Mackenzie Grace Gonzalez
'Tough Guy'
Mackenzie's nickname was 'Tough Guy' long before she entered the battle of her life. After many months of sleepless nights with back pain and discomfort, Mackenzie was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in December 2008 at just four years old. While most kids are full of excitement and making lists of what they want for Christmas, Mackenzie's life was drastically changed when her family discovered she had Stage IV Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma with lung metastases. This rare cancer is only found in about 250 to 300 children per year.
Mackenzie's main tumor was located just next to the spine and therefore cannot be removed. Her family called it her 'hotdog' because that is about the size of what could be felt in the upper left side of her back just between the scapula and spine.
Mackenzie began treatment on New Years Eve of 2008-2009 when she was placed on a protocol that included 54 weeks of chemo, and 5 ½ weeks of daily radiation. As is common with many childhood cancer patients, a port-o-catheter (permanent-IV) was surgically placed in her chest to avoid as many needle sticks as possible. By March of 2009, CT scans show stable disease and slight reduction of the lung lesion. The family, which consists of mom, dad, Mackenzie and three other young siblings ages 2, 6, and 8, was learning to cope with the many changes that were taking place in their family.
Sadly, on May 4th, 2009 it was determined that the protocol Mackenzie began back on New Year's Eve had failed and she was removed after 16 weeks of treatment. On May 13, she began a new chemo cocktail of medications and she began Proton Beam radiation treatments to the main tumor site in an effort to diffuse it more.
In August of 2009, she was admitted to Miami Children's Hospital for further scans. These scans revealed that the spot on her lungs was still present. After more chemotherapy drugs and speaking with multiple doctors and facilities, she began a new treatment plan in an effort to eradicate this cancer and stop any further growth. Surgery was scheduled to remove the lung nodule only to be later canceled when they discovered another nodule in the lung.
By December of 2009, just one year from the time this nightmare began, Mackenzie was removed from treatment when another protocol failed.
I hope these words from her caring bridge page, written by her parents after a long year of many different treatments and failures, affect you as they did me and help you to understand the battle these families are in.....
"On 12/11/09 we learned that the (treatments) failed. She has multiple nodules (too numerous to count) in both lungs, a number of which are active and growing. We await a plan from the doctors. Our plan is to decorate the Christmas tree tonight."
Amazingly, regardless of all she has been through, Mackenzie remained a happy, fun, and carefree little girl. She brought joy to many lives and has left the imprint of her smile on many hearts!
UPDATE!
Mackenzie's tough spirit and body continued her fight way past doctors expectations. Mackenzie lived for a year and half past the time the doctors said there was no hope left. In that time she touched and effected more lives than many of us will in a lifetime.
On March 2, 2011 at 2:05 am Mackenzie Grace entered the heavens cancer free!
Please pray for her family. You can leave them a message or show your support at this link to Mackenzie's Caring Bridge website.