WASHINGTON — After being diagnosed with cancer and discovering she was pregnant, Madison Thornton fought through her treatment and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Now, an upcoming fundraiser will help support her ongoing journey.

“I think the cool thing about all of this is that I am not alone in it,” Thornton said. “There are so many other people that have gone through such similar experiences. Being able to kind of relate and talk through some stuff like symptoms, experiences and how you’re dealing with stuff has been nice.”

When St. George News last checked in with Thornton, she was 25 weeks pregnant and had just completed her first round of chemotherapy following a Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis. At that time, her sister April Sevy was organizing a flash sale fundraiser, which took place March 17. Sevy shared that the fundraiser was a huge success and raised a significant amount of money. 

“The community’s turnout was overwhelming,” Sevy said. “I was moved by the incredible support from so many beautiful people, including complete strangers who showed up in ways I never could have imagined.”

Thornton was diagnosed with cancer in October 2023 and soon after discovered she was over five weeks pregnant. She started her first round of chemotherapy at 22 weeks pregnant and committed to six cycles. By the time she gave birth to her daughter, she had completed three and a half treatments.

McKinley Marie Thornton was born at 9:17 a.m. on Father’s Day, June 16, weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and measuring nearly 19 inches long … “which is short for our family,” Sevy said, laughing.

Thornton, who had long, flowing hair before chemotherapy, found losing it incredibly challenging. She held off as long as possible before finally shaving her head.

She took a three-week break from cancer treatments before giving birth to help her blood count return to normal. After the baby arrived, she waited an additional three weeks before resuming treatment. Since then, she has completed two chemotherapy treatments. To confirm that the cancer is gone, she will complete the final three rounds.

“I was able to have a PET scan after having her to see what everything looked like, and thankfully, my PET scan shows nothing, really,” Thornton said of what’s known as positron emission tomography. “Nothing big shows up.” 

Now, Sevy is organizing another fundraising event to help the Thornton family cover essential expenses, including out-of-pocket chemotherapy costs and the challenges of raising a newborn.

“Music for Madison” will be hosted by Oasis Gardens on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 3-8 p.m. Included will be a mini market with 11 vendors, plus an art show featuring five artists. The event will be filled with live music, with performances by Chase Snow from 3-4 p.m., Kole Saxton from 4:15-5:15 p.m., Adobe Taylor from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Jacob Parkinson from 6:45-7:45 p.m. 

A $10 entry fee per guest goes directly to Thornton, and many vendors will donate a portion of their profits back to the family.

Los Munchies and BBQ by Joe are scheduled to their featured cuisine, and the event will feature a raffle, giveaway and a silent auction featuring items like a real Joshua Tree from Oasis Gardens & Gallery and luxury goodies from Dandelion Wishes, Dazed and Topazed and more.

A donation box and QR code will be available for those who wish to contribute. Every dollar donated, including the entry fee, earns raffle entries for gift baskets packed with goodies. The event will also have booths offering henna tattoos and permanent jewelry.

“I’m so grateful for the community we have,” Sevy said, her eyes welling up with tears. “It’s been really overwhelming, but it’s also been really beautiful to watch people show up and have no idea who she is or who I am, but they are showing up anyway. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put into words how much gratitude I have.”

Sevy is also a tattoo artist whose summer promo has been a hit: buy one tattoo, donate $10 to her sister, and get a second tattoo free. Sevy said she’s been blown away by the support. To inquire about the promo, contact her on Instagram.

Those who wish to donate to the family directly may do so via Venmo @madison-thornton26. Vendors and small businesses who want to donate to the charity event can reach out to Sevy on Instagram or email [email protected].

Ed. note: When making charitable contributions it is advisable to consult with professionals for tax advice and investment risks.

Event details

• What: Music For Madison
• When: Saturday, Aug. 3, 3-8 p.m. 
• Where: Oasis Gardens & Gallery, 545 W 400 North, St. George 
• Admission: Entry is $10 per person
• For more information, visit the event page.

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