Madison first came to Shriners Children’s Lexington as a preteen experiencing severe pain in her feet.
Other doctors weren’t confident treating the extra bones that grow in Madison’s feet, called accessory navicular bones, and there weren’t any pediatric orthopedic specialists in her small hometown in western Kentucky.
The pain in Madison’s feet was keeping her from living the active lifestyle she had grown to love.
For Madison, who loved to play softball and basketball at the time, the condition sidelined her. Her feet became so painful that she was no longer able to play the sports she loved to her fullest.
Thankfully, Madison’s mom, Jenny, found Ryan Muchow, M.D., at Shriners Children’s Lexington.
Shriners simply means family to me. No one is treated differently. It sets the highest standard for health care – no matter what you are going through, no matter your background.
Initially, Madison was treated using custom orthotics, from Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services. These special shoe inserts were meant to relieve the pain by taking the pressure off the bone. When those didn’t relieve the pain, Dr. Muchow determined the best course of action would be surgery. Madison had two surgeries eight months apart to correct the condition in both feet.
Now 16, Madison has fully recovered and can play full varsity softball games and enjoy other hobbies like hunting, fishing and riding horses without having to stop.
While recovering from her foot surgeries, Madison picked up a guitar for the first time and quickly fell in love. She now enjoys singing and performing for a crowd whenever she can. She dreams of one day performing at the Grand Ole Opry, and plans to pursue a career as a veterinarian.
Madison’s mom, Jenny, said Shriners has always felt like home.
“Shriners simply means family to me,” she said. “This is one of the greatest things about Shriners. No one is treated differently. It sets the highest standard for health care – no matter what you are going through, no matter your background. To me, this is a reminder and also helps teach our children that we should all treat others this way.”
Being part of that family has changed Madison’s life.
“Shriners has impacted my life by helping me be able to do the things I love so much, like riding horses and playing softball without any trouble,” she said. “They have fixed both of my feet and even pinned my finger back together when I had a minor horse-riding accident. I’ll forever be thankful for Shriners for not only helping me, but helping other kids like me get the care they deserve.”
