The Six-Year-Old Who Started It All

Maleree Mae Chambers

Born December 16, 2009

Just 6 years old, Maleree was a care-free little girl who loved

"pink, arts & crafts, dancing, her Mommy, her Daddy, boating, dogs, cats, butterflies and Jesus."

On June 3, 2016 she was diagnosed with a life-threatening, aggressive, high-grade glioma

BRAIN CANCER.

This is her story...

MAY 2016

Maleree’s eye doctor found both her optical nerves hemorrhaged due to intense pressure. She was rushed to UC Davis where an MRI showed a 1 cm mass at the back portion of her brain.

JUNE - JULY - AUGUST 2016

There was confusion over whether the tumor was low grade or high grade Glioma. UC Davis put out feelers to Boston, UCSF, Oakland, St. Judes for an available surgeon.

We had difficulty finding a surgeon willing to perform the operation because of its delicate location and chance of complications. It’s a waiting game, demanding follow-up, trying to get in contact with the powers-that-be. Searching for alternatives. Frustration. And always the waiting. And praying. Finally a surgeon is found.

Doctors intended to put a shunt in her brain to release the pressure and drain fluid, but were able to create a channel instead. A biopsy was sent to Boston to determine if the tumor was benign or malignant.

SEPTEMBER 2016

Dr. Gupta at UCSF performed the three hour surgery. The tumor was completely removed and diagnosed as Anaplastic Ependymoma. There were some initial complications with her eyesight, but it was not long lasting.

Maleree began 31 rounds of radiation treatments over a six week period, five days a week. Lots of trips back and forth between Paradise and San Francisco.