West Haven Teen Battles Cancer, Needs Bone Marrow Transplant

WEST HAVEN, CT — The community is rallying around a West Haven middle school student who is battling a rare blood cancer and will ultimately need a bone marrow transplant.

Madison “Madi” Cicarella, 13, is an eighth-grade student at Bailey Middle School in West Haven. She was recently diagnosed with Myelodysplasia, a type of cancer in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells in the blood and/or bone marrow, according to “Team Madi.”

A virtual bone marrow donor drive has been launched with the “Bone Marrow and Love for Madi” page on Facebook. An in-person donor drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Congregational Church on the Green on Feb. 6.

The New Haven Register reports Madi is the daughter of Nikki Stancarone, an animal control officer with the city. Stancarone has taken a leave of absence to be with her only child and the community is organizers several fundraisers in support of the family, according to the Register.

Madi, who is described as a “beautiful, talented and kind” eighth grader, was taken to the Yale-New Haven emergency room after collapsing at home the day after Christmas, according to Team Madi.

Read more about the series of events from a post on the Team Madi Facebook page below:

Until that time she and her mom, Nikki, didn't know there was anything wrong. But when she was taken to the hospital and they began running tests, she was admitted to the ICU. She was there for several days and underwent different testing and transfusions and although beginning to feel better, was receiving no answers. At that time, they decided to do bone marrow testing because her results were all very concerning but not definitive.

After she had the blood marrow testing performed and received the preliminary results, she was able to return home with her mom Nikki. However, they still had no definitive answers but only some very concerning possibilities. She followed up with her doctors and new hematologists. By Friday 1/15/21, after many tests, more transfusions and doctor's visits, Madi and Nikki received the diagnosis for Madi. She has been diagnosed with Myelodysplasia. This is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets) and there are abnormal cells in the blood and/or bone marrow. When there are fewer healthy blood cells, infection, anemia, or bleeding may occur.

Madi is now starting months of treatments including chemotherapy and ultimately will be needing a bone marrow transplant. Madi's friends and family have started the process of being tested but we need more people to get tested to increase the possibility of finding a match for her!

Both Madi and Nikki need our love and support right now in many ways.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. Go to https://dkmsgetinvolved.org/vi... and sign up to be tested to become a bone marrow donor

2. Please consider a financial donation to help. Financial donations can be sent to Venmo. The user name is @Nikki-Stancarone

3. Please send love and prayers to both Madi and Nikki as they navigate this journey.

Visit the Bone Marrow and Love for Madi page on Facebook here.

Read more about Madi at the New Haven Register here.

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