43
Eight year old Maddi Dinger overcomes obstacles
CANFIELD
C.H. Campbell second-grader Maddi Dinger lets nothing hold her back, never gives up and never says she can’t.
“I just go for it,” Maddi said simply.
Eight-year old Maddi throws her body across the yard, springing from hand to foot as she flies through the air.
She is a cheerleader, a gymnast and an inspiration for children her age because of her go-getter attitude and drive to succeed.
But what makes this little girl different than any other Young Athletic Conference cheerleader award winner? Maddi has had several surgeries from the time she was born due to malformations in her hand and foot due to being born with amniotic bands.
Amniotic band syndrome is a group of birth defects that result when strands of the amniotic sac detach and wrap around parts of the baby in the womb. The defects may affect the face, arms, legs, fingers or toes.
Maddi’s mother, Shannan Dinger, said although it was a surprise, she and her husband, Brian, hit the ground running to help their daughter,
“Maddi was about 6 months old when she had her first surgery and has had 11 surgeries since,” she said. “This is actually her first year without a surgery.”
Shannan said Brian went into action, researching surgery and treatments for his daughter.
“It was kind of a blessing since we wanted to come back to the area anyways [from North Carolina] and the Cleveland Clinic was able to provide everything we needed both for her and for a reason to move home,” she said.
After years of constructive surgery on Maddi’s hand and a tendon transfer surgery on her leg, Shannan said it was a shock that her full-of-energy daughter was so capable of jumping and flying around.
“She is small but mighty,” said Laurie Pugh, Maddi’s tumbling coach. “Madison never stops training until she feels it’s perfect.”
Maddi’s dad agreed.
“My wife and I shake our heads and constantly wonder how Madison became such a good tumbler and is constantly improving every week,” he said. “She is just 100 percent driven and committed to obtaining any goal that she sets her mind to – no matter what.”
Maddi didn’t know how to describe her down time because she doesn’t have any.
“She loves to cartwheel, flip and handstand constantly,” Brian said – which is borderline annoying, he joked.
On top of being a stellar athlete and a role model for others, Maddi is also a mentor for her 2-year-old sister, Reese.
When asked about her sister, Reese yells, “Yay Maddi!” and “Go football!”
Maddi said it is her hope that her sister grows up to be like her, an award-winning tumbler and a dedicated gymnast.
In addition, Maddi hopes she becomes the next Gabby Douglas, an Olympic gymnast.
Maddi and her parents agree, without her strong support system of dedicated grandparents Gary and Terri Dinger and Mike and Sheila Pence, she might not be where she is today. Collectively they are all grateful for the family support.
“We are truly blessed and shocked on how much success Madison has already achieved, and we look forward to what God has in store for her as she continues to grow up,” said Brian.