From Healed to Healer

When 16-year-old Madelyn Modeste stands in front of a room full of children and opens one of her published books, something magical happens. A child will often approach her afterward, eyes filled with wonder, and ask for a photo or autograph. To them, she’s more than just a teenage author. She’s someone who’s been through difficult times and has come out the other side stronger than ever. For many starry-eyed children, she’s a living example of what courage looks like.

Madelyn’s journey began at age 10, when a routine checkup at her pediatrician revealed a diagnosis that would change her life. Scoliosis. For her family, it was a shock. “When I was told I have to have surgery, that was the hardest part,” Madelyn recalled. “Part of me felt like I wasn’t normal.”

For Madelyn’s mother, Shauntelle, the diagnosis was a moment of fear and self-doubt. “At first, I kept thinking, ‘What did I do wrong?’” she said. “But then I realized that we have to take this one day at a time. Everyone’s story is different, and you can’t get distracted.”

The Power of Faith

That mindset became a guiding principle for the family. During Madelyn’s homeschooling years, Shauntelle leaned on her background in education to keep learning engaging and meaningful. 

“We became very close during our homeschooling years,” Shauntelle said. “I have always tried to impress the importance of both literacy and faith.”

This support helped Madelyn not just survive but thrive. “She has become more open,” Shauntelle said of her daughter’s growth after surgery.

This openness, and her faith, has become the foundation of everything that followed.

Writing as a Way to Heal

Madelyn had always been drawn to storytelling, but it was during her recovery, after years of doctor visits and a life-changing spinal fusion surgery, that writing became more than a hobby. It became a way to turn her pain into purpose. She has written three children’s books in the Mariella series under the name Madelyn Grace Modeste. All are independently published and available through Amazon. 

Her third book, Mariella is Brave, mirrors her personal journey more than her previous books, Mariella Can’t Wait and Mariella is Frustrated. In this story, Mariella walks readers through her diagnosis, the fear she feels, and the eventual acceptance that true bravery isn’t the absence of fear but the ability to persevere even when you are afraid. 

“I see myself in Mariella,” Madelyn said. “And when I hear feedback from the children, it feels like a testimony.”

This connection drives her. “My parents always encouraged me to tackle big things. When children come up to me after I read my story, I feel like a big sister,” she said. “You can’t overthink all the bad possibilities. You have to keep believing positive things will happen.”

This advice is born from personal experience and comes from having faith. “I do believe God watches over me. Faith is a huge part,” she added.

A Doctor’s Encouragement

Children aren’t the only ones impressed with her books either. Madelyn’s journey was also shaped by an unexpected mentor, Dr. Christopher Redman, a pediatric spine surgeon at Children’s Health in Plano. He not only performed her corrective back surgery, but he also saw her potential.

“He opened doors for me,” Madelyn shared. “I’m now his intern. He even introduced me to the dean at Harvard.” 

Madelyn’s book is used by Dr. Redman’s office and shared with clinics at Children’s Health as a way to comfort and inspire young patients facing serious medical procedures of their own. 

Looking forward, Madelyn has set her sights on becoming an OB-GYN, yet still plans to continue writing and advocating for literacy and children. She’s also considering writing a memoir. Even with such lofty goals, Dr. Redman continues to encourage her to keep dreaming big. 

A Story Still Being Written

Madelyn is more than a young author. She’s an inspiration to children navigating their own fears. Whether she becomes a future physician or not, she has already demonstrated a capacity for empathy, storytelling, and wisdom beyond her years. 

In a world that often measures success by awards or accolades, Madelyn’s unsung impact is no less profound. Healing comes in many forms, in operating rooms, the pages of a book, and in the faith of a young woman who inspires us all. As she continues to write, to serve, and to dream, Madelyn Modeste is already doing what so many hope to do — turning her story into something that helps others find their own.