The Cape Cod Jimmy Fund Classic - Maddie in the Norwell Mariner

Maddie Stories

Reprinted with permission of The Norwell Mariner

Neighbors rally behind Norwell girl

Golf tournament planned to honor leukemia patient

Byline: By Lisa M. Cataldo

CORRESPONDENT

Like most newcomers, Larry and Laurie Karle didn't know anyone in their

neighborhood when they moved to Jay Road in Norwell three years ago.

Although they met some of their neighbors over the past few years, it wasn't

until recently that the couple learned just how tight-knit their community

is.

Last January, the Karle's two-year-old daughter, Madeline (Maddie) was

diagnosed with leukemia. Currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments,

Maddie has been embraced by the neighborhood. Residents of The Norwell Homes

have joined Maddie's parents to plan a golf tournament in September to

benefit the Jimmy Fund.

"Our neighbors have been so kind," said Laurie, who is due to give birth to

the couple's second child on Monday. "I can't tell you how many nights we

would come home late from the hospital to find dinners on our doorstep. The

neighbors and their children have been incredible."

Larry and Laurie took Maddie to the South Shore Hospital for what they

thought were symptoms of the flu last January. Maddie was sluggish and the

toddler, who had long given up naps, was constantly telling her parents she

was tired. Less than a week later Maddie was diagnosed with Acute

Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

The Karles spent the next month at Children's Hospital in Boston with their

daughter. Although she is currently at home, the family travels to the Jimmy

Fund Clinic at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute every Friday for her

treatment, which is scheduled to continue through September when she will be

reevaluated.

A sweet natured two-year-old who can talk up a storm, these days Maddie

talks about being a big sister and enjoys playing with musical instruments,

especially a harmonica and kazoo her mother picked up for her on a recent

shopping trip.

"She's an energetic little girl who loves to play with the neighborhood

children," Larry said. "She especially likes the older kids. She thinks

she's five or six."

The neighborhood children have taken a liking to Maddie. Leah Smith, 11,

stops by often to play with the toddler. Daniel Lockwood, 10, even painted

his Pinewood Derby car pink with decals of Dora the Explorer (her favorite

television show) in honor of Maddie. The car came in second place at the Cub

Scout Pinewood Derby and Daniel gave it to his young neighbor after the race

as a keepsake.

"Daniel kind of thinks of Maddie as his little sister," said Brian Lockwood,

Daniel's dad and the father of four boys.

"We've never had to experience anything like this before, so you want to be

able to help out in any way you can," Lockwood added. "We're trying to get

as many people together for the golf tournament because Larry and Laurie are

really passionate about giving back to the Jimmy Fund."

"When you first move into a neighborhood it's sometimes hard to meet all of

your neighbors," Larry said. "I remember coming home from the hospital late

at night in the middle of the winter and my driveway was all shoveled out.

It's been really stressful at times, but when you come home to find cards in

your mailbox, dinners, and families dropping by to see Maddie, it's really

touching. The support we have received from our neighbors and the people

from our church (St. Helen's) has been amazing."

Larry has been involved in a golf tournament for the past eight years,

helping to raise money for a family friend who suffered injuries in an

automobile accident. This year Larry and his friends will hold the

tournament to benefit the Jimmy Fund. Maddie and Shea Ellis, 17, of South

Attleboro, a friend and fellow cancer patient who Maddie met while in the

hospital, will serve as honorary captains of the tournament.

The Karle Invitational Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18,

2004 at the Captain's Golf Course in Brewster, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. So

far, 35 people (all neighbors) have signed on to play. Tickets are $135 per

golfer and include golf, cart, dinner, prizes and giveaways. Some of the

prizes include Red Sox/Yankees tickets, Patriots tickets, and a weekend stay

at a Boston hotel. Individuals who are not interested in playing golf but

would like to attend the dinner can purchase tickets for $50 a piece.

Organizers of the event are still looking for golfers and local sponsors.

"I didn't really know that much about the Jimmy Fund before Maddie got

sick," Laurie explained. "You hear about the Jimmy Fund, you donate to it,

you know that the Red Sox are involved with it - but that's about it. Now

that we have spent so much time there, I know what it's all about and

everyone there is so wonderful with the kids."

"I never thought she had it in her, but Maddie amazes us each day," Larry

added. "Sometimes you think of kids who play certain sports and you think

wow-here are some tough kids. But when you see Maddie and some of the other

kids at the clinic and what they're going through, you realize there's

nothing tougher than these kids."




				Maddie Stories Reprinted with permission of The Norwell Mariner Neighbors rally behind Norwell girl Golf tournament planned to honor leukemia patient Byline: By Lisa M. Cataldo CORRESPONDENT Like most newcomers, Larry and Laurie Karle didn't know anyone in their neighborhood when they moved to Jay Road in Norwell three years ago. Although they met some of their neighbors over the past few years, it wasn't until recently that the couple learned just how tight-knit their community is. Last January, the Karle's two-year-old daughter, Madeline (Maddie) was diagnosed with leukemia. Currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Maddie has been embraced by the neighborhood. Residents of The Norwell Homes have joined Maddie's parents to plan a golf tournament in September to benefit the Jimmy Fund. "Our neighbors have been so kind," said Laurie, who is due to give birth to the couple's second child on Monday. "I can't tell you how many nights we would come home late from the hospital to find dinners on our doorstep. The neighbors and their children have been incredible." Larry and Laurie took Maddie to the South Shore Hospital for what they thought were symptoms of the flu last January. Maddie was sluggish and the toddler, who had long given up naps, was constantly telling her parents she was tired. Less than a week later Maddie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The Karles spent the next month at Children's Hospital in Boston with their daughter. Although she is currently at home, the family travels to the Jimmy Fund Clinic at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute every Friday for her treatment, which is scheduled to continue through September when she will be reevaluated. A sweet natured two-year-old who can talk up a storm, these days Maddie talks about being a big sister and enjoys playing with musical instruments, especially a harmonica and kazoo her mother picked up for her on a recent shopping trip. "She's an energetic little girl who loves to play with the neighborhood children," Larry said. "She especially likes the older kids. She thinks she's five or six." The neighborhood children have taken a liking to Maddie. Leah Smith, 11, stops by often to play with the toddler. Daniel Lockwood, 10, even painted his Pinewood Derby car pink with decals of Dora the Explorer (her favorite television show) in honor of Maddie. The car came in second place at the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby and Daniel gave it to his young neighbor after the race as a keepsake. "Daniel kind of thinks of Maddie as his little sister," said Brian Lockwood, Daniel's dad and the father of four boys. "We've never had to experience anything like this before, so you want to be able to help out in any way you can," Lockwood added. "We're trying to get as many people together for the golf tournament because Larry and Laurie are really passionate about giving back to the Jimmy Fund." "When you first move into a neighborhood it's sometimes hard to meet all of your neighbors," Larry said. "I remember coming home from the hospital late at night in the middle of the winter and my driveway was all shoveled out. It's been really stressful at times, but when you come home to find cards in your mailbox, dinners, and families dropping by to see Maddie, it's really touching. The support we have received from our neighbors and the people from our church (St. Helen's) has been amazing." Larry has been involved in a golf tournament for the past eight years, helping to raise money for a family friend who suffered injuries in an automobile accident. This year Larry and his friends will hold the tournament to benefit the Jimmy Fund. Maddie and Shea Ellis, 17, of South Attleboro, a friend and fellow cancer patient who Maddie met while in the hospital, will serve as honorary captains of the tournament. The Karle Invitational Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004 at the Captain's Golf Course in Brewster, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. So far, 35 people (all neighbors) have signed on to play. Tickets are $135 per golfer and include golf, cart, dinner, prizes and giveaways. Some of the prizes include Red Sox/Yankees tickets, Patriots tickets, and a weekend stay at a Boston hotel. Individuals who are not interested in playing golf but would like to attend the dinner can purchase tickets for $50 a piece. Organizers of the event are still looking for golfers and local sponsors. "I didn't really know that much about the Jimmy Fund before Maddie got sick," Laurie explained. "You hear about the Jimmy Fund, you donate to it, you know that the Red Sox are involved with it - but that's about it. Now that we have spent so much time there, I know what it's all about and everyone there is so wonderful with the kids." "I never thought she had it in her, but Maddie amazes us each day," Larry added. "Sometimes you think of kids who play certain sports and you think wow-here are some tough kids. But when you see Maddie and some of the other kids at the clinic and what they're going through, you realize there's nothing tougher than these kids."