Updates and Info for our Macey Moo

Thank you all for visiting Macey's blog. This page is intended to give family and friends the latest updates on Macey. We look forward to everyone's comments and support and also your patience as we will add any updates as we receive them and are able to post them. There has been an overwhelming amount of support and love for Macey and we want all of you to know that we love you too and are thankful to have such great family and friends. Please keep all comments positive and know that our "Miracle Moo" has only one acceptable outcome. Complete and full recovery. Our family will accept nothing less. There will be t-shirts, window stickers and other items available to help support Macey's road to wellness. These items ARE NOT for profit. Only to show the love and support that Macey needs. Thank you all!







Thursday, September 1, 2011

Thank you Mr. Marcin and students at Copperview Elementary!!

A very good friend of mine Fred Marcin, is a school teacher and was so very nice to present Macey with a bear named "Red" and cards made by his entire class for her.  Your very kind and sweet gesture is part of all the wonderful miracles that we have seen since Macey got sick.  Her name "Miracle Moo" is comprised of all the little miracles that our great friends like Fred and his students have given to our daughter.  With all the love in the world from Macey and our family, thank you all. 


Mr. Marcin's 6th grade class at Copperview Elementary
holding up the cards they made for Macey.

After Radiation, this is what we did. Thanks to Dr. Welling!

So we had a great time at the Utes Game.  It was a little difficult for both Macey and Daddy.  I mean I'm not completely out of shape but if you've ever been to a stadium, there is nothing really in close proximity from where you get out of your car to where you have to sit.  I had to drop the girls off close to the front, then go find a parking spot a half a mile away.  When I ran back to where I dropped the girls off I had to piggy-back Macey up to the stadium.  I enjoy it believe it or not but going up the stairs really brings out the burn in my quads and hammy's..  lol.  We saw Dr. Welling there (Blake) and he got us sideline tickets for the pre-game and Erica got to meet his oldest son Blake (Jr.)  It was a good time for the family and we all enjoyed the game, the electricity of a college stadium and the sea of red that graced the stands.  The Utes stompped the Montana Bobcats too.  Below are some pics we took at the game.

Dr. Blake Welling and the Girls

Daddy and Kylah

Macey and Maranda (Alyssa too caught off guard, sorry Lyss)

Macey's first Radiation appointment

Well, another step towards getting Macey better.  She started her radiation therapy today.  It went well even though it took a little longer than usual because they had to do some initial set-up since it was her first time.  They showed us everything and let us in to see Macey before the radiation so we could see what it looked like for her.  She was on a tall table in a darkened room and they had that plastic, mesh face cage holding her head to the table.  There was a bright green beam of light crossing her face as to mark where the beam was going to transmit.  It honestly looked like something out of  a sci-fi movie.  Macey was laughing and staying calm.  The set-up is very intimidating to look at and Macey handled it all very well.  Me, Angie and Kylah stayed in the waiting room and tried to assemble a 100 piece puzzle of a tree frog while we were waiting.  We almost had it complete when they wheeled Macey back in.  The puzzle kept us preoccupied while they were beaming our daughter.  All in all though, it went well and Macey is already acting more positive just knowing that something is finally being done to kill the "blankety blank blank" tumor.  We go again tomorrow. 

To everyone

Sorry I have to create a post to say this but for some reason now I can't reply to your posts.  Even though I'm the administrator and am signed in.  Anyway, thank you Fred (Mr. Marcin) and all of your students at Cooperview Elementary for the very nice post and for "Red" the bear.  We appreciate you all and Macey was very happy to read the post.  It means a lot to her and our family to get such wonderful feedback and comments from our friends.

Chuck and Louise, thank you both for your post too.  Macey is a strong girl and we know she will kick this things butt.  She laughed when she read the end of your post and it made her smile.  Her happiness and positive attitude is reinforced and sustained by great friends like you who help her to stay upbeat.  So thank you both very much. 

All our love to all of you.  Macey and family.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Let the HEALING begin!

Well, it's the night before Macey goes in for her first radiation treatment.  It's also the first night that she begins taking her chemo pills.  Along with these she has to take anti-nausea meds, steroids for swelling, anti-seizure meds, antibiotics, and sometimes Oxycodone if she feels uncomfortable.  Mix this with the radiation treatments starting tomorrow and our Moo Moo has her plate full (of pills).  All of them serve a purpose and all of them will make her more comfortable and protect her.  The doctors were positive that because of her age, great health, strength and good attitude, these treatments shouldn't effect her much other than making her feel a little fatigued.  Macey is sweet to the core, but also very athletic, has great muscle mass and has pushed several doctors over when they ask her to push with her legs or arms.  She is incredibly strong and this will be a great attribute when she begins to conquer this thing.

Another beautiful pic of Macey

Another Big Thank you!

We would also like to let the staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute know we are very grateful to have such a reputable, experienced, confident, and personable team working hard to get Macey well.  Dr. Howard Colman, Sean Strope, Jill Pane and the rest have been very caring, very concerned and like the others seem very genuine and helpful.  We are blessed to be so close to such an amazing hospital.  Thank you all from Macey and our entire family!

A HUGE THANK YOU!

Macey and the entire family would like to give a big shout out to Dr. Blake Welling and his staff.  Dr. Welling has been so unbelievably kind and caring.  Not only is he heads and tails above the rest in the medical world, but he is profoundly altruistic and genuine.  Just want to give one example and we'll follow it up with pictures tomorrow.  Dr. Welling got Macey and our entire family tickets to the U of U opening game against Montana tomorrow for both the pre-game (sidelines) and sideline tickets for the game!  Can you believe this??  We are all excited and even visited the Red Zone U of U store in Layton and bought a bunch of clothing so we will be representing in full attire and colors.  Again, from the bottom of our hearts to you Dr. Welling, thank you so much for being such an amazing doctor and friend. 


GO UTES!!

Macey and her twin Sister Maranda

Aunt Amber doing Macey's makeup the morning of her radiation consultation

Isn't she pretty.  :)

Aunt Amber doing Macey's eyelashes the day before her Radiation consult.

August 29th, 2011
Amber the eyelash tech hard at work on our Moo Moo.

After Biopsy. Macey did extremely well and went home the next morning.

Macey getting prepped for her biopsy surgery on Aug 12th, 2011

Radiation Consultation

Yesterday was an emotional and difficult time for Macey.  Knowing you are sick is one thing but coming to terms with the reality of it everyday can present many challenges.  Just like the doctors have said and we have read, Macey has good days and bad days.  We showed up at McKay Dee hospital yesterday so we could talk to the radiation doctors about her treatment plan and to get the required tasks completed so she can begin.  She had to have an MRI and CT scan performed again so they can get the necessary angles and 3D views for the actual aiming of the radiation.  This is a targeted radiation and it will require Macey's head to be completely still.  For this, they molded a plastic, mesh, cage-like device that fits over her face and keeps her attached securely to the radiation machine as it sends beams pointed directly at the tumor.  Seeing this thing after it was made looked like something along the lines of a bird cage shaped like Macey's head.  When they wheeled her out after completing this process, she saw us and just broke down.  Again, the reality of it all setting in and becoming very upsetting for her.  As her parents, it's one of the most difficult things we have ever faced in our lifetimes.  Our girls' are our world.  We live for them and we do all we do for them.  Macey is young, strong, healthy and without a doubt, we are going to conquer this thing.  Macey begins treatment on Thursday Sept 1st and 3:15 p.m.  The treatments only last about 15 minutes but she has to go 5 days a week for 5 weeks.  Macey will also be taking an oral form of Chemotherapy during the radiation treatments.