Madisyn's Fight Against Cancer

I have never known a young woman who has endured so much and has still faced life with the utmost strength and courage like Madisyn Frazee has. Four years ago after numerous bouts with an unknown illness that caused joint pain, debilitating muscle weakness, skin flare-ups, and horrible headaches, Madisyn was finally diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease, a disorder that mimics symptoms of lupus, dermatomyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis. There is no cure for the disease, and over the years Madisyn has endured numerous treatments involving multiple types of medications, injections, and weekly IV infusions. Many of these treatment options carry their own side effects and come at a very high cost financially. Even with insurance, the family has paid out an average of ten thousand dollars each year in out-of-pocket medical costs. Through it all Madisyn and her parents have held their heads high and pushed through every obstacle thrown at them, even when most people would have given up hope. Now, at just 20 years old, Madisyn has been diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. When removing the initial tumor through the first surgery doctors found it necessary to remove one of her ovaries. She is now facing yet another surgery to see how far the cancer has spread, if it has invaded any other major organs, and to see if there is hope at saving her other ovary and her uterus so that maybe one day she can have a family of her own. After this second surgery she will still have to face multiple rounds of chemotherapy, all the while continuing to fight her mixed connective tissue disease with a battery of other treatments. As a mother, I can’t even begin to imagine what this family is going through, as this is every parent’s worst nightmare. Dealing with such devastating news is difficult enough, but this family is also facing additional financial burdens from the incoming medical expenses. If you know this family, you know they would never ask anyone for anything. That’s why I’m reaching out to all of my friends and family and maybe even a few kind strangers who might read this request and will support the family in whatever way they can. Even if it’s just a few dollars, will you please help me take the financial stress off them so that they can focus on the long battle ahead of them? And if you can’t personally donate, will you please share this post so that maybe another caring stranger who has been blessed financially will consider helping this amazing young woman?