MacKenzie Battles a Brain Tumor

In her hometown of Mt. Airy, MD, MacKenzie Stuck, 12, organizes toy drives for children with cancer. She knows what it’s like to battle the disease, and its surgeries, treatments and hospital stays. She has been there, and more than once. For her it began in 2005, when she became unusually irritable. She began vomiting and developed a slur in her speech. An MRI revealed a brain tumor the size of an egg. Within 24 hours, the young gymnast was undergoing surgery, led by Hopkins Children’s neurosurgeon Ben Carson, to remove the tumor. Ever since, her life has been a rollercoaster of grueling chemotherapy and radiation. The tumor’s return in 2008 was followed by stem cell treatments and more hard-core treatment. Learn More About MacKenzie Battles a Brain Tumor