One of the best parts of covering softball is the community of players, parents and coaches and how everyone rises to the challenge when someone needs help.

This is one of those occasions.

On Saturday while at the Surf City Fall Showcase I talked to Bryan Merrida, head coach of All American Sports Academy, and he told me of a tough situation facing one of the young players in the AASA organization.

MaKenna Burns is a nine-year-old catcher/infielder who plays on the All American Sports Academy 10U team coached by Jaime Ayala.

On September 18, after suffering repeated migraines for months, MaKenna underwent an MRI scan and spinal tap and was diagnosed with a mixed malignant germ cell tumor in her brain.

She has undergone two chemo treatments, but about two week’s ago, the athlete’s mother, Michelle, posted the following on Facebook:

“There’s been some confusion regarding her cancer diagnosis, and the doctors decided to stop her chemo treatment for now. Before her third treatment, the doctor pulled us into a meeting to tell us that the there was some doubt as to whether the mass in her brain is cancerous—whereas before he was certain based on the test results.”

“Given the doubt and the possibility that the mass is not cancerous, we are seeking a third opinion before we go forward with any more treatment.”

“For now, Makenna is going to stay home from school for at least the next month to deal with the side effects of the chemo.”

“As you can imagine we are very confused and scared, as she is also, by what’s been going on.”

“She’s been home resting over the weekend. The chemo hit her pretty hard and at this point she has a very weakened immune system. She still believes she was at a hotel. Better than thinking it was a hospital I guess.”

As word has spread, MaKenna has started to receive great support from those in the softball community who know her situation.

The nine teams in the AASA organization are wearing cancer awareness colors and helmet decals that say, “Till she returns to play I play for MaKenna.”

One of the players on the Gold team, 2015 infielder Missy Eisen, a commit to Arizona State, has become a mentor and friend to MaKenna and on her official visit to ASU recently had the Sun Devil team sign a tee-shirt for the young athlete.

Even college coaches are getting involved: Alabama assistant coach Alyson Hebetz made a personal video for MaKenna in which she said, in part, “You are a fighter, MaKenna, you hear me? You are a fighter and you’re going to make it through this.”

A GiveForward account was created to raise money for medical costs and nearly $13,000 has been raised; however, with the uncertainty around MaKenna’s diagnosis, further efforts has been put on pause for now.

A source close to the family wrote, “The family has sent heartfelt thanks for the support among the entire community but has asked that financial donations be put on hold.”

“We have collected funds from the organization and this past weekend at the Bay Area Showcase.  We will hold these funds at the family’s request and see what news develops.”

“We obviously hope these funds will not be needed and if the news is good, the family can select a cause to send the funds but at this point we do not want to get to far ahead of the result.”

Obviously, the situation is fluid and Full Count Softball will keep you posted as we follow MaKenna’s situation.

In the meantime, we ask the softball community to keep this sweet young athlete in your thoughts and prayers. Also, if you would like to post comments of support, you can do so below this article or e-mail me directly at brentt@fullcountsoftball.com and I will make sure the family receives them.

— Brentt Eads (President/Executive Editor of Full Count Softball)