Madi Schwanbeck Takes On Lymphoma

Last fall 13-year-old Madi Schwanbeck, daughter of Matt and Jessica, was looking forward to a typical school year at Houston full of classes, sports and friends. That changed Saturday, February 28 when Madi found a lump in her groin that was growing quickly. Jessica took her to the ER where Madi had a CT scan and lab work. At first, an inguinal hernia was suspected; Madi had swollen lymph nodes. The ER doctor started her on antibiotics and told her to follow up with her pediatrician.

On Monday Madi visited her pediatrician who ordered an ultrasound and more labs that ruled out an infection. The lymph nodes had grown rapidly so her doctor contacted the Hematology/Oncology team at Mayo Clinic.

After the team reviewed Madi’s case on Tuesday, they asked her to come in immediately. According to Jessica they were “bombarded” once they got to the ER with surgery scheduled for the following day. A biopsy was completed and three large nodes were removed – one the side of a golf ball and two the size of chicken eggs.

The surgery had gone well, but frozen sections of the nodes looked suspicious for lymphoma. Madi was taken to Methodist Hospital for a PET scan. The PET scan showed that the cancer had not spread to her bones or spleen. On Friday Madi was diagnosed with Stage II Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL).

Another surgery procedure was done to place a port, do a spinal tap and begin chemotherapy. During that procedure, the surgeon found that the site of the original procedure to remove lymph nodes had become infected. It was drained and sent for a culture.

Madi needs to go into the hospital every 21 days for a five day session of chemo. This began right after her surgery. She had been discharged March 9 only to return March 11 for her first round. The chemo makes Madi very nauseous. In between her chemo sessions she visits her oncologist weekly for labs.

According to her mom, Madi is very outgoing, always talking, always up for an adventure. Obviously, she wouldn’t just lie in a bed while she was at the hospital if she could possibly do something else. Madi got into Nerf gun wars with the staff (with guns provided by the staff) as well as shooting syringes full of water at each other. The staff even took her down to the employee cafe for special treats.

Madi was the first patient to sunbathe in the hospital’s courtyard; occasionally her friends from home are able to join her. She’s been seen riding Polly, her IV pole, in the halls; her sister Aubry made a TikTok of it.

Madi arrived at the hospital with several stuffed animals. One of the animals, a shark named Dr. Truffles actually got his own port inserted during a surgical procedure performed by one of Madi’s doctors. Madi also brings to the hospital a desk goose (like a porch goose) named Agatha which she dresses in assorted fun outfits.

Hospital food does not really do it for Madi, but Door Dash helps her out. One day she even talked the staff into unhooking her from Polly (her IV) so she could go across the street to Pretty Pop and get a dirty soda.

Madi has missed a lot of school this spring. She missed most of March; in April she began to go to school a few days a week. During May she’s been going to school a couple days a week for half days. When she needs to rest, she heads to the SPED room for a bit.

After school she has been able to be involved in track and competed in some meets; she runs the 800m, sometimes the 4×8 and the 400m. Track is a family affair; older sister Aubry runs and younger sister Ella wants to, also. Madi got to experience flag football this spring with her doctor’s blessing. Soccer was off limits though due to the contact involved.

Madi’s prognosis is good; a recent PET scan showed no visible cancer. Her family has been very supportive. Jessica gives Madi her pegfilgrastim injections at home. Aunt Trisha comes and stays at the hospital with Madi and Jessica during chemo treatments. Other family and friends visit her often, too.

Ella, Madi’s little sister, designed a t-shirt for Madi with a shark (Dr. Truffles) attacking a lymphoma ribbon. Houston School held a Madi Day where the kids wore blue and Madi t-shirts. The high school gave Madi a gift basket with a blanket with sock monkeys, candy and a family swimming pass to Money Creek Haven. Madi received donations and a multitude of cards from her supporters.

Dana Hammel from Spring Grove, whose son Grady passed away from cancer, is sponsoring Madi for the upcoming Grady’s Superhero Run and donating the money to Madi.

Jessica has taken time off from her job at Chatfield Nursing Home while Madi goes through chemo. She said the family has pretty good insurance. When asked how she keeps going through all this, Jessica said, “We just make the best of it. Madi’s a pretty big trooper – so strong!” Both Jessica and Madi commented on how amazing and supportive the staff was at the hospital.

Madi said she wished she’d known more about the surgeries before they did them. She likes to know what to expect. Madi’s words of encouragement to a friend of her mom who was recently diagnosed with cancer were these, “It’s very scary at first, but it gets less overwhelming knowing how many people are behind you and you can kick cancer’s ass together!”