As if 2020 wasn't bad enough, Makayla started off the year with severe abdominal pain. After a few visits to the doctor and no real results, she was taken for an MRI. She was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. A cancerous fibromas tumor was growing in her belly the size of a 5lb watermelon. She had an emergency surgery to remove the tumor which resulted in 95% removal.  She is now going through Chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Unfortunately after the first few weeks of therapy, the tumor has shown to be regrowing at an alarming rate. Makayla is now at the stage of losing her hair, appetite and energy. Yet, she continues to keep a smile on her face!


A little history...
Makayla was born with a rare hereditary condition called Neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder of the nervous system. It mainly affects how nerve cells form and grow. It causes tumors to grow on nerves. As well as that she developed severe scoliosis, her spine was shaped like an "S". In 2015, she underwent a very risky surgery to align her spine with titanium rods. She needed a halo drilled into her skull to help strengthen her neck as she recovered. Makayla is such a strong girl and always stayed positive and great spirited.