Hi! I'm Maggie. I'm 4 now, but I was only 2 when the doctors told me I have stage IV, high risk neuroblastoma. That was June 29, 2006. My blood type is B POSITIVE and that became our family motto from the beginning of our journey into this horrendous world of childhood cancer. Since then, I have had two bone marrow transplants, many rounds of chemotherapy and more radiation than anyone should ever have to endure. I had numerous hospital stays; the longest was 59 days in PICU. I was there because my kidneys failed and my lungs started to bleed, most likely from the treatments. I then became a dialysis patient for 5 months. My lungs got stronger and my kidneys got the rest they needed. I came off of dialysis in November of 2007. Things were looking really great for me. I was in remission for one year but my cancer came back. We still remained B POSITIVE; we had to for all of us.
 
I live in Pottstown with my Mommy and Daddy and my sister, Molly and my brother, Rocco.  We all went on a trip to Disney World together and had an awesome time. We have beautiful memories from that trip.
 
Right now the doctors are trying to make me feel better so I can go to the beach with my family. I hope they can find a cure for neuroblastoma so that no more little kids have to go through what I have.
 
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Our sweet, miraculous Maggie passed away on August 7, 2008, after fighting this horrible disease for 2 years and 2 months. She was an incredible blessing in our lives. Let me tell you more about Maggie Lynne Achuff, our forever 4-1/2-year-old daughter. She was just beautiful and no disease could ever take that beauty away-just look at the photo gallery. She had big black curls and big blue eyes just like her brother and sister. She was never shy about expressing her view and usually doing it loudly. I would always tell her she would make a great boss someday-look out Heaven! She'd always say "I love you" and so did we. We hug and kiss every day in this family; our children know how much we love them. She faced neuroblastoma with a smile on her face, her cowgirl boots on and her Super Maggie cape. She had a wonderful sense of humor and took every opportunity to "torture" her big brother as every little sister should. She loved to dance and sing and perform for us at the kitchen table. Her favorite song was "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” We miss hearing that beautiful voice. She also loved to swing as high as Daddy could push her and ride her bike-especially in the house! She loved her dolls, stuffed animals and playing dress up with Molly (and Rocco too sometimes!). Her favorite cartoons were Angelina Ballerina and SpongeBob of course! Her favorite color was purple. We are extremely proud of how she endured her treatments and made the best of it as long as we were by her side - and we were every minute, holding her precious little hand. I would give anything to be holding that hand right now. She so wanted to go to school, she would have loved it and been the best student. Life will never be the same without her in it; we had four and a half incredible years with Maggie that no one can ever take away. We miss you terribly little girl, I must tell myself a hundred times a day, every day, you're not here anymore. It's difficult for me to believe you're not here running around making noise, yelling "Super Maggie to the rescue" I miss that noise-we all do. It's too quiet. It's just not right. Our hearts are broken. We will always B POSITIVE to get through this "new" life. We will do that for our sweet Maggie.
 
Maggie's Ministry was started by Pastor George at Hope Community Church in King of Prussia. Our mission is to help sick children and their families in tangible ways, the same way we were helped throughout our journey. It is so important to give back. It's one way to keep Maggie's memory and beautiful spirit alive. 
 
Written by Bruce & Helen Achuff
07/09