to rule it out. Dr. Fasipe in Springfield says she did see leukemia cells when she studied Madelyn’s blood. We have been directed to go immediately to St. Jude’s hospital in Memphis, TN. We will find out what type of leukemia this is and what the plan will be. Nothing would thrill me more than to get there today and be told that they were wrong. However, if that’s not the case, we are in this for the long haul. I’ve shared this with a variety of people who all play a role in my family’s life in some way. I leave today for Memphis and will likely be there for the next 6-8 weeks, maybe longer. My mom is at home with James and Alysa, I will be needing help getting the children to different practices and activities while I am away. I don’t know how this will all work out. If you can help in any way, let me know and I’ll keep a list of who I can call on. In the mean time, please please pray.
~Sarah
Organizer and beneficiary
Chris M Bush
Organizer
Joplin, MO
Sarah Beth Clemens
Beneficiary
