Meet Champion, Maddie

Maddie was born with hemihypertrophy, a rare condition that can cause uneven growth and increase the risk of childhood cancers like Wilms tumor. At age three, a routine screening revealed a tumor in her kidney. She underwent six months of treatment at St. Luke Children’s, including surgery, and entered remission. Unfortunately, seven years later, imaging revealed her cancer had returned, destroying her left kidney, spreading to her liver and blocking a major vein. Her treatment spanned 18 months of chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries, including a 13-hour operation to remove her kidney, part of her liver, and the tumor blocking her vein. Throughout the intense treatments, Maddie’s determination never wavered. Today, she’s in recovery and continues follow-up care at St. Luke’s Children’s. Her journey, marked by early detection, expert medical care, and unwavering strength has given her the chance to keep growing and thriving.