“As a parent, I’m honored to see such bravery. She’s the bravest kid in the world, way braver than me,” said Joy Milby.

Joy speaks of her 12-year-old daughter, Maggie, who has been suffering from health problems since she was one year old. She was first diagnosed with an immune deficiency that requires her to get blood product transfusions twice a week. She was doing well until January of this year when she awoke with the worse headache of her life. For the next four months, Maggie received treatment at Pella, Des Moines, Iowa City and Rochester. Eventually she was diagnosed with a mass at the bottom of her brain stem, which means her spinal chord makes too much fluid, a condition completely independent of her immune deficiency. Maggie receives spinal taps to relieve her of the excess fluid. Since diagnosis, the focus has been put on stabilizing Maggie and keeping her treatment contained in Pella, as much as possible.

“I think it really helped to be here. It felt like I was in my town, not just a hospital,” said Maggie Milby.

Maggie is treated by Dr. Rob Bruxvoort, who is responsible for working hard to keep Maggie’s treatment in Pella. The Milby family, which also includes Maggie’s father Shane and sister Holly, has been very impressed with the care provided in Pella. Maggie can easily and quickly get transfusions. The Milbys also appreciate the doctor’s frequent visits and nurses’ quick response time.

“We feel like the best of everything is right here in Pella. The hospital staff here was far and beyond what we found anywhere else,” said Joy Milby.

The community has been an overwhelming help too. Leighton State Bank opened a special account called the Maggie Milby Medical Account. Donations can be made to the account, which the Milbys use to pay for medical bills and transportation costs. Another fundraiser was done through Maggie’s school, Pella Christian Grade School. Students sold bracelets with Maggie’s name and the verse Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Him.” The money was then used to buy gas cards for the family.

“Its so cool to come to school and see all your friends wearing your bracelet. Its awesome. I’ve even seen high schoolers wearing them,” said Maggie Milby.

Maggie has been working hard this summer to catch up on her school work so she can continue on to the next grade. The staff at PCGS has been incredibly impressed by Maggie’s positive attitude and determination to keep up with her school work.

“Maggie is a wonderful young lady. At school she always wears a smile, which is exciting to see. She’s worked incredibly hard to catch up. We are pleased to serve her family,” said PCGS principal David De Jong.

One of Maggie’s favorite surprises was when a family friend told her story to Taylor Swift, who sent Maggie an autographed CD cover and one-of-a-kind picture.

She also enjoyed the support through her classmates when every one of them made her a card and some helped with a quilt, they also once surprised her outside her hospital window with a giant get-well banner. Kristine Brouwer, a teacher at PCGS, has helped organize some of these activities and has noticed how close Maggie has stayed to her friends, despite barely being at school.

“Maggie is the type of kid who’s a joy to have in school. She’s joyful and excited to be there, her friends are her support system. She enjoyed being there even though she couldn’t be there much. She’s a real joy to have in class,” said Brouwer.

The Milbys have been impressed by all the support they felt by the community and are grateful for all their help. Joy also hopes that Maggie’s story will inspire other parents to keep asking their healthcare providers questions, and to keep going back until you get the whole answer. Maggie looks to the future with hope, and credits her family for helping to get her this far.

“My family is really good at being positive, and it makes me be positive. I know I’m going to get better, it just might be a really long time,” said Maggie Milby.