Four-year-old Maddox’ parents noticed a lump on his jawline at the end of August. He went to his pediatrician and ENT for exams, an ultrasound, labs and a couple rounds of antibiotics. After all those results came back normal but the lymph node was not getting better, he was referred to Egleston for a biopsy. On Friday, November 2, 2018 Maddox went in for the biopsy and later that evening his parents received a call that the first sample confirmed he had cancer. After further testing, an X-ray, labs, and a bone marrow biopsy, the oncologists have diagnosed Maddox with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

Maddox loves playing outdoors especially with his two big brothers, Jackson and Bennett. He also LOVES going to school. Unfortunately he has had more days at home and indoors since starting treatment. Maddox will be receiving different chemotherapy treatments for 3.5 years.

“Everyone loves Gideon. I had always likened him to Ferris Bueller so we soon adopted the motto SAVE FERRIS. We like to have fun and he is a huge tease. The first few weeks he kind of disappeared on me, so when we were doing our laps one day at the hospital and he pretended to trip I was ecstatic! He was back.

In the Bible the name Gideon means ‘mighty warrior’ and that is exactly who he is. He has gone through the most intense part of his chemo like a champ. He is such an example to me. Even when he is in pain or having treatment he is so concerned about others. He looks out for all of us and wants us to be happy. He is our Iron Man. We also adopted Iron man as our Mascot. When we heard some kids call there ports their Iron Man, well let’s just say we ran with it. We call his port Tony Stark and everything is about our Iron Man Gidster.”

“We are now in the Maintenance phase and will be until April 10, 2017. He has his hair back now but honestly I sure loved my own beautiful bald headed kid. Hair or no hair the Gidster is awesome and is always my mighty warrior.”