Lacey Family to Hold Benefit for Sick Daughter

At first Gianna Lynn Maze is shy, crawling on her parents laps and hanging on their legs with a pacifier in her mouth but then the two-year old sprints across the living room after her brother with a bright smile on her face. It is hardly apparent that she has been stricken with a debilitating disease.

Gianna was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January 2010, when she was just 13 months old. Nearly two years and $480,000 later, her parents will hold a benefit at the Lacey Elks Lodge on Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon to 5 p.m.

“Its taken us a long time to ask for help, other than from family and friends,” Morris Maze said.

When Gianna went into the hospital she did not know how to walk, Leigha Maze said. But when she returned home, she was walking.

Gianna has undergone induction therapy, chemotherapy, shots, spinal taps and a slew of medicine, her parents said. Currently she gets a spinal tap with chemotherapy every three months, takes chemo every evening and receives intravenous chemo once a month.

“She has six months of treatment left as long as she doesn’t get sick or there’s no bumps or hurdles,” Leigha said on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Gianna was later admitted to the hospital for an infection in both of her eyes.

Insurance put a cap on expenses of treatment, Morris said.  Gianna has had shots that cost $3,000 a month and has had to stay in a hospital room that costs $9,000 per night. Fortunately, Gianna has Medicare and Social Security, which covers some of the costs.

“It was a nightmare when we started,” Leigha said. “They say she has the best of the worst.”

Both Morris and Leigha have had difficulty keeping a job as they’re seen as “unreliable” because their lives have become unpredictable, Leigha said.

“It’s just been tough all around,” Morris said.

Gianna’s siblings, Morris, 4, and Kaleigh, 7, have also taken a hit.

“We’ve missed birthdays. They get jipped,” Morris said. “It’s hard on Kaleigh. She’ll come home and just start crying.”

The whole experience is “depressing, stressful and emotional,” he said.

“It’s tough to see her sedated over and over again. All of a sudden she goes lifeless in your arms,” Morris said.

Morris and Leigha have seen their daughter sedated at least 50 times, he said.

“This is normal for us. It never gets easier. It just sucks,” Morris said.

Over the last year, the Lanoka Harbor family has been able to share that “norm” with many families struggling to battle the same disease and financial woes

“It brings us closer together,” Morris said. “It’s a common ground but it’s not a common ground you want to have. We’ve also seen a lot of little kids pass away.”

Leigha once played cards with a young boy who died later that night from a brain tumor, he said with tears in his eyes.

“It can happen that quick,” he said.

The benefit will include lunch, a visit from Santa Claus, raffles, giveaways, a 50/50 and live music. Admission is $25.

“We’re hoping the benefit will help us so we can start paying bills because when Gianna turns 18, those become her bills,” Leigha said. “I hate it.”

The couple is also setting out to generate awareness on pediatric cancer.

“There’s not much awareness on children with cancer,” Morris said.

According to Morris, at least 20 children in Ocean County have been diagnosed with cancer in the last six months.

“It’s disheartening to see so many people affected from a local area,” he said.

The Lacey Elks Lodge is located at 900 Beach Boulevard in Forked River. Tickets are available at the Elks bar or call Tracy at 609-548-1463.