Fundraiser for Maddie

Maddie L is a 17 year old Altoona girl who, in October of 2009 began showing severe symptoms of neurological impairment. These symptoms increased, eventually impacting almost every body system, leaving her significantly weakened and in severe pain. She spent most of the next year and a half in and out of hospitals, from DuPont in Delaware, Children’s and UPMC in Pittsburgh, all the way to The Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, MN.

In January of 2010, it was discovered that Maddie had thyroid cancer, which had spread to the lymph nodes, and had surgery to remove the thyroid, followed by radioactive iodine ablation, to kill off cancer cells which had spread beyond the neck area. She continues to have gamma body scans and subsequent doses of the radioactive iodine to keep the cancer from recurring. It’s theorized that the cancer itself, caused her immune system to go into high gear, which then attacked her nervous system, leaving her with the neurological impairment.

Although there is no current treatment for the neurological damage, both to arms and legs, and systems such as digestion, Maddie requires constant testing and therapies to keep her functioning as normally as possible. She takes several trips to Pittsburgh monthly, and will take trips to Columbus, OH, and possibly return trips to Mayo. Eventually they would like to have her in a 3 week residential rehab program at Mayo. All money raised goes directly to the family, to offset some of the constant cost of Maddie’s travel, copays, medications, etc.
Thank you for your support of Maddie’s Journey!  Maddie's Journey Facebook Page

Luther's Lounge will be having a fundraiser auction for Maddie this week!  Please stay tuned for more details.
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Luther's Lounge Website