6-10-25 update 

Please read the post below from Maci. Praise the Lord for a good scan!❤️

I wanted to update everyone on my brain tumor journey. We went to Duke yesterday for my follow up scan and there was no changes in my brain! Praise the lord for a clear scan!!! They will see me every 8 weeks for MRI’s for the next two years. I’ll be on chemo treatments until next April for the Grade 3 Astrocytoma brain tumor. Even though the surgeon removed most of the tumor like he said there are still sand granules (cancer cells) left behind which the chemo is hopefully killing. I start back on my chemo treatments today. Which consist of a pill 5 days in a row then off of it for 23 days. I repeat that cycle until April as long as all my blood works look good through out the treatment. I wanted to thank everyone for all the prayers and donations that everyone has given me along the way. I have a huge support system and couldn’t make it without all my family and friends!

4-15-25 update

It’s been a while since I’ve updated Maci’s GoFundMe… Please read her updates below and she appreciates the continued prayers and support. ❤️

3-4-25 I had post opp appointment at Duke with surgeon and he said everything looked great. There was a small scab on my head and he pressed around it and said it looked fine just clean with peroxide twice daily. I did that for a week.

3-11 I noticed a small piece of hair in my scab and pulled it out and puss came out. I sent pictures to Duke that night.

3-12 Team from Duke called me early that morning asked if I could come into the office immediately. So off we traveled with Maddie Kate to let them see my scab that was oozing puss. Dr. Friedman was in surgery but his physician assistant called into the operation room and described it to him. He had me in the operating room that evening as an add on case to open my head back open. They walked us over from the clinic to the main hospital to prep for surgery. It was a washout of the whole old incision. Basically another craniotomy plus this time came out with a drain on one side.

Stayed in the hospital for 6 nights waiting on cultures to grow and just pumping me with antibiotics around the clock. 3 out of 5 cultures from the OR grew a bacteria which made them have to insert a central line in my upper arm to go home with antibiotics every 8 hours. We were discharged 3/17 with the at home antibiotics.

Chemo was supposed to start back on 3/17 but due to the major surgery I went through we couldn’t start.

4/8 blood work was drawn and my platelets were 58 and wbc 2.9. My blood counts were way too low to start chemo still.

4/10 blood work was taken again and my counts were worse platelets were 52 and WBC 2.2.

4/13 they switched my antibiotics to a different one because Duke thought that was causing my blood counts to drop.

4/14 blood work was a little better my platelets 114 and wbc 2.9

4/15 we are headed to Duke for a post opp appointment and I’ll have an appointment with the infectious disease

2-22-25 update 

Maci had her LAST day of the 30 days of radiation for the last 6 weeks straight, ontop of taking a chemo pill daily. She celebrated being done with the radiation part of it, by ringing the bell! Maci can’t thank everyone enough for all the support through this journey. The entire family has really stepped up with driving and making sure someone was always with Maddie Kate or taking Maci to treatments daily. The staff at Novant has been amazing to her. Next, she will go to Duke for re scans and meeting with the surgeon and Neuro oncologist on March 3rd/4th. The better together girls even showed up for the bell ringing! Thank you to everyone who has prayed for Maci and helped out in any way! Please keep the prayers coming as she marches on!! ❤️#bettertogether #braincancer #NovantHealth #duke

12-28-24

Update:

Maci is very happy with her team at Duke and they have a game plan to kick cancers butt!! Her pathology results came back as a grade 3 astrocytoma brain tumor. They are going to treat it like it's a glieoblastoma. The surgeon was able to remove most of tumor but chemo and radiation will be needed to kill the cancer cells that he couldn't get. She will be doing radiation in Charlotte at Novant health affiliated with Duke Monday-Friday for 6 weeks along with a chemo pill. Maci will begin her treatments on January 6th.

Please continue to keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

12-6-24

Update: Maci’s surgery was successful and the tumor was removed. She is home now and her strength is inspirational.❤️ She will be traveling back and forth to Durham for scans, appointments, etc. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she awaits the pathology report and recovers from surgery. We know how strong she is and she will have an awesome story to tell when this is all behind her. We all love her and she appreciates the love and prayers.

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out to ask for your help and support during this difficult time. My cousin, Maci, was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday at Duke. The surgery is complex and will require a significant amount of time and recovery.

The medical costs associated with this surgery and the subsequent treatment are expected to be very high. Any contribution, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated and would help alleviate the financial burden on Maci and their family.

In addition to financial support, I'm also asking for your thoughts and prayers for Maci. A positive outlook and strong support system can make a significant difference in the healing process. Maci is a mom, wife, daughter, sister, nurse, cousin, and friend to so many. She has the biggest heart and is always willing to help people in any way. Let’s show her love as we help her during this time of need.

Please share this campaign with your friends and family to help spread awareness and raise funds for Maci.

Thank you for your generosity and compassion during this challenging time.

With gratitude,

Alicia Anderson and Family