St. Jude patient’s cheer section included University of Alabama women’s softball team

It all started with a text in March 2023 from Alyson Habetz to her childhood friend Duke. 

They had grown up in the same small town in Louisiana and had attended high school together in the late 1980s. Duke knew Alyson could play baseball as good as any boy — or even better. They had been teammates, playing side by side. In that way that sports can do, the experience bonded Alyson and Duke for life.

In March 2023, Alyson was finishing her 25-year career as assistant head coach of the University of Alabama women’s softball team when she heard the news about Duke’s daughter, Madelyn.

The 6-year-old was very sick and getting cancer treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, so Alyson texted Duke to let him know she would be praying. 

She asked him to tell Madelyn to watch the next game. Each time an Alabama player got a hit, she would do something special at first base to let Madelyn know: Coach loved her.

On game day as Alyson greeted player after player after a hit, the camera panned to Alyson who tugged at her earlobe. 

“I think this earlobe is a little longer now,” said Alyson, “because I was pulling it the whole time.”

Madelyn watched the game from her inpatient room at St. Jude and was delighted.

Soon, the entire team was sending Madelyn messages of encouragement and her story became a featured part of the televised games. 

It seemed like everyone was praying for Madelyn, which was good, her parents believed, because Madelyn needed all the prayers she could get.

A sick little girl

An ultrasound on March 9, 2023, revealed a tumor on her kidney that was double the size of the organ. More scans brought worse news: The cancer had spread to her lungs.

Madelyn, at 6 years old, underwent a biopsy and spent three days recuperating in the ICU at a hospital near her home in Louisiana. She was referred to St. Jude where she became a patient on March 14, 2023. She wouldn’t see home for another three-and-a-half months. 

Trust in the team

Madelyn’s team grew to include not only St. Jude, but all the members of the University of Alabama women’s softball team, the coaches, their fans, the opposing teams. It grew to include anyone who happened to be watching TV when a game came on because there was Madelyn’s story being told.

“The more prayers the better,” said Duke.

As the players sent Madelyn best wishes by cell phone video, she was wishing them well, too. And a crazy thing happened — they couldn’t stop winning. 

Alyson believes it was because they were playing for something larger than themselves. They were playing for Madelyn.

As Madelyn received chemotherapy, the team tore its way through the Southeastern Conference (SEC), all the way to the Women’s College World Series.

“When they did homeruns, those were the girls she was talking to on the phone and sending messages back and forth with, so she would get excited,” said Duke. “We would all get excited.”

Madelyn had a special connection with slugger Ashley Prange, whose jersey Madelyn wore while she was inpatient.

After the team played in the SEC tournament in Arkansas, Ashley and Alyson skipped a flight home with the rest of the team and drove hours out of their way to go see Madelyn in Memphis.

Important scans

Six weeks after Madelyn began chemo, she underwent her first set of scans since starting treatment.

“We hoped that the tumors in her lungs and in her kidneys hadn’t increased,” said Duke. “That way we could say, ‘Hey, the chemo is working, and we can continue chemo.’”

Duke still gets emotional recounting the moment they learned the results: The main tumor had reduced significantly.

“And the spots in her lungs had gone from four to one,” said Duke. “So, blessed is an understatement.”

Three days later, Madelyn underwent a five-hour surgery during which the surgeon removed her tumor, kidney, lymph nodes and part of a vein. Because some cancer was still present in her body, she received radiation and continued chemotherapy.

Madelyn was able to return home and receive her treatment from the St. Jude Baton Rouge Affiliate Clinic, with periodic trips to St. Jude for scans. She was reunited with her three older siblings.

More than a hundred vehicles, including police cars and fire trucks, filed by Madelyn’s house to celebrate her homecoming.

School of life

Madelyn and her mom enter the high school gymnasium and climb the back stairs to the coaches’ office. They’re allowed to be here, but they still call it “sneaking in” because the aim is to avoid encountering anyone. They make a game of it.

A window overlooks the gym floor. They open it. 

There’s her 16-year-old sister, Annalise, down below with her cheerleading squad.

Madelyn's treatment has ended, but she’s still in what her parents call a bubble of safety for a little while longer because of her compromised immunity.

She loves her sister’s pep rallies, so they watch from a distance. 

Madelyn, now 7, is being homeschooled this year, following along with the local elementary school’s first grade curriculum so when the time comes to go back to school, she’ll be ready.

Madelyn messages regularly with the athletes of the University of Alabama women’s softball team who’ve become her good friends.  

Other than that, said Madelyn’s mom, Alison, “We do a lot of baking,” including creating cakes themed after Taylor Swift albums.

Madelyn dances around the house to Swift’s music, singing along to every word.

“She’s got pretty good energy,” said Alison. “I mean, she’s amazing.”