Maiyanna “Maiy” Marie Antoinette Clemons-McCarthy
December 11, 2009 – April 16, 2014
Born December 11, 2009, Maiyanna Marie Antoinette Clemons-McCarthy was a seemingly healthy child. She was happy and wise beyond her years. At age 3 she started showing symptoms of illness, a left eye deviating inward, double vision, unexplained balance loss and sweating with no temperature. After a 5 day stay at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh, an MRI revealed a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, and Maiyanna and her family were sent home to enjoy her last days in this current system of things, with no possibility of survival.
Maiy’s Miracle was immediately established to support Maiyanna’s medical needs and give her the best quality of life. Her diet was changed to one packed with organic, cancer-fighting foods and supplements. She received the typical DIPG treatment as well as alternative therapy in Tijuana . It wasn’t all business. While on the west coast, Maiy met the princesses at Disney Land and stayed at Give Kids The World during her Make-A-Wish trip to Disney in Kissimmee, FL.
Maiyanna’s “honeymoon” period following diagnosis was filled with activity, celebration and hope. Eventually the DIPG monster took her ability to walk and play and even affected her speech, but it never took her happiness and only strengthened her faith. Maiyanna had the Peace of God (John 14:27). She believed in the resurrection hope promised to her in the bible at Acts 24:15. Even at such a young age, she understood why innocent children like her get sick and fall asleep in death (Romans 5:12). She inspired people to “Be Brave” and remain hopeful for Jehovah’s time to restore her back to perfect health on a paradise earth filled with healthy happy people (Hebrews 6:19, Isaiah 33:24, Jw.org).
Maiyanna wanted her foundation to live on. Maiyanna died on Wednesday, April 16m, 2014 at home, surrounded by family, following a year-long battle with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) (Source: Trib Live). It’s a type of tumor that begins in the brain stem. Her tumor was donated to Michelle Monje at Monje Lab– Stanford, CA. Maiy’s Miracle strives to educate and eradicate DIPG for kids’ sake. It functions to raise awareness while supporting DIPG families and contributing to DIPG research . In 2015, Maiy’s Miracle established the Maiyanna Marie Antoinette Clemons-McCarthy DIPG Research Student Scholarship to the Monje Lab. In honor of Maiyanna’s journey, we hope to continue to support DIPG families in whatever means possible based on our available resources . Thank You for reading Maiyanna’s story.
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Submitted by Maiyanna’s Father.
