Support for Malekos

We are bringing some scary and difficult news about Malekos. During Winter break, Malekos was diagnosed with Craniopharyngioma- benign brain tumor. The treatment for these tumors are difficult to remove with one surgery and often require ongoing treatments including radiation therapy.

Over the past year, Malekos has been seeing an ophthalmologist for his eyesight and vision. As the year progressed, his eyesight diminished and then he started getting severe migraines. On Christmas Eve, he did an MRI which showed a mass in his brain.

We were asked to take Malekos to the closest Emergency Room for further tests and scans. After 2 days in the ER we were told about his diagnosis. The family has been traveling back and forth from Tucson to Phoenix seeing specialists and doing further testing.

The next step is brain surgery. He will have the Chief Neurosurgeon and 2 other doctors working on him at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The procedure will take 4-6 hours and they will try to remove as much as the tumor while keeping him safe. After his surgery, he will require a week long hospital stay. Then Malekos will have 6-8 weeks of recovery period. He will continue to see ophthalmologists, endocrinologists, and ENT doctors after his surgery.

100% of funds will directly support Malekos and the Ayala family to reduce some of the financial burden from medical bills, travel/lodging fees, and loss of employment costs. Medical bills are only covered partially by Insurance.

Your support means the world and we thank you for your generosity along with your healing thoughts and prayers. We will keep you updated as Malekos has his surgery and after.

Surgery date is April 11, 2025.

Thank you all for your love and support. 

-Gabriel Ayala & Family