While they sang Opera !

I love to talk about Madison Kitz. Madison is now 8 years old and is a living Angel. After her adoption, if memory serves it was before she turned 6 months old, Madison was diagnosed with Wilm's Cancer. The details are sketchy but here goes. Somewhere along the way she underwent Chemo and then lost her first Kidney. I love Madison ( so did Paigee ) and think of her as Paigee's adopted sister. Madison's family is equally loved and respected. Madison later relapsed ( the Cancer came back to her remaining kidney ) and underwent a second round of Chemo. It gets sketchy here, but... Madison lost her remaining kidney. This is when we were blessed and met her during one of Paigee's admissions at LPCH during Paigee's second round of Chemo. The girls were instantly in love and were inseperable. Madison has two loving parents and an unbelievable grandmother, Dee Dee.

Not knowing much of the details other than they have taken on some debt. Until recently Madison's father was self employed and Madison's health insurance was covered by the Knights of Columbus as the family could not cover the costs themselves. The coverage did not cover the costs 100%. The took on debt over, say, the first 6 1/2 years of Madison's life. Charlie was later able to find a position that provided Insurance and allowed him to work part time and also maintain his Business ( started by his Father, it had been open for more than 25 years; one of his clients is the writer Danielle Steele ).

Madison somehow maintains a somewhat normal childhood while undergoing 3 - 5 hour sessions per week for Dialysis. Undergoing Dialysis means life is very limited. Vacations are on hold because it's not possible to say go to Disney Land and be able to keep her weekly appointments ( M, W, F ), not to mention needing to be nearby LPCH for the likely Central Line infection or infection in the lines that are used to administer Dialysis. Overnight's with Girlfriends are out; Madison has nightly feeds via her G-Tube to get her weight up in preparation for a kidney transplant (the requirement is 2 years Cancer free, I think she has been clear now a little over 1 year ).

I would give both arms if Paigee was still alive and all we had to do was give up vacations to be near LPCH and all the admits that were required. I know Charlie and Lisa both celebrate the hand they are dealt compared to the one Rosie and I have been given. Talk about loving a child; this in one unbelievably loving home.

The costs not covered by Insurance each month approach a thousand dollars. How many people do you know with that extra change after paying a Mortgage and the other incidentals ?



Where am I going with this ? Madison Kitz taught Paigee how to sing Opera. The girls rejoiced even in the midst of tragedy. Madison complained a little, but who wouldn't if you were 7 or 8 and had no kidneys ? Madison gave Paigee the love of an older child. She gave Paigee her contagious optimism and joy for life. I want to give back to Madison for her gift to Paigee. Rosie is in the process of setting up the requisite paperwork for donating to Madison. The orgainization in place to handle this is the Children's Organ Transplant Association ( COTA, www.cota.org ). Funds donated to Madison will offset the costs not coverd by Insurance. These monies will follow Madison through her life as an Organ recepient. I believe the bills will be significant. Cota even matches the donations at some percentage I believe. Now that Paigee is gone I can devote much of my energy and love to Madison and her unbelievable family. I'm following Rosie's lead on this. What better place than Paigee's blog to get started

Madsie Kitz's Blog