Community Rallies Around Sick Cowichan Valley Girl

DUNCAN - A little girl from the Cowichan Valley is in the fight of her life at just two and a half year old Maddison Rose is battling a rare form of cancer.

She is facing a long and difficult fight and her family needs both emotional and financial support to see it through.

In the playroom at BC Children's Hospital - little Maddison or "Maddi" seems like your average happy and energetic toddler.

About 6 months ago, her family noticed a change in Maddison. Flu-like symptoms - high fever, but doctors told them she was fine.

She was finally admitted to the Cowichan District Hospital on the evening of march 20th with a high fever. After blood tests, an ultra sound and a chest X-Ray - doctors found a 10cm mass in her liver and spots on her lungs.

She was rushed to BC Children's Hospital.

Maddison has had one session of chemotherapy - with good response already. But she faces months of treatment. A combination of surgery to remove the tumour and chemo to treat any cancer that has spread throughout her body.

It's emotionally and financially draining. Maddison's mom - Hannah - can't work and they'll have to stay in Vancouver for at least 6 months.

But back home in the Cowichan Valley - the community is rallying around Maddison and her family. Donation collection jars have sprung up.

An event is planned this weekend on the Cowichan Tribes soccer fields. A community healing prayer for Maddison and all kids at BC Children's Hospital.

It's a fundraiser too - with rose pins and t-shirts to be sold to raise money.

Follow Jonathan Bartlett on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/ANewsJonathan

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News & Politics

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• /A\ News Vancouver Island
• Duncan
• Liver Cancer
• Little Girl
• Fight
• Chemotherapy
• Treatment
• Surgery
• Hospital
• Maddison Rose
• Jonathan Bartlett