Beaverton students honor teen who lost battle to cancer
BEAVERTON, Ore. – Maddie Lauer lost her battle with cancer Sunday, and while her family and friends come to grips with a life cut too short, they're also finding a way to celebrate her life.
Students at Beaverton High School planned a touching tribute Tuesday for the brave and compassionate 14-year-old who fought a rare type of thyroid cancer.
"She was actually the first known case of it in a child," said Maddie's mother, Andrea.
Her friends wore purple and passing out purple ribbons that they made in the hope of spreading the word about the beautiful and strong girl.
For almost a year, Andrea says her daughter battled back through surgery and chemo. Then there was a surprise moment and a chance to be a teenager again; Maddie was crowned queen at Beaverton High School’s homecoming in October as a freshman.
"It's crazy," Maddie said at the time during an interview, adding she didn't really think being crowned queen would happen to her.
"Blown away by how fast it progressed, and so it was shocking," Andrea said about the cancer Monday. "We weren't prepared, but you know there's a little bit of a blessing in how quick it went."
When word spread of Maddie’s death, students wanted to honor her. So they sat down to twist into bows hundreds of purple ribbons and initial them for their peers to wear on Tuesday.
Purple is not only the color for thyroid cancer but also Maddie's favorite.
"Her story is so inspiring, especially becoming homecoming queen, and I think it's a good symbol of celebrating her," said Natasha Vartanian, Maddie's close friend.
"Really touching," Andrea said. "Made us really happy, sad – just kind of opens all the emotions of just how loved she was."
The parents and students who worked so hard on those ribbons said they planned on handing them out first thing in the morning.
They also said word spread through social media, and students at other area schools also planned on wearing purple.
The principal at Beaverton High School sent a letter home to families to let them know that councilors would be available for those having a hard time with Maddie's death.
wowww well cancer is there all the time just im afraid that someday its wake up on my body. but i think everything happens because they put alot chemicals in food because before it wasn't like now..ladies  back time they had good shape mens the same thing nobody needed surgery for something simple something is wrong.
@tha last shadow Are you about 8 years old? Your spelling, sentence structure and grammer aim towards 8 years old.
Very sad news. Rest in peace and happiness, Maddie.
You were a very bright star in an otherwise ordinary sky.
Go with the angels, Maddie, and bring comfort to others who are young and facing hard times. It's a sweet moment to remember that she has become a queen in her own right.Â
Â
My sincere sympathies to Maddie's family and friends. She sounds like an awesome girl!
This young lady faced what most people donât acknowledge until they are much older, the fear of the unknown, the fear of dying. What a strong young lady, and what resounding compassion shown by the students at Beaverton High - I was brought to tears hearing she had passed.  We can learn so much from Maddie's strength as well as the compassion shown from the students.Â
Â
I will not forget the inspiration Maddie will continue to provide for people struggling with any illness, and I will not forget the compassion exhibited by the Beaverton High school students - this is humanism at its greatest, you grace us all with your strength Maddie, may you now rest in peace. Â
RIP my Queen.
A life ended too soon... but Maddie's friends at Beaverton HS are wonderful... Â Parents should not have to bury their kids... but hopefully, Maddie's parents can find a great deal of comfort in knowing that their daughter's courage and love of living provided such a positive inspiration to so many other young people... Â
Â
Rest in peace, Maddie...
My thoughts and prayers are with the parents and family of this wonderful young lady.It sounds like it never got her down. What a wonderful school to honor her the way they have been! I am very proud of what they are doing.
Students are Beavertons HS can be proud of what they have done. Their support and compassion for this girl is an inspiration for the rest of the world and have set a high standard.
 @RalphCramden I was there that night they crowned her.  What a fantastic night that was!
Â
 @GymboÂ
I would have loved to have been there. It was electrifying on the video and would have been much more so in person.
Â
This is how kids should treat other kids. With respect and dignity.
I extend my condolences to her family, friends, classmates and teachers. It can truly be a blessing when a battle with any disease is quick rather than drawn out. In this day and age of so many things being said about this generation that is in junior high and high school, it's great to see that her classmates really held a special place in their hearts for Maddie, to be quite honest, the vast majority of students at her school may very well turn out to be better people for having known her, her strength, and her courage.
Â
Rest in peace Maddie.
A young life lost but what a wonderful testament to the student body of Beaverton High School. Kudos to them for being selfless and giving such a gift to a classmate.Â
""""Â but you know there's a little bit of a blessing in how quick it went."""""
Sadly that is true,Â
My heart breaks for the parents as there is no greater pain than a parents loss of a child.
Â
Â
Tracey Steele: Brain Cancer-Age 17Michelle Forsyth: Hodgkin's Lymphoma-Age 22Sherrie Johnson: Spine Cancer-Age 25  Johnnie Riggs: Thyroid Cancer-Age 26Margaret Miller: Cervical Cancer-Age 73Jalena Murphy: Liver Cancer- Keep fighting! We love you!!!Â
Reynolds High School lost a girl named Julie to brain cancer. My high school sweetheart lost her sister to lung cancer at the age of 17 after fighting it for five years, and having never inhaled a puff of anything. We know of four families dealing with it, and lost a friend to it this summer. For the last twelve years, we have been conditioned to fear terrorism, but this predator is a much greater threat.
How sad and awesome at the same time. Suffering with cancer is a nightmare for the strongest, but for a child to deal with it, waking every morning wondering if it is going to be this week... Those kids at Beaverton are a rare breed; such awesome spirit to come together for an extremely awesome cause! I hope the spirit spreads to others, including "adults"; some can be so insensitive. Good job, guys and girls! Quite the inspiration!
Bravo to the students.