Derek and April Stracener have experienced hard times before.

However, near the end of July 2023 they began an unexpected journey with their 11 Year Old.

One Summer day, April came into the room to see Mayme holding a book directly in front of her face. When asked about it, Mayme said she was having trouble seeing the words.

Mayme Stracener is a Live Life Loud kind of girl. So it seemed a little strange to April that Mayme never mentioned her recent struggles. it looked like glasses were going to be part of Mayme’s new school year.

April had the conversation with Mayme on a Friday. That Monday Mayme saw the Optometrist, was sent to an Emergency MRI by an Ophthalmologist then traveled to Ohio and was admitted to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital . She had gone from picking out glasses to being prepped for surgery all in the same day.

Mayme had a Brain Tumor that was impairing her vision.

She would spend almost 8 hours in Brain Surgery.

Derek and April’s Strong Girl had been diagnosed with a very rare DL-GNT Brain Tumor and The Surgeon’s could only remove 50% of it.

The Doctor’s are still working to find a solution but their goal is to keep the Tumor from growing. Mayme is now on 11 different medications and has recently started Chemo Treatments along with weekly trips to a Cincinnati Neuro-Ophthalmologist. The tumor has damaged Mayme’s Pituitary Gland and a shunt has been placed to help drain excess fluid.

Derek and April have experienced hard times before, but watching one of their Children endure a most difficult time, is completely different. The Stracener Family leans on their Faith but that doesn’t mean this current season doesn’t feel impossible. The struggle is still very fresh and new.

Mayme’s siblings have already had to experience large shifts in their daily lives. Thankfully, Those have been made bearable because of the community of people around them.

There is still a lot of unknown along this new journey.

Yet, there is one beacon of light in the middle of a dark time.

That beacon is the 11 Year old little girl born in the Congo, raised in Owensboro, and Rooted in her Faith in Jesus.

Mayme is still Living Life Loudly in spite of her Diagnosis. She has adopted the Shane & shane song You’ve Already Won as her anthem.

Everyone that Mayme talks to she asks if they are praying for her.

Although, she’s not concerned about prayers for herself.

She just wants people to be talking to God.

Mayme is

a Strong Girl.

A Bold Girl.

A Miracle Girl.

Some of the proceeds from Terror on the Trail’s 2023 Event went to help assist with the financial burden the Stracener Family has endured.

If You would like to help the Stracener Family in other ways or follow Mayme’s journey You can follow #MaymesMiracle on Facebook.