Help Our Sweet Madi Begin Her Fight Against Severe Aplastic Anemia

Just two weeks ago, our world changed.

Our 5-year-old daughter, Madilyn, was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia — a rare and life-threatening condition where her bone marrow has nearly stopped producing the blood cells her body needs to live. This was completely unexpected and has turned our lives upside down.

We’re at the very beginning of this journey — one that will include countless doctor visits, blood transfusions, a bone marrow transplant, and a long, fragile recovery. We’re preparing ourselves for a road filled with uncertainty, but what we do know is that Madi is strong, and she won’t walk it alone.

Madi is everything a parent could hope for. She’s kind, respectful, gentle, and cheerful. She’s got a sweet soul and a smile that lights up every room she walks into. She loves Roblox, coloring, crafts, YouTube, reading books, and bouncing endlessly on her trampoline.

And through all of this — the constant hospital visits, the long car rides, the blood draws, transfusions, and needle pokes — she has shown a strength and bravery that leaves us in awe. Even when she’s scared or tired, she holds still, wipes her tears, and pushes through with a courage far beyond her 5 years.

As her parents, our focus is on giving her everything she needs to fight and heal. But the emotional, physical, and financial burden is real. Sarah, Madilyn’s mom, recently had to give up her second job in order to care for Madi, her siblings, and her grandmother, while still working remotely at her primary job as many hours as possible. On my side, as her father, I am the provider for a household of ten — my wife and I are raising seven children and a foster daughter — and even before this diagnosis, our expenses were stretched thin. Now, I’ve also had to take time off work and will continue to do so, because being by Madilyn’s side through this battle is where I need to be.

That’s why we’re humbly starting this fundraiser — not because we want to, but because we need to. Our goal is to ease some of the weight of what’s to come: the cost of travel, time off work, meals on the road, rising medical bills, and the unexpected things we can’t plan for but know are coming.

We’re also launching a T-shirt fundraiser. Every shirt sold will go directly toward helping us stay on our feet and focus on Madi’s recovery.

How You Can Support Madi

• Attend Madi’s Benefit — Join us at The Other Place (restaurant) on Saturday, October 4th from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

360 E Ridgeway Ave, Waterloo, IA 50702

Enjoy silent auctions, raffles, T-shirts, and more — all in support of Madi.

• Buy a T-shirt — Show your love and support by wearing one of Madi’s fundraiser shirts: shopthebbboutique.com/collections/madithebaddie-fundraiser

• Donate if you’re able — Every dollar helps lighten the load

• Share our story — The more hearts it reaches, the stronger our support

• Keep Madi in your prayers and thoughts — They carry us

We have a long way to go, but we believe in Madi’s strength — and the strength of the community around her. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for walking beside us as we begin this journey. Your support means more than you’ll ever know.

With love and gratitude,

Sarah and Andrew / Ashley