Living her Purpose: Maddie Simone

How working through survivor’s guilt led Maddie to refocus her life and find purpose in helping others

When Maddie Simone lost her two brothers to the congenital heart defect, they all share, she could not help but wonder, “why not me?”

Their genetic condition “FTAAD: familial thoracic aortic aneurism and dissection disorder, means they are all prone to aortic rupture. Maddie’s older brother initially survived a partial tear, only to lose his life four years later to Duodenal Cancer, a disease related to the genetic mutation. Their younger brother died four years after that, he died instantly of a full aortic rupture.

Receiving the genetic testing and finding out that she lived with the same condition, halted Maddie’s life. Survivor’s guilt consumed her, leaving her wondering what she brought to this world. The journey through living with fear was a long one, but then she found hope.

Read full story here: https://thedrivemagazine.com/posts/living-her-purpose-maddie-simone/