So Much Support For Madi

   Wow, time is flying by quickly.  I feel like I am in a whirlwind getting ready for Madi's lengthening.  I am just checking things off the list one by one.  We are happy to announce that we have our first fundraising event planned for Madi thanks to our amazing friends at Saints Pub +Patio in Beaverdale.  We have a fun night planned with a silent auction and raffles, karaoke, and  t-shirts and bracelets for sale.  It will be family oriented and there will be activities for the kids.  If you would like to participate the event is at Saints on Friday April 26th from 6-9pm.  We have already had so many generous donations for our silent auction/raffle and we are working on accruing many more.  Thank you to all who have donated and who continue to spread the word for Madi.  All of your help has truly helped to take some stress away from us while we are planning this long ordeal and will continue to allow us to focus on what is most important, taking care of Madi and our family. 
    If any of you  have items/services to donate for the silent auction/raffle, please message me on the blog. 

   As far as Madi goes, she is as carefree as ever.  Just the way I want her to be right now.  There are so many times that I just stand by and watch her and revel in her spirit and strength.  She is just so amazing!  I have been thinking about having some photographs taken of her before we go. I just want to have a memory of what she looks like right now, with her shorter leg and all because to me she is perfect and if  I thought for a second that this condition would not affect her life in the future, I would never have this surgery done. I love her leg the way it is, it is my Madi.  But I know in my heart that this surgery will make her life better in the long run and will make it so that one day she won't have to deal with prosthetics and shoe lifts, pain or trying to find shoes that work.  Madi has not been wanting to wear her shoe with the lift and the brace lately.  She wants to wear "cute" shoes.  Shoe's that are dressy or sparkly or the cool boots that are now in style.  So I will be thrilled when she can finally wear some of them all the time. 

  Last but not least, we want to thank everyone who has helped and are helping right now.  Whether its sharing this blog or our fundraising page with your facebook friends, donating money, donating for auction/raffle, contacting companies for donations, organizing events, asking what you can do to help or just sending your prayers.  We are eternally grateful!  We are feeling so much love and support right now and all of this will help us get to our goal...to get both Madi's feet on the ground!! 

Lengthening is coming soon!

A healed hip!

    So we had Madi's new x-rays taken near the end of February and I sent them off to Dr. Paley hoping for healing in Madi's hip.  Dr. Paley emailed us promptly letting us know that Madi's hip
 has healed and she is ready for lengthening.  Praise God!!  It has been such a long, hard road for her that I wasn't quite prepared to hear that she was ready.  The even more surprising news was that she needs to get started with lengthening this summer before she turns 5.  So here we are getting ready for Madi's first lengthening which will be on May 22nd.  I am so overwhelmed.  We really thought we would have more time to prepare for this.  We are now trying to set up some fundraising events and have also set up a fundraising page at http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/Making-Miracles-for-Madi/44841    I am working on finding a rental for us to live in and also working on insurance approvals.  So much to do in such a short period of time! 
    Here is what Madi is looking at this summer.  She will have surgery to break her femur bone and have an external fixator put on that has pins that go from the outside of her leg through the bone in different spots.  There are screws that will then be turned by us several times a day to slowly pull the bone apart to allow for new bone to grow in between. Our goal is 8cm total but this depends on how physical therapy and healing progress.  She will have land physical therapy 5 days a week in the office and everyday (twice a day on weekends) by us.  She will also have pool therapy 3 days a week, hopefully.  The therapy helps to keep Madi's range of motion in her hip and knee and also aids to lengthen the muscles as well.  It is not easy and can be very painful for the children.  This is the part I am dreading the most.  Madi has always been so brave and strong so I am hoping she will do better than I can anticipate.  We will do all of this for about 4 months in Florida.  After that we will come home and let the bone consolidate while she is still in the fixator.  After a total of approximately 8 months, we will go back down and have the fixator removed and a rod will be placed in the bone to stabilize it.  This will be a long year but it will be worth it. 

The Strongest person I know!

 
 
   Madi is so excited to have her "little leg" made "long".  She can't wait to go back to Florida and see her doctors and asked everyday if we need to get our bags packed.  I love that even after all that she has been through these last 2 years that she has no fear of her doctors, just excitement and love.  I admire her so much!  I am praying everyday for strength and peace.  I have faith in God's plan for her and am being reminded daily by him that we are on the right path.  We ask for prayers as we get ready to embark on this next step in our journey with Madi.  If you would like to donate to Madi's care, there is a "donate" button on this page, you can visit the fundraising page, or donations can be taken to any U.S. Bank and deposited into Madison Willcox Benefit Fund.  Thank you to all of our family and friends for your prayers and support.  We can't do this without you!