Each week, I ask women to be vulnerable, tell their stories, and offer each of us a perspective that we can apply to our own growth. However, it wouldn’t be fair, nor vulnerable, if I didn’t deep dive into a time and place where my own life revolution was in full swing. And yet, it’s a story that I walked through from the outside in. The story belongs to my fourteen-year-old daughter, Madison. A story of facing a life-altering surgery at the age of nine, finding her way through medical turmoil and life without a vital organ, the lessons she taught me, and the realization that both of us found our purpose in moments neither of us was confident we had the strength to survive. What follows is a love letter to our relationship, our revolutions, and the understanding that sometimes all a girl needs is a pair of pink cowgirls boots and the ability to march no matter hard life becomes…This is Madison’s story—a deeply personal story that I’m honored and humbled to share with you.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro

01:37 Madison’s story begins to unfold

02:16 A life of medical issues and misdiagnosis

04:30 2016 ushers in a massive life storm

05:14 All hell breaks loose; we’re forced to fight

09:05 A 100-miles per hour felt like we were still standing still

10:08 Stepping back into the days leading up to change

11:11 A child’s awareness & fear

13:50 August 31st

14:47 A cry for help no mother ever wants to make

15:50 When you don’t think anything can get worse, you hit rock bottom

18:17 “Mrs. Vann, your child is in grave danger.”

19:37 A demand to God to readjust his plans and a fierceness that could not be dulled

21:01 A pair of pink cowgirl boots and a new plan

23:30 My misjudgment saved Madison’s life

26:23 An escape from the “glass prison” 

29:35 The initiation into a sisterhood that no one wants to be apart of

32:09 Madison’s expression of gratitude was Danielle’s biggest lie

33:20 A daughter’s love: continuing to fight

38:39 A call no mother wants to receive and a choice that would impact Madison for the rest of her life

41:54 Can’t I just trick-or-treat? Surgery day

42:59 Protected during surgery—a vision

44:28 Perspective shift

47:09 Being an advocate for ourselves

50:22 A life-changing breath

54:32 Everything comes crashing down on top of Danielle. Healing changes hands

57:34 Listen: Your children have something to teach you

60:32 A word to parents from Madison

62:53 Madison’s three lessons

Madison continues to shine and work toward her purpose. She gained a plant-based nutritionist certification at the age of 14 and is currently serving as a medical/athletic trainer at her high school. Without a doubt, she will continue to impact the world and those of us who have the pleasure to know and love her.

 Love this episode and want to keep the inspiration and conversation going? Join over 14,200 members on Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok who are engaging in their own life revolution daily. Like this show? Please leave us a review here – even one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us so we can thank you personally!

Still, looking for more? Visit: www.getyourlifetogethergirl.com, where you will find Danielle’s personal development/self-help blog. Until next time…be kind to yourself and others.