Help us support Madi Swann!

On November 4th, 2021 our family received some the most devastating new a family can hear... "Your daughter has cancer."

Madi is an active and happy 13 year-old who loves caring for animals, horseback riding with her friends, cheerleading, hunting, fishing, shooting and playing volleyball. Madi has a 21 year-old brother, Austin and a 32 year-old sister, Samm and they are her best friends! She has the best personality, sense of humor and most loving hear that a parent could ever ask for... Just an overall amazing kid!

About 4 months ago, Madi started complaining about shoulder pain without associated injuries. The initial impression of her shoulder was a possible AC joint injury and prescribed ibuprofen and Tylenol for pain and inflammation. After starting this home treatment, Madi let us know that the pain in her shoulder had somewhat subsided. About a month ago, her hip started hurting following volleyball practice. Still continuing the home treatment and following up with the doctor, there was noted pain while walking and continued to have pain in her hip and shoulder. She also noticed a small increase in size to the lymph node in her groin area. The pain had been attributed to Madi’s active lifestyle. She was referred to physical therapy and prescribed muscle relaxers and a steroid for the inflammation.

 

On November 2nd, Madi was home with her brother when he noticed an increased swelling to her shoulder and increased pain in her knee and hip. At this point we had suspicions that there must have been a correlation in all of her pain that she had been experiencing for months. We decided to take Madi to the ER as our appointment with her primary was still two weeks away. While there, Madi had her shoulder, left thigh and now her left knee assessed. Of these locations, it was noted that the groin lymph node was larger and increased pain to touch. We gave the ER physician her background over the past 4 months, and he too was suspicious of 3 separate areas of pain and ordered bloodwork and x-rays. The x-ray came back and there was soft tissue swelling in the AC joint and her labs also showed that her white blood count was high and she was slightly anemic. The physician stated that there were markers indicative of Leukemia, but he thought that it may be something like Cat Scratch, so we should not worry. We were discharged with antibiotics and a follow-up with our primary for a biopsy of the shoulder.

 

The next morning, we received a call from the ER physician stating that Madi’s labs had been sent to UCD and they wanted us to bring her in and she would be flown to UCD immediately. Madi was flown out with an amazing flight crew that evening and welcomed at UCD with loving open arms. After running some final tests that evening, we received her diagnosis of ALL Leukemia (Cell B Acute Lymphatic Leukemia) the following morning.

 

Madi has already gone through many diagnostic procedures and had her first chemo last night -- she is doing well. She is facing this head-on and without hesitation. We are very proud of her and not surprised by her strength. She is a warrior.

 

While this is the hardest thing that we have ever had to face, we are extremely grateful for prayers and support that all of our friends and family have extended during this difficult time.

 

Thank you all and God Bless!

 

Jason, Heidi, Samm & Austin Swann