Help for Zayden Mabey’s Medical Bills
Donation protected
My name is Michelle Marrapodi and I have set up this fundraiser for a family friend's 8 year old son who on January 29, 2021, was diagnosed with having a cancerous brain tumor. All donated funds will go directly to Zayden to help cover the costs of medical bills, hospitalization, rehabilitation and any aftercare required.
A little history of how we know Zayden...
My husband Mike Marrapodi met his best friend Jerry Mabey 38 years ago, on his first day of first grade at Valley View Elementary in Montville, New Jersey. Being seated alphabetically placed them only a seat apart and they have been inseparable ever since. Jerry and his wife Cordelia have three kids, Nataylia (15 years old), Max (12 years old) and Zayden (8 years old), and moved out to Carlisle, Pennsylvannia back in 2008. Despite the distance of living about 3 hours away, my husband and Jerry have remained close and Jerry's family is just an extension of ours. The cover photo is a picture of Zayden during our last visit in early January 2021 when Jerry's mom suddenly passed.
How this all started, what has happened and how is Zayden currently...
In late December 2020 to early January 2021, Zayden complained of soreness and stiffness in his neck and shoulders. He was x-rayed and everything came back clear, so it was assumed that he may have pulled a muscle or sprained his neck and was given exercises to stretch hoping to alleviate the issue. When the pain continued, Zayden had an MRI of his neck and this time the doctor noticed some fluid in Zayden's brain and requested that Jerry and Cordelia immediately bring him to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for concerns of hydrocephalus. Once at the hospital, Zayden had a MRI of his brain, which then detected a tumor centered in the posterior third ventricle. The next morning, January 29, Zayden had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) surgery to install an external ventricular drain (EVD) and an intraventricular drainage catheter and to be able to take a sample of the tumor and brain fluid for biopsy. Almost a week later it was confirmed that the tumor was indeed cancerous, however the sample taken during the first surgery was not enough to confirm between two types of cancer. Originally surgery was not an option, as it was very risky due to the location of the tumor being close to nerves that would affect his limbs and eyes. Both types of cancer would require removal of the tumor, as the cancer imposed a larger risk and the decision was made to operate the following morning. As scheduled, Zayden had a posterior fossa craniotomy surgery, which took approximately 10 hours. The surgeon felt he successfully removed the golf ball sized tumor and sent for a second biopsy, with a portion of the tumor sent out to a lab in San Francisco for further study.
We are now five full days after surgery and it has become apparent that this is going to be a long process with a slow recovery. Zayden is still in the ICU area of the children's hospital and has only been awake for short periods, sleeping for a good portion of each day. He has only been able to bend each leg slightly and hold up two fingers on one had, and his speech has only been slight mumbles so far. Any activity tires him out quickly, however the doctors have given his parents a list of rehabilitation exercises to give him whenever he wakes up and told them that Zayden may not be able to speak for a month or more.
Who is Zayden Mabey and how might I know his family?...
Zayden has the biggest heart and is the kid with the biggest smile on his face. His energy is contagious and he loves soccer, wrestling and his big sister and brother, Nataylia and Max. He is also a big animal lover - he has two cats and a snake and is best buds with our dog, Baxter. Zayden was a student at Grace Baptist Christian School and currently attends Bellaire Elementary School.
Zayden's dad, Jerry, grew up in Montville, NJ and is a 1994 graduate of Montville High School. If you are from the Montville area, then you might know his family as well and even might have heard of Mabey Lane. Jerry's mom, Betty, was a well known and well liked lunch lady in the Montville School District at Robert R. Lazar Middle School from the early 1980's to 2000's. Jerry is passionate about anything with his kids, enjoys coaching soccer and building the coolest American Ninja Warrior setup in his own backyard for the family to enjoy. He also works for the State of Pennsylvannia.
Zayden's mom, Cordelia, grew up in Amenia, NY. She loves her kids, is an amazing cook and bakes THE BEST cookies. Cordelia is also a Certified Personal Trainer at a local Align Chiropractic Spine & Sports Rehab in Carlisle, PA.
Please consider donating to this family. They have been through a lot in a short period of time and the hospital where Zayden is is an hour away from their home. Due to Covid restrictions, Zayden has only been able to have his mom and dad in the hospital with him, however we know he is in the best place possible for him. We will continue to update this page with progress and news and appreciate all of the prayers, love and support you are sending towards the Mabey Family during this difficult time.
A little history of how we know Zayden...
My husband Mike Marrapodi met his best friend Jerry Mabey 38 years ago, on his first day of first grade at Valley View Elementary in Montville, New Jersey. Being seated alphabetically placed them only a seat apart and they have been inseparable ever since. Jerry and his wife Cordelia have three kids, Nataylia (15 years old), Max (12 years old) and Zayden (8 years old), and moved out to Carlisle, Pennsylvannia back in 2008. Despite the distance of living about 3 hours away, my husband and Jerry have remained close and Jerry's family is just an extension of ours. The cover photo is a picture of Zayden during our last visit in early January 2021 when Jerry's mom suddenly passed.
How this all started, what has happened and how is Zayden currently...
In late December 2020 to early January 2021, Zayden complained of soreness and stiffness in his neck and shoulders. He was x-rayed and everything came back clear, so it was assumed that he may have pulled a muscle or sprained his neck and was given exercises to stretch hoping to alleviate the issue. When the pain continued, Zayden had an MRI of his neck and this time the doctor noticed some fluid in Zayden's brain and requested that Jerry and Cordelia immediately bring him to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for concerns of hydrocephalus. Once at the hospital, Zayden had a MRI of his brain, which then detected a tumor centered in the posterior third ventricle. The next morning, January 29, Zayden had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) surgery to install an external ventricular drain (EVD) and an intraventricular drainage catheter and to be able to take a sample of the tumor and brain fluid for biopsy. Almost a week later it was confirmed that the tumor was indeed cancerous, however the sample taken during the first surgery was not enough to confirm between two types of cancer. Originally surgery was not an option, as it was very risky due to the location of the tumor being close to nerves that would affect his limbs and eyes. Both types of cancer would require removal of the tumor, as the cancer imposed a larger risk and the decision was made to operate the following morning. As scheduled, Zayden had a posterior fossa craniotomy surgery, which took approximately 10 hours. The surgeon felt he successfully removed the golf ball sized tumor and sent for a second biopsy, with a portion of the tumor sent out to a lab in San Francisco for further study.
We are now five full days after surgery and it has become apparent that this is going to be a long process with a slow recovery. Zayden is still in the ICU area of the children's hospital and has only been awake for short periods, sleeping for a good portion of each day. He has only been able to bend each leg slightly and hold up two fingers on one had, and his speech has only been slight mumbles so far. Any activity tires him out quickly, however the doctors have given his parents a list of rehabilitation exercises to give him whenever he wakes up and told them that Zayden may not be able to speak for a month or more.
Who is Zayden Mabey and how might I know his family?...
Zayden has the biggest heart and is the kid with the biggest smile on his face. His energy is contagious and he loves soccer, wrestling and his big sister and brother, Nataylia and Max. He is also a big animal lover - he has two cats and a snake and is best buds with our dog, Baxter. Zayden was a student at Grace Baptist Christian School and currently attends Bellaire Elementary School.
Zayden's dad, Jerry, grew up in Montville, NJ and is a 1994 graduate of Montville High School. If you are from the Montville area, then you might know his family as well and even might have heard of Mabey Lane. Jerry's mom, Betty, was a well known and well liked lunch lady in the Montville School District at Robert R. Lazar Middle School from the early 1980's to 2000's. Jerry is passionate about anything with his kids, enjoys coaching soccer and building the coolest American Ninja Warrior setup in his own backyard for the family to enjoy. He also works for the State of Pennsylvannia.
Zayden's mom, Cordelia, grew up in Amenia, NY. She loves her kids, is an amazing cook and bakes THE BEST cookies. Cordelia is also a Certified Personal Trainer at a local Align Chiropractic Spine & Sports Rehab in Carlisle, PA.
Please consider donating to this family. They have been through a lot in a short period of time and the hospital where Zayden is is an hour away from their home. Due to Covid restrictions, Zayden has only been able to have his mom and dad in the hospital with him, however we know he is in the best place possible for him. We will continue to update this page with progress and news and appreciate all of the prayers, love and support you are sending towards the Mabey Family during this difficult time.
Organizer
Michelle Mike Marrapodi
Organizer
Carlisle, PA
