When she was 10, Maddie’s hand was sucked underneath a treadmill. The result was a serious friction burn on her hand. Her doctor, Robert L. Sheridan, M.D., chief of staff and director of the burn service at Shriners Children’s Boston, explained that treadmill injuries are very complicated because of the damage to the bone and the small blood vessels in the impacted area. Depending on the size of the friction burn, treatment varies for patients. In Maddie’s case, the care team decided not to operate, but rather treated her injury with rehabilitation and scar management.
“My main goal in being a Patient Ambassador is to educate parents and kids about the overlooked dangers of treadmills,” Maddie explained. She said treadmills are a common piece of equipment in so many homes, and if not stored or used properly, they can cause damage in a matter of seconds. “I’m also able to share my first-hand experience of being part of the outpatient program and proudly show how Shriners has helped my injury heal,” she said. “It is an honor to help play a small part in sharing what remarkable things have happened and can happen at Shriners Children’s Boston.”
The Shriners Children’s Open will air on the Golf Channel, reaching over 700 million homes across the globe. Maddie offered her best wishes to all the golfers at the Open. “A professional golf tournament will be a completely new experience for me. Best of luck to all of the players!”
Maddie, a high school freshman, lives in Maine with her family. In 2020, Maddie founded Brave Bees, a nonprofit organization committed to spreading kindness and ending bullying.
She loves the summer months when she can enjoy fishing, swimming in the lake and amusement park rides. Although her fun in the sun was delayed this year because of the wet New England weather, she didn’t let that dampen her spirits. “Once the summer sun was finally shining, we spent a lot of days at the lake!” Maddie said. She even made the trip to Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire, to ride the upside down roller coasters, which are her all-time favorite. “I was sad to see summer come to an end,” Maddie explained. “But I started off my freshman year of high school as a member of our varsity football cheer team!”
This October is one Maddie will remember forever. There are two big events on the horizon: her first high school homecoming and a Standard Bearer experience. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent Shriners Children’s Boston in Las Vegas,” said Maddie. “I’m beyond excited! I’m going to be sharing this experience with my grandmother who I call Memere,” Maddie said. “Every time we see each other, it’s all we talk about! We're in the final stretch and I'm counting down the days.”
Brave Bees is an organization that promotes kindness in schools and in our communities every day. We believe just being kind, every day, will make our schools and our communities a better place to be. Join our colony of
Brave Bees and help spread kindness where you are today and everyday.
Brave Bees encourages everyone to Bee Brave and stand up for yourself and for what you believe in. Brave Bees stand up against bullying. If you see it... or if you're being bullied, tell an adult. If that adult does nothing to help, keep telling until someone takes action.
Our community is full of people who need help. We work to help the people in our way, Volunteers with Brave Bees look for ways to help in school or in our communities. When Brave Bees work together, we will effect positive change.
Buzz along with the Bees.