The Cape Cod Jimmy Fund Classic - Maddie in the Norwell Mariner

Maddie Stories

Reprinted with permission of The Norwell Mariner

Sweet Madeline

Norwell youngster continues to battle leukemia

Byline: By Matthew J. Gill

MGILL@CNC.COM

In the first few weeks of 2005, Madeline Rose Karle will celebrate two significant anniversaries.

First, on Jan. 19, the youngster who's an energetic fan of both her six-month-old brother Ryan and Sponge Bob Square Pants, will turn 3 years old. A week and a half before her birthday, however, Madeline will arrive at a more somber milestone - the one-year anniversary of the day her leukemia was discovered.

"She crosses a big bridge in January," said her father Larry Karle. "We're anxiously awaiting the new year to see how she's doing."

Since Madeline was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Jan. 9 of this year, the brown-haired girl has been keeping a busy schedule of chemotherapy treatments, which have included weekly visits to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Boston Children's Hospital, and nightly medications.

Immediately after the diagnosis, Madeline spent five to six weeks at Dana Farber where she underwent numerous tests and the beginning of her treatment. Since then, she's had her blood tested every week, and has undergone spinal taps once every nine weeks. She's scheduled to receive her next spinal tap, or "lumbar puncture" - a procedure in which fluid is removed by needle from the lumbar region of the spine for diagnostic testing - just before Christmas.

As she nears the end of the first half of Dana Farber's two-year treatment program for this form of leukemia, Karle said the doctors will take a step back in January to examine Madeline's progress.

"She's doing very well," said Karle, who added that Madeline's treatment pace will slow to one spinal tap every 18 weeks, come January. "There's no reason to believe she's not on track to do very well."

But even when she completes this stage of treatment, Laurie Karle, Madeline's mother, said her little girl will have to continue to visit Dana Farber during the next five years for check ups. While battling the effects of her leukemia and the treatments designed to cure it, Madeline has still been growing, developing and learning a lot. "She's always on the go," her father said. "She just goes, and goes, and goes and never stops."

At home in Norwell, Madeline loves to read and tell stories with her family and friends; she likes to play in the toy kitchen she's established in the family's living room, and she likes to eat pizza. During visits to the supermarket with her father, Madeline has been known to consume a large portion of cheese as they travel up and down the aisles. "She eats cheese like crazy," her father said.

Recently Madeline reached another important milestone; she exceeded the 30-pound weight barrier.

"She couldn't get past 25 for the longest time," said Brian Lockwood, a family friend.

Whether in the hospital, or at home in Norwell, Madeline has been making many friends, and her parents say she often plays with some children in the neighborhood who are considerably older than her.

"She's a very outgoing kid," her father said. "She thinks she's 14."

Laurie added that "Maddie" - as she's commonly referred to by friends - is also a chatterbox.

"She doesn't stop talking from the moment she gets up to the moment she goes to bed; all day long," her mother said.

If all goes well in January and the following months, Madeline may begin attending nursery school in September.

While her parents and doctors have been focusing on her leukemia and the treatments, Larry Karle said the hardest thing for his daughter are the days when she has to remain at the hospital, unable to see her friends.

"She doesn't understand about her sickness," he said, "but she notices that."

And when the spinal tap treatments are complete, it often takes Madeline a few days to recover.

"It's kind of a long day for a 2-year-old," said Laurie.

Madeline has, however, made the best of the time she's spent at Dana Farber, where she's befriended many fellow patients and several doctors whom she collectively describes as "my fwends."

On one particular visit, Madeline had the opportunity to meet Red Sox players Jason Varitek and Bronson Arroyo. Because the two athletes - who at the time had yet to win the World Series - were filming a commercial at Dana Farber that day, Madeline also had the opportunity to be a part of the filming.

While Madeline's young body has been battling the disease internally, she's had no shortage of external support. Many members of the Karle's extended family have chipped in, as have numerous friends and neighbors. Karle also spoke highly of the miracle-workers he says work for Dana Farber.

"We owe everything to the folks at Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber," said Karle. "They're just unbelievable people."

"I would do anything for the Jimmy Fund because of what they've done for [Madeline]," he added.

"People from all over the country and all over the world go there," said Karle, who added that while visiting Dana Farber, his family has met lots of people who have come to the medical facility, from across the country. "It's amazing how many people have been to Dana Farber, or been helped by Dana Farber," said Karle.

In addition to caring for Madeline, the Karle's needed the support because of the arrival of Ryan, their second child who was born a few months after Madeline's leukemia was diagnosed.

In an attempt to repay the many doctors, nurses and others at Dana Farber who have been working with their daughter, the Karle's family and friends hosted a golf tournament in September to raise money for Dana Farber and The Jimmy Fund, in honor of Madeline. During the event, which was held at Captain's Golf Course in Brewster, and called the Cape Cod Jimmy Fund Classic, a crowd of 148 participants - including some doctors and nurses from Dana Farber - raised more than $17,000 for Dana Farber.

The group is already planning the second golf tournament, which will be held Oct. 1, 2005 at the Ocean Edge Golf Course in Brewster. "We're trying to make it a big community event for next year," said Karle.

According to the Web site: www.emedicine.com, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is the most common of childhood cancers, and approximately 2,000-2,500 new cases are diagnosed in The United States each year. It's also considered the most treatable form of leukemia, with a cure rate reported at 70-90 percent.

For more information about the fundraiser, check out the

Web site: www.capecodjimmyfundclassic.com.




				Maddie Stories Reprinted with permission of The Norwell Mariner Sweet Madeline Norwell youngster continues to battle leukemia Byline: By Matthew J. Gill MGILL@CNC.COM In the first few weeks of 2005, Madeline Rose Karle will celebrate two significant anniversaries. First, on Jan. 19, the youngster who's an energetic fan of both her six-month-old brother Ryan and Sponge Bob Square Pants, will turn 3 years old. A week and a half before her birthday, however, Madeline will arrive at a more somber milestone - the one-year anniversary of the day her leukemia was discovered. "She crosses a big bridge in January," said her father Larry Karle. "We're anxiously awaiting the new year to see how she's doing." Since Madeline was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Jan. 9 of this year, the brown-haired girl has been keeping a busy schedule of chemotherapy treatments, which have included weekly visits to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Boston Children's Hospital, and nightly medications. Immediately after the diagnosis, Madeline spent five to six weeks at Dana Farber where she underwent numerous tests and the beginning of her treatment. Since then, she's had her blood tested every week, and has undergone spinal taps once every nine weeks. She's scheduled to receive her next spinal tap, or "lumbar puncture" - a procedure in which fluid is removed by needle from the lumbar region of the spine for diagnostic testing - just before Christmas. As she nears the end of the first half of Dana Farber's two-year treatment program for this form of leukemia, Karle said the doctors will take a step back in January to examine Madeline's progress. "She's doing very well," said Karle, who added that Madeline's treatment pace will slow to one spinal tap every 18 weeks, come January. "There's no reason to believe she's not on track to do very well." But even when she completes this stage of treatment, Laurie Karle, Madeline's mother, said her little girl will have to continue to visit Dana Farber during the next five years for check ups. While battling the effects of her leukemia and the treatments designed to cure it, Madeline has still been growing, developing and learning a lot. "She's always on the go," her father said. "She just goes, and goes, and goes and never stops." At home in Norwell, Madeline loves to read and tell stories with her family and friends; she likes to play in the toy kitchen she's established in the family's living room, and she likes to eat pizza. During visits to the supermarket with her father, Madeline has been known to consume a large portion of cheese as they travel up and down the aisles. "She eats cheese like crazy," her father said. Recently Madeline reached another important milestone; she exceeded the 30-pound weight barrier. "She couldn't get past 25 for the longest time," said Brian Lockwood, a family friend. Whether in the hospital, or at home in Norwell, Madeline has been making many friends, and her parents say she often plays with some children in the neighborhood who are considerably older than her. "She's a very outgoing kid," her father said. "She thinks she's 14." Laurie added that "Maddie" - as she's commonly referred to by friends - is also a chatterbox. "She doesn't stop talking from the moment she gets up to the moment she goes to bed; all day long," her mother said. If all goes well in January and the following months, Madeline may begin attending nursery school in September. While her parents and doctors have been focusing on her leukemia and the treatments, Larry Karle said the hardest thing for his daughter are the days when she has to remain at the hospital, unable to see her friends. "She doesn't understand about her sickness," he said, "but she notices that." And when the spinal tap treatments are complete, it often takes Madeline a few days to recover. "It's kind of a long day for a 2-year-old," said Laurie. Madeline has, however, made the best of the time she's spent at Dana Farber, where she's befriended many fellow patients and several doctors whom she collectively describes as "my fwends." On one particular visit, Madeline had the opportunity to meet Red Sox players Jason Varitek and Bronson Arroyo. Because the two athletes - who at the time had yet to win the World Series - were filming a commercial at Dana Farber that day, Madeline also had the opportunity to be a part of the filming. While Madeline's young body has been battling the disease internally, she's had no shortage of external support. Many members of the Karle's extended family have chipped in, as have numerous friends and neighbors. Karle also spoke highly of the miracle-workers he says work for Dana Farber. "We owe everything to the folks at Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber," said Karle. "They're just unbelievable people." "I would do anything for the Jimmy Fund because of what they've done for [Madeline]," he added. "People from all over the country and all over the world go there," said Karle, who added that while visiting Dana Farber, his family has met lots of people who have come to the medical facility, from across the country. "It's amazing how many people have been to Dana Farber, or been helped by Dana Farber," said Karle. In addition to caring for Madeline, the Karle's needed the support because of the arrival of Ryan, their second child who was born a few months after Madeline's leukemia was diagnosed. In an attempt to repay the many doctors, nurses and others at Dana Farber who have been working with their daughter, the Karle's family and friends hosted a golf tournament in September to raise money for Dana Farber and The Jimmy Fund, in honor of Madeline. During the event, which was held at Captain's Golf Course in Brewster, and called the Cape Cod Jimmy Fund Classic, a crowd of 148 participants - including some doctors and nurses from Dana Farber - raised more than $17,000 for Dana Farber. The group is already planning the second golf tournament, which will be held Oct. 1, 2005 at the Ocean Edge Golf Course in Brewster. "We're trying to make it a big community event for next year," said Karle. According to the Web site: www.emedicine.com, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is the most common of childhood cancers, and approximately 2,000-2,500 new cases are diagnosed in The United States each year. It's also considered the most treatable form of leukemia, with a cure rate reported at 70-90 percent. For more information about the fundraiser, check out the Web site: www.capecodjimmyfundclassic.com.