The Doctors Couldn't Believe What They Saw; It Was a Miracle

Stacey recalls, “Most people, when they hear cancer, the first thing you associate it with is death. As a parent, no one ever wishes for their child to ever be sick. It was the worst feeling I ever felt in my life.”

In the summer of 2018, ten-year-old Mason Madzey was an active fourth grader who loved video games and trips to the movie theater. Then one day he started seeing double. His father Don, wasn’t too concerned.

Don says, “I honestly thought it was just from gaming. I thought he maybe had bad eyes, you know, to get some eyes checked.”

However, his symptoms got worse. Within two weeks, Mason was vomiting and required medical attention. At Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg, an MRI revealed a fist-sized brain tumor. Unsure if it was cancerous, immediate surgery was scheduled. His mother Stacey recalls the moment.

Stacey shares, “My husband and I were standing there and definitely praying, “God, please watch over him. Please get him through the surgery.” You’re rendered helpless. You’re surrendering him to someone you don’t really even know, but then again, you put the trust in the one who you need to put the trust in.” 

Don recalls, “When you see something like that with your only child, I had thoughts of losing my son. I was just scared.”

Two days later, Mason underwent a six-hour brain surgery. Doctors believed they had removed all of the tumor and he was out of danger. Then a biopsy revealed the mass was not a benign cyst. It was an aggressive grade three glioma, a rare form of brain cancer.

Stacey recalls, “I was sick to my stomach.”

Don shares, “At first my stomach dropped, but then there was that peace that said, “You know what?

Let’s just take it one step at a time, trusting God’s plan, whatever it’s going to be.”

Mason endured chemotherapy, and thirty-three radiation treatments to kill any residual cancer.

Although the treatments took their toll, he trusted God’s plan. 

Mason shares, “God told me that I’m not gonna have cancer again. It was like a warm feeling in my heart. Nothing I’ve ever felt in my life before. I believed what He said.”

Stacey recalls, “And I started crying. He told me everything’s gonna be okay. I trusted that.”

Months later, on November 18th, another crisis struck. Mason suddenly couldn’t speak clearly. He began vomiting again, and was life-flighted to the Children’s Hospital. Doctors feared a stroke and warned he might have to relearn how to walk, talk, and eat.

Stacey shares, “We would speak all positive over him, all healing prayers, all good things that God’s promises.” 

The family prayed over Mason all night. Then, the next day, another MRI showed everything looked good. Mason’s symptoms were gone and he went home. For five years, life felt normal. Then, in 2023, seizure-like symptoms returned. Doctors found another tumor and believed the cancer had spread through his brain. Conversations shifted from recovery to keeping Mason comfortable for the time he had left.

Mason recalls, “I’m done with God. I was like, I have been faithful to you. I believed you. Why are you doing this? I just kind of gave up. I don’t wanna go through all this again and die from cancer. So I got tattoos, some to cover up. Scars. Cutting. Hurting myself. Drinking. I made drugs a coping method until I died from that.”

Don and Stacey didn’t lose faith. They kept praying and trusting God. During a family trip to Sanibel Island in Florida, Stacey asked God for a sign that Mason would live. 

Stacey shares, “I asked God to give me a starfish,  just to let me know that everything's gonna be okay. And this was my result that He gave me. It really increased my faith. He's with me. He's with us. He's with Mason.”

Mason underwent ten more radiation treatments. With his health declining, doctors presented three options: do nothing, perform a minimally invasive procedure or perform a craniotomy which carried the risk of stroke, or vision loss.

Mason shares, “I just picked one. I didn’t really care. I gave up on God. I gave up on everything.”

On January 26, 2024, Mason chose the craniotomy. The surgery went well; however, the recovery was grueling. He spent the next month in rehab, speech and occupational therapy, learning again how to walk and talk, surrounded by love and prayer. Then, Stacey opened Mason’s patient portal and read the words she longed to see.

Stacey shares, “No evidence of disease. I attribute that to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 

Doctors could offer no medical explanation. For Mason, the change went beyond his physical health.

After months of wanting to die, he surrendered to God and stopped using drugs.

Mason shares, “I felt an inner peace while quitting. Also, God didn’t lie to me. God has always been with me. Whether I wanted Him or not, it’s a miracle.”

Today, Mason has defied every prognosis. He’s once again an active young man enjoying video games and driving his own car. For the Madzey family, he’s a reminder of God’s faithfulness through every battle.

Don shares, “He is still a healer. And Mason Madsey is a perfect example of that. Just thankful to God for what He did.”

Mason says, “God is always right and He will never forsake you no matter what. For me to live today is amazing. Feels great.”

Stacey shares, “People will say it’s because of radiation, it’s because of chemo. There’s no way. It’s our God. God is alive today. He’s the same today, yesterday, and forever. He’s the God of healing, the God of miracles, My son is living proof.”