Families if you would like to share your story we would love to post it here. By sharing your families story you are helping spread the word about the purpose of our cause! Please contact us so we can put it on our site!
On January 23 of 2007 our 6 year old daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with a malignant tumor called Rhabdomyosarcoma. It was in her left kidney and attached to her pancreas, diaphragm and spleen. The surgeons were able to remove all visible pieces but the tumor did break open during that process and there was some spillage in her body cavity.
After she was well enough, Emily started 42 weeks of chemo and thrown in the middle were 4 weeks of radiation. On November 12 of 2007 we thought that Emily had her last chemo treatment. Then, on May 3 of 2008 we had to rush Emily back to the hospital because of breathing problems. We were told that the tumor was back and that it had collapsed her left lung.
After several rounds of chemo and radiation the tumor continued to grow so our only option was surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery was more than her little body could handle, especially since the tumor was the size of a football. Emily never woke up from her surgery and died one week later on June 24, 2008.
There are no words for the pain that you feel after losing a child. There will always be an emptiness in our lives. Now we are making our family’s mission to make sure Emily’s death is not in vain and that one day hopefully in our lifetime we will see a cure for the cancer that took our sweet little girl from us way too soon. To find out more about The Butterfly Fund please click here!
Madeline Renee Harrill was born on April 11, 2003. From her earliest moments she exhibited a love for life. She was so perfectly blessed with traits that would serve her well throughout her short life. She was fearless.
Maddie was initially diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in early October 2007 after growing severely ill over a previous weekend. A CT scan and subsequent surgery revealed the presence of a softball size mass attached to her bladder. Her treatment protocol included 40 rounds of chemotherapy and over 2 dozen rounds of radiation. During her first day of chemotherapy she met a new friend. Emily Barger and her mom came by with a gift and some words of encouragement. Maddie’s father had attended high school with Emily’s parents but, this was the first day the two girls had met. They would forever be a team.
Many children undergoing cancer treatment fight a constant battle with low blood counts and infections. Maddie seemed to be the lucky one because her journey was not littered with unscheduled hospital visits due to excessively low blood counts and infections. Her chemotherapy treatments typically occurred on Mondays and that was the only thing that would keep her from school and her friends.
The new year began with 6 weeks in Nashville as she underwent radiation treatment at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. While in Nashville, she met a soldier in the Opry Mills Mall who was waiting on his wife as she was getting her nails manicured. After speaking with Maddie for a few minutes he left the shop to return a few minutes later with a stuffed bear and handwritten note that read “Keep up the fight….never quit fighting…from one soldier to another”.
After returning home in February, she resumed her busy social calendar and not-so-secret crush on John Paul. She seemed to struggle to squeeze in treatments as she attended school, church, birthday parties, sleep-overs, spring recitals, vacation bible school, and play dates. As Maddie was rapidly approaching the end of her treatment in the summer of 2008, she and Emily suffered relapses within a few weeks of one another. As Emily was eulogized on television one evening Maddie’s mother struggled to explain Emily’s passing when Maddie said, “Mommy why are you crying? Heaven is a good place.” From the mouths of babes. Sadly, Maddie would relapse just days later and pass away within a couple of weeks.
Maddie’s strength and undying spirit represented a source of strength for the people who were supposed to be supporting her. Friends, family, and even strangers converged on the family as they dealt with Maddie’s illness and passing. These friendships were forever galvanized and lives were changed for the better because of Maddie and the impact her short but meaningful life had on so many. So much of her legacy is represented by these fortified friendships and changed lives. To find out more about the Butterfly Fund please click here
April 23 - August 24, 2012 (activities.utk.edu)
May 1 - August 31, 2012 (UC Concourse Gallery)
Student Activities Office
305 University Center
1502 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37996-4800
Phone: (865) 974-5455
Fax: (865) 974-9252
Office Hours: M-F » 8AM-5PM
