We're coming together as the (-->) clan to support Maddie and the Pierce Family overcome her battle with cancer. Earlier this week, Jay Pierce (Ficker / Scrubhungry) reached out to us on Discord to inform us his two year old daughter, Maddie, was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma, a brain cancer. Also, during the procedure, she suffered a medium sized stroke to the left side of her brain. The medical team advised she may never regain function of her right leg and right arm/hand. However, through Jay's updates on Facebook, we've come to understand she is an absolute WARRIOR and overcoming many of the initial evaluations made by the medical team by surviving the surgery and possessing the strength to still hold her Father's finger with her right hand.
The following is what Jay initially posted on Facebook back on August 20th:
"So, pretty big one here. I never post on Facebook anymore but I figured it would be a way to keep family and friends updated on what is happening within our own family.
Our youngest Maddie has been having issues eating, from frequent pediatrician visits and blood testing it was believed we just had a typical two year old getting super picky on what she wants to eat. After our trip to Rochester New York in July we came home and slowly Maddie wanted to not place weight on her legs and when she did walk she would hold on to furniture like she was just learning to walk again. Upon that observation we immediately took Maddie to her pediatrician on July 20th who reffered us to Pittsburgh Children's Hospital, initially it was believed her lack of wanting to eat was food aversion and it caused her bones to become more brittle causing a common fracture in her left tibia. From that point on she was casted and had a feeding tube in, we actually almost took her home until her three medical heroes picked up on oddities that we had mentioned in the start of August of her being less interested in playing, coloring and even watching her favorite shows. The morning of August 9th Maddie's MRI revealed a truly giant mass in her skull. We have come to find out after a resection of the tumor on the 12th of August that Maddie has pilocytic astrocytoma, a brain cancer. Luckily it responds very well to treatment but thus will be chronic due to the location as it all cannot be removed. During the resection our little warrior suffered a medium sized stroke to the left side of her brain. It was initially believed that she would lose the function of her right leg possibly and guaranteed her right arm and hand however Maddie has somehow seemingly retained movement of both but still requires a full evaluation. Her speech and vision is also in jeopardy of damage. Between the 17th and 18th the PICU team believed we may lose Maddie that night as her brain swelling was increasing and sending signals to her heart causing bradycardia. Ourselves and family were devastated as we were told to say good bye as it may have been her last night with us but she again proved her doctors wrong.
Maddie is believed to be over the worse of the swelling and her inner cranial pressures have seemed to be steady and her blood pressure and heart rates seem better as well the PICU doctors are now weening her off some medications, she is hooked up to so many different medical pumps, drains, and monitoring I can't even begin to explain them all. She is a true warrior, and she will continue to fight not only today but the rest of her life.
We will be posting updates next year about Miles for Maddie which will be held in May as it is her birthday month and brain cancer awareness month. We would like to hold an event at Windber Rec as well as a way for family, friends, and Maddie's medical heroes to participate as well at distance."
Update posted on August 21st:
"Maddie is doing great, her machine to monitor seizure activity has been removed, many medications have been removed from her IV pole today, she went from 11 pumps down to 6. Her blood work levels have been great. Hoping to do a trial run with her ventilator tonight and hopefully off of it tomorrow.
We are starting to see a lot of our Maddie again despite her stroke!"
If you're here reading this story, then you've been directly or indirectly brought in to the arrow family by Jay (Ficker/Scrubhungry). He rejuvenated the --> clan back in 2007 on Socom and we've all played together for countless hours across various platforms and games. We're all still connected to this day and I'm hoping we can come together to provide support towards this donation and help with any medical bills, food, toys or anything that Maddie and the Pierce Family need. Once we meet our goal, I will be sending our donation to Jay Pierce directly.
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