Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research

Meet Maddie & Bella

On July 4th, 2007, our family was blessed with the birth of beautiful identical twin girls, Isabella (Bella) and Madeline (Maddie).
On August 30th we noticed that Madeline’s abdomen was a little swollen and firm. However, her behavior was unchanged so the pediatrician suggested some gas drops, which we tried but did not change her abdomen.

On September 4th we went to the pediatrician for the girls’ 2-month checkup. He took a look at Isabella and said she looks perfectly healthy. He took a look at Madeline and he immediately sent us for an x-ray. After the x-ray, we waited in the waiting room for the doctor to call us back with the results. He didn’t like what he saw on the x-ray, so he told us to go to the hospital immediately.

A CAT scan that very night indicated Maddie had a large cancerous tumor called neuroblastoma. In the next few days, Bella began exhibiting symptoms and was soon diagnosed with neuroblastoma as well. The doctors feel that the tumor started in Madeline and spread to Isabella via the placenta. The girls are only the 9th reported case of monozygotic twins with neuroblastoma in the world.

The girls have a proud older brother, Isaiah, who is 2 years old. He likes to visit them at the hospital but is looking forward to spending time with them at home!