Mercer area rallies with 'Hearts for Hadley'

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

MANITOWISH WATERS, Wis. — On Oct. 1, the Benson family of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, woke up to what they called "a nightmare."

In communications shared this past week, Josh and Tristen Benson said their daughter, Hadley, 8, suddenly rose that day "displaying behavior far different than normal."

According to the Bensons, emergency service personnel cleared her at that time, but Hadley then again awoke the next day and "wasn't herself and we knew something was off."

After that incident, they said medical staff conducted "many tests" and ultimately "found a tumor with a pocket of blood on the left side of her brain."

Hadley then was flown to the hospital of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where an MRI confirmed that the pocket of blood and related swelling were causing pressure and her symptoms.

"Additional scans identified the projected tumor was AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation)," the parents noted.

Hence, Hadley received emergency brain surgery so that physicians could remove the entire AVS mass.

Overall, said the Bensons, their daughter — who will turn nine years old in December — spent 25 days in Madison's American Family Children's Hospital, including 12 days in the pediatric intensive care unit.

"Once her blood pressure was sustained at a comfortable level, later scans showed a successful removal of the AVM," stated the parents, adding that the focus then shifted to her recovery.

They added, "Hadley started to show significant progress in motor skills on the right side of her body; however, intense rehab made for long days, but it was, without question, well worth it.!"

The Bensons now regard their daughter, who returned to Manitowish Waters on Oct. 26, as "Hadley the Warrior."

As they expressed it, she returned not only to her home, but also to "family, friends, classmates and a community with arms wide open."

According to the Bensons, Hadley "continues her path to recovery, attending rehab three days a week with a goal to bring her back to 90% baseline on the physical side."

They added that "she does battle aphasia," which "limits her ability to communicate" and poses further challenges in reading, writing and talking.

But they stated that the North Lakeland School District in Manitowish Waters will provide their daughter with a new school schedule that best suits her needs.

It isn't the only way in which local residents aimed to help.

According to Joy Kohegyi of Mercer, folks also rallied to make possible a Nov. 9 fundraising event called "Hearts for Hadley" at the Great Northern Banquet Hall in Mercer.

"Collectively, as a community, we came together to have this event to support (Hadley) and her family," said Kohegyi. "It was one of those things that kind of took your breath away."

Kohegyi said attendance was so great that they had to set up a tent outside. "I can't even tell you how many people donated," she said.

As the Bensons put it, "On Nov. 9, the local communities came together to support Hadley and our families as we move forward on her journey to recovery. Hearts for Hadley was more than we imagined. The amount of community support ... left us speechless."

They concluded, "With over 750 people, 160+ raffle baskets, loving and caring support, we can't say thank you enough. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you! It takes a village."

The Bensons also have one central outcome for which they also are grateful: Hadley's physicians regard her, not only as a successful patient, not only as a warrior, but also as "a miracle."