Sweet Maci and her family

On Friday January 19, Jason and Jamie took it upon themselves to take one of their 4 year old twin girls (Maci) into the ER due to increased vomiting and flu like symptoms. It’s winter time, the flu is going around along with other illnesses that this weather tends to “bless” us with. Maci was admitted to the pediatric floor for hydration and monitoring. Fast forward to about 24 hours later, and Maci had her first seizure. Terrifying for mom and dad, wondering if it could be from dehydration? Fevers? As their minds were beginning to race and Maci was settling down, she had yet another seizure. Things began to completely spiral. The panic intensified. Plans were made for Maci to have a CT scan of her head and to be transferred to the pediatric ICU. She had been given seizure medications, taken to scan and transferred to ICU. More seizing continued, more meds given, until the Physican came in to tell Jason and Jamie what every parent fears in their worst of nightmares. Maci’s seizures are being brought upon by a large mass in the middle of her brain. A four centimeter mass. Speechless. No words can describe the news that has just been given to them. nothing could prepare anyone for this.

Arrangements were immediately made due to the severity of the situation. What was thought to be an illness had far surpassed that. Physicians made plans, Maci was air lifted to Riley Children’s Hospital to be taken to OR immediately upon arrival. She had to have some of the fluid drain from her brain to decrease the pressure the mass was causing. Her first seizure was around 7 p.m. Saturday and by 12:30am (into) Sunday morning, sweet Maci was out of surgery, in ICU. Jason and Jamie made it to see their baby girl in a much different state than they saw her in before.

As of now, Maci is stable. That being said, the road is far from over. An MRI was done which gave her treatment team a better idea of plans and how to tackle this to get her on her road to recovery. She remains intubated, with a monitor and drain in her brain. They are keeping her comfortable and plan to go in for a biopsy this afternoon (Monday 1/22). Many questions are in the air. Baby step by little baby step. EEG (to monitor seizures) is now off. She has been seizure free, since the pressure is being relieved.

Jason and Jamie will be down with her at Riley for an undetermined amount of time. Off work, taking care of their other 4 year old Mia, and doing all they can to remain the strong and amazing parents they are. Any little bit helps. The degree of stress and change this on them and their family is heartbreaking. The goal is to just help, even put a small dent, in their expenses with food, travel, childcare, medical bills and more. They are putting everything in their lives, aside from their family, on hold. Your donation and prayers are more appreciated than you will ever know. God bless this road ahead. It will be a long and bumpy one, but the light is there and Maci has the best team and people on her side to carry her through the whole way.