Healthy Living

A wise physician once said, “The best medicine for humans is love.” Someone asked, “What if it doesn’t work?” He just smiled and said, “Increase the dose.” That’s a wonderful sentiment, and good words to live by, but we all know that sometimes love is just not enough —medically speaking.

Many of us are well aware of Maddie Guarraia, a brave and courageous 9-year old girl who battled cancer for five years, and died on Wednesday morning. She was an inspiration to thousands of people who never met her. Her mother Amie’s Facebook page, “Mad About Madeline,” garnered more than 25,000 followers. Her mother chronicled her journey as she fought leukemia like a warrior. Her mother frequently posted pictures, always of a smiling Maddie, surrounded by her beloved family and friends. She had an infectious smile that was like a mega-dose of anti-depressant.

Maddie brought the community together in an outpouring of support that most of us have never seen before. I never had the opportunity to meet Maddie, but like so many others, I felt that she touched my life by witnessing her bravery and courage. Maddie was fighting for her life, but was always thinking of others with a kind and generous spirit. For example, Maddie’s wish was that people would collect toys to donate to children battling illnesses at Yale-New Haven Hospital. More than 70 organizations and businesses from Niantic to Rhode Island participated in “Madeline’s Wish Toy Drive.” That was quite a feat, considering the current economic climate.

She was the motivation to conduct several bone marrow drives in the community to combat childhood cancers. The Waterford Police Department made her an honorary police officer, Badge #8, and the whole department truly loved and supported this young girl.

Her mother made a request on Facebook to share how Madeline has impacted your life. The response was overwhelming. Almost 1,000 people responded with stories of how witnessing Maddie’s brave struggle provided the impetus to withstand a difficulty in their own life. Strangers declared their love and devotion to this courageous girl —and that was just the impact documented through Facebook. Who knows how widespread beyond social media boundaries her positive influence really was?

She gave her love freely and made a profound and lasting impact to so many. People said she made them “smile more, complain less.” Nine-year old Maddie made more of an impact on the emotional health of thousands than I have made in 40 years of nursing. Come to think of it, maybe that wise physician was right after all — a good dose of love from a 9-year old girl might be the best medicine for us all.