Keeping Strength

"Mad Dog Maddie"

  Almost everyone loves Maddie Clarkson or known as "Mad Dog Maddie." The student body always cheers her on. Maddie does cheer, soccer, and volleyball. All the guys in school admire her. Most girls in her school despite her because they think she is conceited, and your typical North Ridge high school drama queen.

  Maddie's life seemed perfect; however, her home life would have to say otherwise. Maddie's dad died of leukemia when she was one, her little sister Raven who is ten has leukemia and is in and out of hospitals every month, and her mother is very ill as well. Maddie works day and night at home to help support her family. Maddie works at the local coffee shop after school and works at the local daycare on weekends. Maddie is the only person in her family that is cleared to work. Half the kids in her school don't know what her home life is like. Maddie wasn't always as healthy as she is now. Maddie had stage two cancer when she was four. She was declared cancer free when she turned seven. Every day since her doctor declared her cancer free, she became more involved with sports throughout every season. Maddie started babysitting when she turned ten because her mom and sister were diagnosed with leukemia. Maddie's mom couldn't afford the treatment and therapy on her own.

  All her anger comes out when she is competing in her sports. The student body gave Maddie the nickname "Mad Dog Maddie" at her basketball game in sixth grade. Maddie also had to learn at age seven how to do bills, cook, do laundry, and basic daily living. Most seven year olds are playing with toys, playing with friends, and not taking care of their family. Most kids back then thought Maddie was mean, and didn't want to hang with any of them. The truth was Maddie couldn't hang out with them because she had to take care of her family. Neither of her grandparents would help her out. Maddie's grandparents were shiftless. Maddie's grandparents thought their daughter was worthless and faking her sickness and kicked her out of their life. Maddie and her sister tried a billion times to tell them their mom was not faking, and they really needed their help.