2nd Annual Team Maddie Fundraiser

Team Maddie T-Shirts

Would you like to join Team Maddie?! Show your support and purchase a NEW t-shirt via paypal for $15 ($3 extra for shipping). Please indicate whether you would like a coral or teal t-shirt and include the size as well:

Adult: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL
Children: XS, S, M, L
Baby: 3m, 6m, 9m, 12m, 2t, 3t, 4t

Thank You!!!!!!!!!

Team Maddie Update

HELLO!! Last fall we had a very successful fundraiser that helped Maddie receive therapy throughout the summer, fall and winter. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone that supported Maddie through buying a t-shirt and/or participating in the bowling fundraiser!! We felt incredibly blessed to have so many loved ones that helped Maddie (and her family)!!

 

Last year’s Team Maddie event helped Maddie receive the therapy that she needed and beyond! This year we plan to donate the proceeds from the bowling fundraiser to the families of children with special needs that we have grown to know and love along our journey with Maddie. We would also like to donate a portion of the proceeds to organizations that provide vital resources to special needs families that have unforeseen financial burdens. The annual Team Maddie event will be another bowl-a-thon that will take place on October 19^th @ noon (@ Plaza Lanes in Plymouth). We will also be selling NEW Team Maddie t-shirts for $15 and the profits from this will go to Maddie (for medical equipment; like a new special needs car seat, etc.).

We have taken a break from therapy as it has been too much for Maddie since this past winter.  Maddie had a rough winter beginning with a virus, followed by an ear infection. She began having more trouble eating and I was also losing my milk supply due to being pregnant. Maddie is very picky and would not drink formula. This all resulted in the inevitable placement of her g-tube. We knew she would need one eventually, as it took her an hour or more to drink 4 ounces of milk. The surgery was less than an hour long, but she had difficulty breathing after surgery. The intubation was very rough on her airway and led to her needing suctioning often and breathing treatments as well. In March, Maddie had her first bought of pneumonia and was hospitalized for IV antibiotics. She recovered quickly and her breathing has continued to improve.

 

Before Maddie’s g-tube surgery I researched the blenderized diet and found that it would be beneficial for her to have “real food” opposed to a special needs formula. This has proven to help her put and keep on weight, lessen her episodes of puking, help with her acid reflux, and make her a happier babe! Al and I cook for Maddie every Sunday and freeze a week's worth of food. She is a pretty healthy eater!! We have a medical grade blender by the Blendtec Company (this thing is crazy good at blending just about anything into a smooth puree that fits through her g-tube). Here is a picture of a week’s worth of food:

 

Maddie celebrated the “Big 2” a few weeks before her actual birthday!! We had a cow girl themed party and many close family and friends attended the celebration of our Maddie Lou. We are so blessed to have such a special little girl in our lives!  We appreciate each day we have with Maddie and she teaches us about love, joy, and patience.

 

This little lady has been teething like crazy this summer! She has cut 4 molars and 2 eye teeth among the other “small teeth” on the top and bottom. Teething is a seizure trigger for Maddie … so this is how it tends to go: teething causes lots of saliva and seizures, seizures also cause lots of extra saliva; therefore lots of suctioning is needed for the TONS of saliva she is producing. Sadly, suctioning causes seizures sometimes too … This summer we have seen a sad, seizurey, drooly, Maddie Lou. She may be on her way to needing a steroid treatment to stop all of these awful seizures.

Maddie proudly announced the birth of her baby brother Ethan the day before her 2^nd birthday (May 24^th)!! She thought he was an awesome birthday present and came to meet him on her birthday (May 25^th). The sibling bond they share is adorable and amazing!