#warriormacie

This beautiful family received heartbreaking news while on vacation in Florida.  Sweet 9-year old Macie was diagnosed with Leukemia.  Macie's mom, Misty, posted this information on Facebook.

"On July 4th, while on vacation in Florida, our sweet Macie could no longer tolerate the back pain she’d had since arriving. We went to the local ED and were told she had aplastic anemia secondary to her seizure medication (she had been diagnosed with absence seizures in Jan). We were transferred to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and the work up continued. On the morning of July 5th, at 0905, the Hematologist sat me down and the news immediately changed our lives. I was told my baby had cancer.  B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). I know I stopped breathing in that very moment because the Doctor reached over and grabbed my hands. She has febrile neutropenia which means white cell counts were and remain very low placing her at an increased risk for infections. Her platelets are low and she also has anemia due to the leukemia taking up all of the room in the bone marrow. Despite the amazing care we were receiving and trust I had with Joe DiMaggio’s clinical team, the plan was to get us back home as soon as possible for further testing and to begin treatment. We flew back the night of July 5th and Macie was admitted to UVa, the pathology confirmed, and the bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture done on the 6th. She received her first dose of intrathecal chemo with the lumbar puncture as well. This week she begins aggressive chemotherapy and then chemo will continue for 3 years. (The word ‘acute’ is so appropriate. She had been completely fine, her fun loving/silly/energetic self, with no signs of sickness, and a normal checkup including labs with neurology a month ago). To say I’m devastated, heart broken, and angry would be an understatement! This breaks my heart in a way I’m unable to explain..however I’m hanging in there as obviously she needs me (us) to be strong. We know God is with her (us) and confident she’ll ring that cancer free bell at the end of this!"

This amazing family will need our support.  First and foremost, we need to pray.  And while we shower the family with prayers, we can rally together and provide some financial support that hopefully will alleviate some of the medical bills.  Misty works so hard to support her two beautiful daughters, but now it is Misty's turn to be supported!  Let's take the financial burden off of her shoulders so that she can be fully present to care for Macie and Jaden during this journey to recovery.  

 Misty is our best friend.  She is so often our rock, lifting us up and keeping us strong during the trials and tribulations of life.  Misty and her girls are like family to us, and we will do anything in our power to lighten the load for them. We thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts!  - Erin and Amanda