A Smile Through It All

Finding joy through every challenge

Maddie is a bright and spirited six-year-old from Didsbury Alberta, whose smile can light up a room. But behind that smile is a medical journey that began long before most children take their first steps.

She was born prematurely at just 24 weeks on New Year’s Day in 2019, since then Maddie has faced significant medical challenges throughout her young life. Her early complications included a brain injury and the loss of three quarters of her small intestine. She lives with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, short gut syndrome, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cortical visual impairment (CVI), and other complications due to her premature birth.

Over the years, her family has navigated through hospital stays, surgeries, seizures, countless appointments, and learning to face each new challenge as they come.

Her most recent surgery involved an 11.5 hour procedure to place metal plates along her femurs to support the growth and positioning of her legs. As Maddie continues to grow, her care team keeps a close eye on her progress, and her family continues to adapt to her changing needs.

But Maddie is so much more than her medical history.

She is a happy, social little girl who loves school and enjoys being part of a regular day, even her classroom. At home, she spends time in her wheelchair, relaxing in her favourite chair, or enjoying time on her special mat.

Maddie is also trying new technology that could open up even more possibilities for her in the future. She is currently trying a brain computer interface that allows her to paint, with the hope that it may one day help her communicate as well, as she is non-verbal.

For her family, every milestone matters.

They have found a meaningful way to keep track of everything Maddie has been through. For every surgery, treatment, test, X-ray, and needle, they add a bead to a string. Each bead represents a point in her journey, with different colours and sizes marking different experiences.

Together, the beads tell a story of her resilience, perseverance, and just how much Maddie has already overcome.

Even with the many challenges, her family has also found opportunities to make memories along the way. Before Maddie’s major surgery, she and her brother, Jax, had a special Make-A-Wish trip together to Florida with their family. Their adventures have also taken them to Disney World and Cape Canaveral, giving them time to experience life together outside of hospital visits and medical appointments.

Maddie has also become a familiar face at Calgary Stampeders games, where she is now a VIP and has even been included in some of the team’s videos. Her personality and infectious smile makes an impression wherever she goes.

During Community Key’s visit, Maddie welcomed the team with that same smile, especially while listening to Board Member, Austin Reiger, while her mom shared more about the family’s journey.

Through it all, the Hoffman family expressed how much it meant to know that others were standing beside them. Support from Community Key helped ease some of the financial pressure that can follow along with a child's complex medical needs, allowing the family to focus on Maddie and what she needs most.

They were also excited to help spread the word about Community Key, hoping other families facing difficult circumstances could find the same support.

Maddie has already faced more challenges in her six years than many people experience in a lifetime. But she still continues to bring joy and laughter to those around her.

Community Key is honoured to support Maddie and her family. Their story is a reminder that behind every medical journey is a family doing everything they can for their child, and that even a little extra support can make a meaningful difference.

Because every child deserves the chance to keep growing, exploring, and making memories, and every family deserves a community standing beside them along the way.