Maddy Odegard was a brave, smart and super funny little girl – filling the room with joy. She enjoyed spending time with her family, and she especially loved her cats.

When Maddy had just finished kindergarten, she started having some hip pain and stomach aches. Her parents grew concerned and brought Maddy to see her pediatrician. After some tests, they learned that Maddy had a form of pediatric cancer called Wilms tumor, and they rushed to Marshfield Children’s Hospital to talk with their new care team.

Maddy underwent treatments on and off for more than three years. Throughout this time, she and her family realized that celebrating every moment in life was important, so they decided to create celebrations for other kids and families dealing with pediatric cancer. Before acting on their idea to give back, they were just waiting until Maddy was done with treatments.

Watch this video to hear Maddy’s story.