Team Maddie Update!

Hello Family & Friends! We are so thankful for the support we have received from our family and friends!! The 2^nd Annual Team Maddie Bowling Fundraiser for 2013 was a huge success!! Your contribution was greatly appreciated! We were able to give a monetary donation to The Parker Lee Project, Annabelle’s Wish, & to buy Tubie Toppers for children at Mott’s Hospital! Nathan, our cousin and awesome DJ, made the day a ton of fun while keeping the event organized! Thank you Nathan!! Also, thank you to everyone that donated a basket, the raffle turned out great! We are blessed & so grateful to have you all in our lives! We can’t wait for this year’s event! 

Melissa, thank you for your awesome photography skills!

This fall we will be holding The 3^rd Annual Team Maddie Bowling Fundraiser on September 13, 2014 @ noon. The fundraiser will be held at Plaza Lanes in Plymouth, Michigan. Tickets will be $20 pre-sale or $25 (cash) at the door … The tickets include: 2 games of bowling, shoe rentals, 2 slices of pizza, & pop. There will be a 50/50 raffle & a basket raffle to help raise money as well! Please let me know if you are able to donate gift cards or baskets! We are so excited to have Nathan DJ our event again this year! We are also very thankful, to our cousin David, for providing us with the opportunity to have a photobooth! Be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time this year via paypal, cash, or check (made out to Madison Bermingham). We are so excited to celebrate Maddie & raise money for her to get a wheelchair that she so desperately needs!!!! Can’t wait to see you all in a few weeks!

                                             Mommy & me time                                Little Red Riding Hood for Halloween

Maddie is doing well & has had a great year!! Last fall Maddie continued in the Early On Program through Wayne County. She made a great connection with her teacher, Kristen & physical therapist, Jeanette. They were amazing & worked so well with Maddie. They took the time to get to know her & were able to help her enjoy new sensory activities. Maddie graduated from this program & we were very sad to say good-bye! We are a bit anxious & excited to start a new program this fall.

                        AFO Fitting                                  Foot Painting at School

As you all know, this winter was very long, cold & snowy … we are proud of Maddie for staying strong & healthy!! Unfortunately, Maddie has always struggled with seizures. She takes quite a few medications to help keep seizures under control. We are constantly changing medication dosages & trying new medication combinations to help control the seizures. Maddie has struggled with seizures the most this year. We are very thankful that she has stayed healthy, but hate watching how awful the seizures are on her body. After a follow-up appointment with her neurologist this summer, we changed medications again & are seeing good results. Maddie has sensitivities to quick movements & loud noises. These types of triggers are often the cause of seizures.

Maddie's 3rd Birthday <3 Tea Party!!!

This past spring Maddie was fitted for AFO’s (Ankle Foot Orthotics) to help keep her feet in a neutral position. She is very strong & is able to break through the Velcro that keeps them on her feet. We are still working on adjusting the braces & keeping her comfortable. In the spring we also took a family vacation to Holden Beach in North Carolina. The kids enjoyed spending time together, swimming, the ocean, going for walks, & playing with their cousins. Maddie likes to have her toes in the sand!

Holden Beach, NC Family Vacation 2014!

Maddie & Ethan had a busy spring & summer filled with play dates with friends & cousins! Maddie has been healthy & therefore, able to go out more often. We had adventures at the Detroit Zoo, Maybury farm, Kensington farm, Greenfield Village, Gaylord, Traverse City, North Carolina (Holden Beach), & Grand Rapids!!

Spending Time with Uncle Paddy In Gaylord 

                                                                 Train at the Detroit Zoo                               Play date with Jojo

With the bowling fundraiser right around the corner, we are excited to see everyone in their Team Maddie attire! This year, we hope to raise enough to money to cover the cost of Maddie’s wheelchair. After an evaluation from her physical therapist and assistive technology specialist, we recognized the need to enhance Maddie’s mobility. The adaptive wheelchair will also benefit Maddie’s positioning needs. Hope to see you all at this year’s event!