Maggie Brown was the happiest, kindest, sweetest little girl I ever met.  Whenever I saw her, which sadly wasn’t that often, she always had the biggest smile on her face.  She loved to play and she loved life, there was never a dull moment with her.  No one could have EVER imagined her getting sick.  Finding out that Maggie had cancer affected her whole family, even distant relatives like me.  The whole cycle was just crazy and seemed so fast.  She got sick, needed treatment, and had a terrible outcome.

One day, in January 2014, Maggie was playing outside in the snow when she started feeling strange.  She complained about dizziness and nausea and it was difficult for her to walk.  So her mom, Heather, took her to the doctor to see what was causing these symptoms.  After a few tests and examinations, the doctor diagnosed Maggie with inoperable Brain Cancer.  Basically Maggie had a tumor in her brain that they couldn’t remove.  The tumor was near nerves in her brain and if they were to remove the tumor it could have damaged the nerves and even some brain cells.  The result of collapsed nerves can be devastating.  That was a very stressful day for Maggie, Heather, and the rest of her family.  When Heather’s sister, Heidi, found out about Maggie, she too felt overwhelmed.  Eventually Heidi and some other family members applied Maggie for the Make- A -Wish Foundation.  She wanted to go to the water, so she and her family got to go on a vacation to the Bahamas.  The Bahamas cleansed her mind a bit; but she had to go through treatment.
Maggie’s treatment was simply some steroids and a little radiation.  Like I mentioned earlier doctors couldn’t perform surgery because it was far too risky.  Maggie absolutely despised treatment!  She did not enjoy the discomfort and pain she had to endure.  Maggie actually wrote a song about how she loathed it, and her mom posted her singing it on Facebook.  But the treatment was for the greater good.  But treatment was also very expensive.  So to help pay for it, Heidi and other family members arranged numerous fundraisers to pay the expenses.  But all efforts failed to be useful.  Finally, Maggie’s parents had to make the hardest decision of their lives.  Hospice.  I nearly cried when I discovered that, and about two months later she passed away.
We were in the car, on the way home, when my parents told me that Maggie had passed.  My heart sunk.  On the Monday before her funeral, to honor Maggie, I wore the shirt that showed my support for Maggie and my “All About Maggie” button.  It affected me strongly, but I could not imagine what her family was going through.  You often hear about how God works in mysterious ways, well He has done that after Maggie’s passing.  Maggie’s little sister, Ruth, asked her mother if she could use Maggie’s backpack for school.  So Heather posted a picture on Facebook, and said that Ruth wanted to use it for school.  I saw the picture of the backpack and I couldn’t believe my eyes.  I have the exact... same... backpack.  It nearly brought me to tears.  If that is not a sign, then I don’t know what is.  It was clear she and God were up there keeping an eye on things.   And let me tell you something, I never cried so much at a funeral.
The whole cycle of Maggie’s cancer was a huge roller coaster for everyone who knew Maggie.  First she fell ill, then eventually had to go into hospice and eventually passed away.  My whole outlook on life changed because of Maggie.  This whole process showed me how precious life is.  Though her passing was sorrowful, I am happy to know at least heaven gained an angel.