Maddie Higgin's Story
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Maddie was a fairly normal little girl. She liked girly things, the color pink, princess stories, rainbows, dancing, playing dress up, science, and nature. She was an extremely bright child, both in intellect and disposition, leaving an unforgettable impression on everyone who met her and enjoyed her inner light.
Her normal little life was drastically changed in the fall of 2011. What seemed like a virus, resulted in a seizure. Diagnostic testing eventually showed a tumor in the right temporal/parietal lobe of the brain. Surgery and the subsequent biopsy confirmed that the tumor was a very aggressive brain cancer called Glioblastoma Multiforme, which although it is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, it is extremely rare in children and comes with a very poor prognosis. |
Following surgery, Maddie was treated with conventional chemotherapy and 33 doses of radiation. She remained cancer free for almost exactly a year before a routine MRI scan showed a new mass in November of 2012, this time located on her right frontal lobe. Surgery was performed almost a year to the day after her first. Chemotherapy was discontinued as a failure, but another 33 doses of radiation followed. Routine scans showed no signs of disease for another 6 months until in June of 2013 a new tumor was found, now in her cerebellum. After exploring and eventually being denied for one reason or another what few options might have been available for treatment, Maddie went on home hospice care in August. She passed away on September 23rd 2013.
In her short time on this earth, her family and friends tried to provide her as many rich experiences as possible. Her story has and continues to touch the lives of thousands of people.
In her short time on this earth, her family and friends tried to provide her as many rich experiences as possible. Her story has and continues to touch the lives of thousands of people.