It was six years ago today, on Wednesday, August 10th, 2016, that Maggie first complained of pain. I’ll never forget the text. Maggie never complained…
I told her to take a pain reliever, try a heating pad, a hot bath… She told me nothing was working. I was driving home in rush hour traffic in torrential downpours with flooding everywhere on the LIE on Long Island when I got the text. Her dad and our son, Steven, Maggie’s brother, were in Utah on a trip, climbing Angel’s Landing. No one was home to help her. I made a call to her pediatrician on my way home and made an appointment so she could be seen. Her pediatrician - Dr. Muia-Chisena, knew Maggie well and had been her doctor since she was born. She knew when Maggie complained, something was wrong. I made it home to Maggie sometime after 5:30. We drove to the Doctor and she felt her abdomen and told us to head to the ER, because she thought Maggie had a cyst that may have hemorrhaged or possibly an ovarian torsion.
Maggie didn’t have any of those things. She had a very rare and very aggressive tumor that burst, leaving her to almost bleed to death internally on that very first night. The cancer wasn’t caught for almost two months. By the time it was found, we were told it was stage 4 and there was nothing we could do except try chemo in an effort to extend her life.
August 10th was the day that forever changed our lives - on National S’mores Day, which happens to have been one of Maggie’s favorite snacks growing up.
We miss Maggie every day. Life as we knew it is not the same. But since she died, we’ve made a pledge to help other children suffering. Maggie is the driving force behind everything we do. We are proud of the hard work and effort we’ve put into changing children’s lives for the better every single day.
That’s why we are developing kits using Maggie’s favorite childhood snack. A snack that gives back. While these delicious and tasty treats aren’t ready for sale quite yet, we wanted to announce and tell the word that they soon will be!
S’mores for More - S’mores for Cures.
Every sale of our custom, made with love, S’more kits will support kids in need and pediatric cancer research. Because kids deserve more. Maggie deserved more.
Help us keep kids campfires burning, visit our new S’mores for More website, and follow us on Instagra(ha)m! Let us know how you’d like to get involved. We are looking for supportive partners, sponsors, and ambassadors.
Happy National S’mores Day Maggie, this is for you.
The text from Maggie above…
