Woman with Rare Stomach Cancer Flies To Distant Treatment

February 19, 2025

Woman with rare stomach cancer after receiving care at Vanderbilt, MD Anderson, and University of Miami

Fighting GIST, a Rare Stomach Cancer

When Mackenzie was thirteen weeks pregnant, she started to suffer from severe abdominal pain. She rushed to the hospital. The doctors recommended emergency surgery to find out what was wrong. It turned out, there was a five-inch tumor in her stomach. They did a biopsy and the results were nightmarish: Mackenzie had a rare form of stomach cancer called a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST. Worse, her pregnancy had to be delivered prematurely.

But the fight with GIST was far from over. The tumors kept growing and spreading. In November 2024, she had to have twelve tumors taken out of her stomach. Fast forward to 2025, and she needed specialized care.

From Desperation...

"Few doctors are familiar with my condition," said Mackenzie. "I needed to travel to see experts who know how to treat and hopefully get rid of it."

Many of her surgeries had been done at the Vanderbilt Hospital, located in Tennessee. But surgery wasn't a long-term solution. MD Anderson in Texas and the University of Miami offered some newer treatments that could help prevent GIST from multiplying - and maybe even turn the tables in Mackenzie's favor.

There was just one problem: distance. Mackenzie was beginning to succumb to desperation.

....To Dedication

That was when Mackenzie found out about Mercy Medical Angels, specifically their volunteer pilot program. The volunteer pilots' dedication made it possible for Mackenzie to access the care she desperately needed.

"The flights were pleasant and the pilots were fun," said Mackenzie. "These folks are blessings."

She added, "There are so many unexpected costs when someone gets sick. I really appreciate the help with transportation. Thank you so much!"

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