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Madison girl is eight years old, loses leg but not awesome fight against cancer
October 24, 2011By: Jack Strickland
Madison
Copyright The Tallahassee News
Catherine Maultsby left Shands, today. The hospital in Gainesville has been the home away from home for the courageous eight-year-old since March. She was thrilled to be going home to Madison, Florida. She said the first thing she was going to do when she got home was run up to her room and “scream like a chicken!”
“Cat” has inspired all those around her as she bravely fought osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer most commonly found in children. Her treatment was tough to endure. It required surgery that removed her left leg at the knee and massive doses of chemotherapy. She has been a very sick little girl. Through it all, she flashed her warm smile and brightened her surroundings with her colorful wit.
She didn’t want to refer to her legs as her good leg and her bad leg – so she named them: Peggy and Sue. Peggy is her left leg that is amputated at the knee. She also named her “bionic” prosthesis which is decorated with pictures of her favorite cartoon character, Sponge Bob. She calls it Sponge-Bobionica.
During her hospitalization Catherine has drawn courage and inspiration from visits by the University of Florida Lady Gator Lacrosse team. She has developed a special bond with some of the players on the championship squad. On her last night in the hospital, All Star Julie Schindel stopped by to celebrate and painted “Cat’s” nails hot pink.
Schindel is recovering from knee surgery that repaired a torn ACL. She is fighting to regain her old athletic form and starting position on the #2 nationally ranked team. She and Catherine face some of the same challenges. They seem to draw courage and inspiration from each other.
Lady Gator Lacrosse Coach Mandy O’Leary has invited Catherine to come to team practices as she grows stronger. “Cat” looks forward to throwing the ball around with Schindel and other team members. The staff at Shands has advised her and her parents, Julie & J.P. Maultsby, of special equipment that might allow their daughter to compete in sports as a normal athlete.
Parents hurt the most when their child is sick. Mr. and Mrs. Maultsby were understandably devastated when their daughter got the terrible diagnosis last March. They are very strong people. They know how to discipline themselves to reach difficult goals. Mr. Maultsby graduated from West Point.
Mrs. Maultsby holds degrees from both Florida State University and the University of Florida. They rallied with their other daughter, ten year old Claire, other members of their family, their church, and community in giving Catherine support and courage as they all waged the fight for her life.
Catherine tells how she learned how to pray. She remembers when they needed rain in Madison and she prayed for rain. Her prayers were answered. It rained. Someone told her that there was a severe drought in Texas where they desperately needed rain . She prayed really hard for rain for those people. It rained so hard that it flooded in Texas. Catherine cautions that prayer is very powerful—and we should be careful how you use it.
Catherine does not intend to be handicapped. She points out that friends gave her a cat with three legs. The cat’s name is Trinity—for three legs. She has discovered that Trinity can do anything other cats can do and and is not disabled. There is no way this magnificent little girl is going to allow herself to be physically disabled, either.
On the last day of her treatment and hospitalization, Catherine was interviewed for the Childrens Miracle Network by Tallahassee ABC affiliate WTXL reporter Kristen Ledlow. She asked Catherine, “What is the best part of being hospitalized at Shands?” Propped up in the big hospital bed, the little girl thought for a moment and responded, “There is no good part of being in the hospital.”
At a party celebrating the end of her treatment at Shands the other day, Catherine’s family, friends, doctors and staff saluted her courageous victory over cancer. They drew pictures on her head that is temporarily bald from the chemo therapy. Catherine wanted her doctor to draw a picture of a black cat on the top of her head. He drew a masterpiece with the caption, “Cat is awesome!” Truer words were never written.
I wonder what it sounds like when you hear a “scream like a chicken”. Whatever the sound is, I am sure that Catherine’s neighbors in Madison heard it loud and clear when “Cat” arrived home this afternoon.
Thanks, “Cat”, for teaching us the meaning of courage and for providing inspiration for us all. You are a hero. Go get ‘em, girl. The best is yet to be.