Little But Fierce

When I met Madison and Melanie through a mutual friend in the summer of 2018, I knew immediately I had to tell their story. Charismatic, 9-year-old Madison was fighting a rare brain cancer, and her mother would stop at nothing to find a cure. At first, I thought this would be a quick two-week shoot, but as I got to know The Davis Family and their struggle, I knew this story was much deeper than I anticipated. I filmed with The Davises for a year and half, following all the ups and downs that come with childhood and disease. There were pool parties, playgrounds, and many games of UNO. I learned about all the barriers related to medical marijuana and pediatric cancer research in our country. I learned about strength, love and the importance of building a relationship with someone even when you know it will most likely hurt in the end. But most importantly, I learned that everyone wants to tell their story, and everyone deserves to be heard.

 

I asked Madison what she wanted people to learn from this film. She said, “I want people to know I am strong and push through battles and that I love my family and friends a lot.” I was fortunate to meet Madison and get to tell her story. I hope that through my film, parents and patients going through similar battles will know they are heard and feel a little less alone.

 

Thank you for watching,

Sara Barger