What If It All Works Out? By Monica Gelinas
Near the end of Madelyn’s video, the camera catches the back of her helmet. Her nickname, Mads, is written across it in colorful letters. Underneath are six simple words:
“What if it all works out?”
It is a hopeful question for a little girl who has already learned a lot about getting back up.
Madelyn wears a helmet because falls are part of her everyday life. In one moment of her video, she is walking across a hotel room. Next, she is on the floor. But she gets right back up and keeps going.
That moment tells you a lot about Mads.
Her life includes medical equipment, therapy and challenges that many children will never experience. But those things are only one part of her story.
Watch her video and you see so much more.
You see Madelyn smiling from her colorful wheelchair while waving a ribbon on a soccer field. You see her having fun at a trampoline park. You see her making music on an outdoor xylophone. You see her trying on helmets and showing plenty of personality along the way.
You see Mads.
At CC4C, we never want a diagnosis or a piece of medical equipment to become the first thing people see when they look at a child. Every child we serve has a personality, interests, strengths and a story that is uniquely their own.
Our role is to walk alongside the entire family through that story.
Families raising children with rare or undiagnosed conditions often face years of appointments, testing, therapies and unanswered questions. They may also face expenses that insurance does not fully cover and the challenge of finding opportunities that can accommodate their child’s needs.
CC4C helps families navigate some of those challenges through financial medical assistance, family programs, community connections and experiences designed to support the whole family.
But sometimes support is also about something much simpler.
It is about helping a child participate.
Helping a parent feel supported.
Creating opportunities for families to make memories together.
And reminding them that they do not have to navigate this journey alone.
We cannot know exactly what “it all works out” will look like for Madelyn or for any of the children we serve. Every child’s journey is different.
But we can make sure families have people beside them along the way.
For Mads, there will probably be more falls. There will also be more times she gets back up.
More soccer fields. More music. More laughter. More adventures. And plenty more opportunities for her big personality to shine.
Maybe that is part of what those words on her helmet mean.
What if it all works out?
We think that is a beautiful question to keep asking.
If you would like to help CC4C support more children like Madelyn and their families, visit cc4c.org to learn more about our Programs and how you can Get Involved.
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