Whatever happened to...Madison Winn

By Nedra Rhone

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Madison Winn is looking forward to turning 18 in January.

Not that she doesn't appreciate her life right now.

Two years after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, Winn, 17, of Suwanee, is cancer-free.

"I'm more loving and grateful for every day. I got re-baptized and now I'm serious about being a Christian. I'm more soft-spoken and I've grown up a lot," she said just days after being crowned homecoming princess at Lambert High School.

Though she is now attending a new school, she hasn't forgotten her pals at Wesleyan School, who rallied after her diagnosis, holding prayer meetings, wearing her favorite color pink, and shaving their heads in solidarity.

"It was very good to have that kind of encouragement and to know that no matter what happens people are going to be there for you. It just helped me be strong and keep going," Winn said.

While under care at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite for 220 days, Winn underwent a host of procedures including three brain surgeries, 40 blood transfusions, and nine months of intensive chemotherapy to fight the cancer.  Now she gets MRI's of her brain and spine every three months, and for the past 15 months, they have been clear.

"Madison chose to fight," said her mother, Susan Winn. "And after a year and a half she won her battle."

Winn returned to school on a part-time schedule last year. This year she got a fresh start at Lambert, the brand new public school in Forsyth County, attending full-time as a junior.

"It's a great school. I'm really well-supported. I like the fact that they all just want to help me," Winn said. "I just came into the school not knowing anybody and they all reached out to me."

In addition to winning a spot as homecoming princess, Winn serves as honorary manager of the girl's softball team and participates in the youth group at the Vine Community Church in Cumming.

Her most challenging adjustment has been getting used to the changes in her physical appearance. Winn uses a walker to get around and wears a wig to cover her hair loss from chemo. Her brain processes things differently, she said, and she has to work harder to get the A's and B's she used to earn.

Lately, Winn has made it a practice to speak to audiences ranging from students to banking professionals about her experience to help raise awareness for pediatric cancer. She hopes to one day become a pediatric oncology nurse so she can help other children.

So much of the last year and a half has gone by in a fog, said Winn. Sometimes it feels like a bad memory. But when she starts to fear the cancer will return, she  thinks of the acronym she and her family came up with in the hospital that helped her make it through the toughest times of her illness: AFIG, all faith in God.