Madison (Maddy) Flaherty was just short her of fifth birthday when she lost her battle to Cockayne Disease, a very rare neurodegenerative disorder. She and her twin sister, Morgan, had a seemingly normal delivery, but over time the family noticed that Maddy was not meeting the expected milestones.

Because Maddy spent all of her short life fighting a rare disease, her parents often found it hard to receive insurance coverage for her treatments and to even qualify for the treatments in the first place. It is in part due to this struggle, and also because of Maddy’s big heart, that her family created Maddy’s Mission to Help, a foundation that aims to keep Maddy’s legacy alive by providing Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children funds to assist in securing the equipment necessary to treat other kids in rehabilitation with needs similar to Maddy’s. It is with this mission, and with great generosity, that the foundation recently gifted the hospital $125,000.

Maddy is remembered by all who met her for her amazing personality and unforgettable smile and will now forever be remembered by the kids and families that are helped by Maddy’s Mission to Help.