Meet Our Founder

Shortly after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and accepting a second grade teaching position, Madison Holden’s health rapidly declined. What began as a search for answers became years of relentless self advocacy, medical dismissal, and complex diagnostic challenges.

After enduring prolonged medical gaslighting and countless appointments, Madison was ultimately diagnosed with multiple serious chronic illnesses, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome, Tethered Cord Syndrome, Eagle Syndrome, Craniovertebral Instability, Neurological Lyme Disease, Gastroparesis, Intracranial Hypertension, Nutcracker Syndrome, May-Thurner Syndrome, and multiple autoimmune conditions.

Her journey has required numerous major surgeries including brain, spine, and open abdominal procedures, extended hospitalizations, feeding tubes, implanted medical devices, and international travel for specialized care.

In the midst of isolation and uncertainty, Madison felt called to create something meaningful from her pain. She experienced firsthand how alone medically complex children and adults can feel when their conditions are rare, misunderstood, or minimized.

What began as a children’s book to help explain feeding tubes and ports grew into The Silly Lily Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to inclusion, comfort, and life-changing support for individuals of all ages navigating chronic illness.

Madison’s mission is simple: no one facing chronic illness should ever feel invisible, unheard, or alone.