Posted by Madison's Grandma
MADISON STAR IS IN REMISSION, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011.

For those of you who have been so faithful in following Madison's Story, but aren't on FaceBook, I wanted to be sure you got the Good News!!!

Maddie had an MRI this past Monday, and today, the day before THANKSGIVING, we found out that the tumor is 100% GONE!!!!

I have so much to be thankful for... but this is beyond words, beyond all I have hoped for, and the timing is beyond just saying "Happy Thanksgiving" Never have the words "Thanksgiving" meant so much!!!  MADISON STAR SCHAFER IS IN REMISSION!!!!

Here is what Chris Schafer, Maddie's daddy, has posted in facebook, "We just got a call from our Oncologist and after further examination, our Radiologist is 100% certain that Maddie is in REMISSION!!!!!!! The tumor is GONE and she is in remission for the second time!!!  I've never cried happier tears in my life! So blessed, so humbled, so thankful....NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!!! MUCH LOVE!!!" - Chris Schafer

Maddie will continue with her chemo protocol through February.  At that time they will decide what the next step is.  She  has begun her therapy and training with the Lighthouse for the Blind and a plan is in place for her education.

THE SCHAFER AND NAVA FAMILY WANT TO WISH YOU ALL A VERY SPECIAL THANKSGIVING DAY AS WE ALL HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!!!!  Praise God for His many blessings.  Mad Love x0x0x

Update Courtesy of Madison's Dad Chris:

So much has happened over the past few weeks and Maddie continues to teach me the true meaning of strength and to never give up.  Maddie starts another week of chemo today and her blood tests and counts all came back way above the required levels.  She just had a week off from chemo and a good week of therapy and a lot of love from the family.  She will have her next MRI November 21st and I have a great feeling and look forward to CLEAR scans!!!

We had an appointment at Bascom Palmer last week with a Pediatric Ophthalmologist in hopes for some answers as to Maddie's loss of vision.  After many tests and procedures it was determined that Maddie is in fact legally blind and her blindness is irreversible.  Hearing those words from the Dr. was so hard to register and we don't know if it was caused from the radiation, chemo or the location of the original tumor.  The optic nerves should be bright pink in color and Maddie's were very pale and cream in color,

meaning the nerves were dead and the signal could not travel through the brain.  Cancer has already taken her ability to walk and talk and now it has taken her vision.  Needless to say Susie and I were both crushed and didn't say much as we left, but just like when we got the news that she had cancer, we will fight like hell and do everything in our power to give her the best life possible!!

We wasted no time and met with The Lighthouse for the Blind the same week and feel very confident that they will be able to provide the best care for Maddie and for all of us.  We will have a representative come out to the house weekly and she will get stronger and eventually we will all learn braille and sign language.

It's still so much for me to comprehend but we will take it one day at a time and just like Maddie....WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!  Always remember to live life to the fullest, enjoy the little things, love your children and ALWAYS remember to smile!!!!

Maddie's most recent MRI showed that her tumor is shrinking and looks like the "relapse protocol" is working and we are all just so happy to see such fast progress.  She will continue the 28 day cycle until the remaining piece is gone and hopefully that happens much sooner than later!

One of the new parts of the protocol is a very strong steroid called decadron.  One of the positives to this steroid is it increases appetite, so she has been eating non stop and has gained a good amount of weight and now has huge cheeks and a double chin.  This is great because it helps counter the chemo which would normally cause her to not eat.  The major downside is it also causes severe insomnia and her lack of sleep schedule brings new meaning to the all nighter.  The best part is throughout the night even though she is awake, she is happy and smiling and always ready to eat!!  Day in and day out I still am amazed at her strength and ability to smile often, even during the absolute hell she is going through.  We will have another MRI in the next couple of weeks and I believe that the tumor will be even smaller and if it is gone you will hear me screaming all across south Florida!!!!

As most of you know my brother Brian and I will be attending the Ultimate Hike for CureSearch on Oct. 1st, which is just around the corner.  We have already surpassed our goal of $5,000.00 and just broke $6,000.00!!!  The group as a whole just crossed the $50,000.00 mark and what an amazing feeling that is, as 94% of all money will go towards pediatric cancer research!!!  I have been asked to speak to the group at our "carb up" pasta dinner pre-hike party and am so very honored.  It truly is amazing how many lives Maddie has touched and minds and hearts she continues to open.  If every one could just take one page out of Maddie's book this world would be full of love and such a greater place!!   I will spread Maddie's strength, determination, energy and pure love throughout the weekend in the Appalachian Foothill trails, just as she does, I will do it all with a smile!!!

The training is going well and just last Saturday I walked 19 miles in just over 6 hours.  I have been very active with mountain biking, crossfit and jogging/hiking.  We will be dropped off in the woods at 3:30 AM to begin our 30 mile hike, with a head lamp, trekking poles and a boat load of determination!  Just knowing what a difference we are making for the children of our future and getting that much closer to finding a CURE, so one day NO more children will have to suffer and NO more parents will have to hear the words, "there is nothing more we can do"!!!!  I wanted to say THANK YOU to all those that have supported me and CureSearch in this journey and for giving me hope again that kind hearts full of love still exist!  I will take lots of pictures and video throughout this journey and hope to make a nice film after we cross that finish line!! 

Much LOVE to ALL and always remember TO NEVER, EVER, EVER GIVE UP!!!!!

Maddie is doing really well on her new protocol, which she has been on for about a month now.  She hasn't been sick and continues to eat non-stop due to the new steroid she is on and has gained about 4 or 5 pounds.  On the flip side, the steroid also causes insomnia and she has quite the interesting sleep schedule.  But, when she is up most of the nights, she is smiling, playing and EATING!!!

She is still unable to see but I believe she is improving because she does look forward now and not always towards the bottom right.  The theory is that as the tumor shrinks her eyesight will improve and I already see her focusing more and I believe the tumor is causing less pressure on the optic nerves and is allowing her to focus more, which should mean it is shrinking!!!  She had an eye exam and her eyes are fine, but the tumor is causing pressure on the optic nerves and therefore not allowing her to see.  It's really frustrating sometimes because without Maddie being able to speak or walk we would resort to sign language or facial expressions to communicate.  Now we don't have that option with her losing her sight as well.  Maddie has always taught us to look for the positive in everything and in this case, she can hear and we are learning how to best use this as our main source of communication.

We finally got Maddie's new leg braces and this futuristic looking stander table to use in therapy and will come home once Susie learns how to strap Maddie in safely.  This table combined with the leg braces should help Maddie strengthen her legs, build muscles and help her to walk again!!  Maddie had a major accomplishment this week when she stood on this table for the first time!!!  She stood for 15 minutes and never once cried or made a fuss but instead was full of smiles and excitement!  When Susie sent me the picture of Maddie from therapy of her standing with the help of this contraption, I was so proud and tears of joy began to flow, almost as if I was watching her take her first steps all over again!  It was a moment I will never forget and will cherish for a lifetime!

Maddie will have a spinal tap this week to make sure the cancer still hasn't spread to the spine.  She will also have a MRI this week so please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers that this tumor has shrunk or is GONE!!!  I will post an update as soon as we hear word on the results.  We are heading into September now, which is Childhood cancer awareness month and also our year anniversary since Maddie was diagnosed.  Maddie has taught me so much over this past year!!  Every second counts, always look for the positive and most importantly that YOU NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!!!!