‘Be close to your family, love them, love God’: Remembering News 5 family member Madeleine Petite

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Many of you have been praying for a member of the News 5 family battling cancer. But it saddens us to share that Madeleine Petite , the daughter of our Assignment Manager Leon Petite, has passed away.

A 28-year-old Baldwin County teacher, coach and mom, Madeleine was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was 24 weeks pregnant. The cancer spread to other parts of her body.

With the help of doctors and her fighting spirit, Madeleine delivered a premature, but healthy, baby boy. And she fought like a warrior to stay alive for her son.

In recent interviews, she told News 5’s Drexel Gilbert that she wants to be remembered not as a cancer victim, but as a person of faith who hopes her story will inspire others.

From the get-go, Madeleine’s family said she was born with spunk. Whether she was dancing on a stage, crushing it on the basketball court, or teaching and coaching the next generation in Baldwin County schools.

“She was full of life. She had a passion for her kids and for the community,” said Foley Middle School Principal Katy White.

“[We] didn’t see it coming,” said her father, Leon.

Madeleine was also born with a competitive spirit, so when cancer came knocking on her door, she allowed herself to cry and then went into warrior mode.

“That was very hard to hear. It was a very emotional day for us,” said Madeleine.

Through the premature delivery of what she called her miracle baby, Harrison, chemotherapy and radiation and she fought and kept a positive spirit.

She wanted you to know that she was a woman of faith who had daily devotions with her dad.

“I grew up Catholic and God’s always been in my life but this, is different, I talk to Him all day, every day,” said Madeleine. “If I wake up in the middle of the night and I see it’s 12:01, that’s another day He gave me and I’m thankful for it, and I’m thanking Him for it, no matter what.”

Many people said they have learned lessons from Madeleine’s courage, even her mom, Jennifer.

“I’ve actually learned a lot from her. That even if you’re scared that you just have to do what you have to do and you have to push through it,” said Jennifer.

Madeleine died Monday at her favorite spot, Rosemary Beach in the Florida Panhandle.

She was surrounded by her parents and siblings. They, along with all of us who knew Madeleine, will miss her.

“I will miss her smile and her texts and her love for everybody. She was a beautiful soul,” said White.

The last time I was with Madeleine I asked her if she had a message for her son, Harrison, and for all of us — she did.

“I want him to know that his mom fought, that he fought, and I want him to stay close to God, live through every moment and every day and I want him to know things are just things. We have them we all love them but my biggest thing is family. I want him to know how important it is to be close to your family, love them, love God, be good to people be good to everybody because, at the end of the day, we’re all the same. Enjoy it and be good to people.”

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