Imagine being a 10-year-old kid, waking up not feeling good, and not having people even believe you when you said you didn't feel good. That's Madee's story, and it led her to the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester just a few years ago...and might even land her to see a few famous sharks!

Madee's family was on a search to get some answers on why she lost 30 pounds in 6 months and had a seizure. They took a 2,000-mile journey from California to Rochester, MN to find those answers at the Mayo Clinic. Traveling and all of the medical bills took a toll on the family financially and getting a room to stay at in the Ronald McDonald House was a huge need...but there weren't any rooms so their names were added to the waiting list.

Madee - Photo taken by Andrew Espino
Madee - Photo taken by Andrew Espino
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For a few weeks, Madee went through tests and appointments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Those moments of unknowns and a lot of questions in a strange city can be a very scary time. Migraines, brain fog, joint pain, fatigue, and other symptoms are what Madee experiences but she finally had a diagnosis;  POTS, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and Dysautonomia, among other things. At this point, there is no known cure.

During the weeks of testing, Madee's family did get a phone call that a room was open at the Ronald McDonald House for them.

“ From the moment we walked into the House, we were welcomed with open arms and open hearts. The House made everything OK. The House is our home. It’s where I learned that everything was going to be OK. When you have a sick child and you feel helpless, the House will be there for you. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.” - Sunee, Madee's Mom

Today, Madee and her sister, Abbi, are CEO and CFO of Madee's Dog Bakery. The reason? Well, the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester is a part of Madee's story and she wants to help support that place that was a home to her, help her parents out with the medical bills, and also donate to medical research.

How are sales going? They started selling at their local farmer's market and sold out!  They've also been chatting with some big companies and also just submitted their audition tape for Shark Tank.

Right now, you can actually help more families like Madee's have a place to stay...and it is super simple (and tasty!). The McDonald's in Rochester are selling their popular Shamrock shakes and when you buy one, 40 cents of that will go straight to the Ronald McDonald House. Here is the bonus too...YOU have a chance to win a $500 Arch card if you Show Us Your Shake! Just snap a pic of you enjoying your Shamrock shake and upload it to our app.  Click here for all of the details on this tasty giveaway.

If Madee and her sister end up on TV, I'll let you know! Here are a few links you might enjoy that will help you stay connected with Madee and the house here in Rochester:

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