In Support of Mack Lutz
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Hello Family & Friends!
Y’all know Mack – he’s 11, incredibly smart, and absolutely hilarious.
In March, Mack started having headaches that became more frequent and intense. We began with a visit to his PCP and two rounds of antibiotics that we thought would do the trick. But when the headaches returned, we were sent to a neurologist. He passed most tests with flying colors – except one – which led to an MRI.
On July 26th, doctors found a medulloblastoma (a brain tumor slightly larger than a golf ball) lodged between his brain stem and cerebellum. Two days later, on July 28th, surgeons successfully removed the tumor.
Now comes the hard part:
- Mack will undergo a year or more of chemotherapy and radiation.
- He will also need physical therapy and recovery support to help rebuild strength after surgery and treatment.
- Medical bills are already piling up from the hospital, and more are coming as treatment continues.
- Mack’s doctor has emphatically emphasized that he must have his own room – because even a simple cold from a sibling could be life-threatening and delay or derail treatment. That means a $50,000 home remodel is now a medical necessity, not a luxury.
This diagnosis means:
- A complete overhaul of how we do life.
- A year or more of the hardest things Mack has ever faced.
- Financial, emotional, educational, vocational, and medical burdens that are heavy and ongoing.
How You Can Help Right Now:
- Give through our Support Registry to help with medical costs, the remodel, or everyday essentials.
- Volunteer for errands and household tasks that keep daily life running.
- Share this link to spread the word and expand our circle of support.
- Gift something from Mack’s Wishlist to keep his spirits up: https://amzn.to/44ZW1vi
A Note from Mom
Hi. Thanks for being here. That probably means you care about Mack or someone close to him.
While you’re here I’d like to chat about some of the more…touchy subjects.
Living in the south and being raised in certain ways I have come to learn that religion is a very important and integral part of many peoples lives. And I love that for them.
However, that is not the case for me, Mack, or his immediate family (siblings, dad, stepmom, and Chris ☺️)
What does that mean? Well…
We believe in Mack. He knows what he needs and how to communicate his needs well. The whole reason we caught this thing was because of him. I also believe in his strength and his unwavering confidence in himself. That will take him very far in life and especially in the hard months to come.
We believe in family. Mack is surrounded by love and laughter and intelligence and caring. Those things are unmatched here on earth.
We believe in energy. Filling Mack’s room with the whispers of the ones he loves while he sleeps. Having belly laughs moments before surgery. Feeling unconditional love run through my hand while I rub his back. These things matter. These things are tangible. They help make a difference.
We believe in being comfortable with the unknown. We don’t know why this happens to kids like Mack. It was not someone’s will or plan or destiny. It’s ok to not know everything all the time. A quote I say to my kids often comes from Hagrid, “what’s comin will come and we’ll face it when it does.”
We believe in medicine. Every nurse, therapist, oncologist, surgeon, you name it. They all put in countless hours, weeks, months, and years into understanding their field. They have become experts in knowing exactly how to treat Mack. I believe in their knowledge and skill and with my whole chest will give them credit where credit is due.
We believe in science. Sure, eating healthy helps and moving your body and sleeping well is good. But those are good for everyone. What Mack needs is really cool, really advanced science. Radiation and chemo will take us a lot farther than a smoothie will. And I intend to have my baby around for the rest of my days.
So before you comment, message, text, or call with any “encouragements”, please make sure they are respectful of our beliefs. What works for you may not be the same that works for me. And that’s ok. I will always protect and defend your right to your religious beliefs. And I’m asking you to protect me in return.
Thank you.
Thank you for loving Mack with us.
Updates
Keep up to date as needs change.
Oct 10, 2025
Happy Birthday to Macky!!
Mack is 12!!Life doesn't stop just because you have cancer, and tha...
Sep 17, 2025
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Mack woke up yesterday morning to a pillow covered in hair.He tried...
Sep 08, 2025
Mack is going to do hard things...
He knows it too. For the next year (at least), he will undergo proc...
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- Created Jul 31, 2025
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