A prayer vigil was started last week for toddler Madison Kautz, 2, of Cokato who has brain cancer. She will turn 3 years old Tuesday, May 5.
Madison’s mother, Amber Kautz, had to make the difficult decision to approve radiation for Madison. Her first radiation is today.
The options are not pleasant, since without radiation, Madison is expected to live from two weeks to two months, according to her grandma, Kathy Kautz. With radiation, she is expected to live six months to one year. Beyond that, she will likely have disabilities such as blindness.
Yet hope remains. “Wonders never cease,” Kathy said, saying that all things are possible with God.
The prayer cards are being made up as part of a large collage by Madison’s aunt.
Prayers, cards and notes on Caring Bridge online are treasured and read over and over, especially right now, Kathy noted.
Madison’s Caring Bridge web address is www.caringbridge.org/visit/madisonkautz.
“We’ve gotten notes from as far away as Kentucky, from people we don’t even know,” Kathy commented. She asked anyone interested in sending notes of encouragement to do so now.
As for radiation, it is considered bad news that it had to be done before Madison’s third birthday. Doctors were hoping to hold off until she turned 3 years old, which is a little over a week away.
The cancer was discovered last year, when a highly malignant brain tumor was detected by doctors, which was spreading inside Madison’s body. She underwent surgery July 12, 2008, for a biopsy and removal of the tumor.
Results came back July 16 indicating it is a primitive neuroectodermal tumor containing undeveloped brain cells, is highly malignant, and likely to spread (which it already did) through the central nervous system, according to Amber.
The doctors will know by age 5 if Madison is fully cured, Amber said.
Madison is the daughter of Amber Kautz, who is a 2004 Dassel-Cokato graduate, and granddaughter of Larry and Kathy Kautz of Cokato. Her great-grandmas are Evelyn Mosher of Buffalo and Agnes Kautz of Silver Lake.