When Maddie was seven, the family noticed subtle aches and unusual swelling. What began as what seemed like “growing pains” quickly escalated into something far more serious. Persistent advocacy from her mother, Candace, led to a diagnosis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. From that moment on, Maddie’s life, and her family’s, would change forever.

Maddie’s treatment was grueling: intense chemotherapy, multiple hospital stays, and ultimately a bone marrow transplant in May 2022. Throughout this journey, her family faced not only the emotional toll of her illness but practical challenges as well. They lived three hours away from Houston, had no nearby family, and just before the transplant, her father, Jeremy, lost his job due to a city policy regarding excessive absences while his daughter was undergoing treatment, leading up to her transplant.

It was in the midst of this uncertainty that His Grace Foundation became a lifeline. Through His Grace Place, the family was provided a fully furnished apartment near Texas Children’s Hospital. This was more than just a place to sleep; it was a sanctuary, a home where they could rest, eat, and simply be a family during the most difficult period of their lives.

Candace recalls:

“His Grace Place gave us a home when we had nowhere else to go. We didn’t have to worry about travel, meals, or bills. We could focus on Maddie. That gift of time together as a family was priceless. It allowed us to be fully present with her when every moment counted.”

Life in His Grace Place brought small but meaningful comforts that helped the family survive the day-to-day challenges of hospital life. They could cook meals together, celebrate small victories, and simply have a space to breathe. His Grace Foundation also provided welcome baskets filled with toys, games, art supplies, and practical items, which made hospital stays just a little brighter for Maddie, her sister Kinsley, and her brother, Easton. Candace says:

“Those little things weren’t just objects; they were a reminder that we were not alone, that someone cared, and that God’s grace was surrounding us every step of the way.”

During the 90 days Maddie spent in the hospital after her bone marrow transplant, His Grace Place became their safe haven. Candace and Jeremy could alternate time at the apartment with hospital visits, giving each parent a chance to rest while still staying close to Maddie. They could shower, eat a real meal, and regain a sense of normalcy that hospital life often steals away.

Maddie’s courage and resilience were extraordinary. Even in the midst of intense treatment, she found moments to laugh, to play, and to light up the lives of everyone around her. Her family treasured every second they had with her, knowing that His Grace Place allowed them to create those memories without the crushing stress of logistical challenges.

Maddie earned her angel wings on June 27, 2023, at just nine years old. Though her time was far too short, her legacy continues through her family, her older sister, Kinsley, her younger brother, Easton, and her parents. Candace has returned to school and started a small business in Maddie’s honor, dedicating her life to empowering parents to advocate for their children, inspired by the lessons Maddie taught her.  Her dad, Jeremy, hopes to write a book that shares Maddie’s incredible journey and story.

Candace reflects:

“Maddie’s light still shines in everything we do. His Grace Foundation gave us the gift of time, time to be a family, to celebrate birthdays, to rest, to grieve, to love. That gift changed our lives.”

Through Maddie’s story, His Grace Foundation demonstrates its mission: supporting families in crisis not just with resources, but with hope, dignity, and a safe place to simply live while navigating unimaginable challenges. His Grace Place gave Maddie’s family the most precious gift of all: time together.