Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
When children are born, a parent sees so many dreams for them through their loving eyes. However, when life brings unexpected hardships, new dreams emerge, and faith and hope becomes their “rock of Gibraltar.”
Maci Winebarger was born healthy and was active as a child. However, at age six, a brain tumor changed her life and quickly put her in a wheelchair.
Through ten years of challenges, surgeries, therapies and struggles, she continues to press forward, being “the strongest young lady I know,” her principal Melissa Whiting said. “She has never considered giving up on any of her goals and her efforts are obvious.”
Her mother, Shari, added, “Maci does what she needs to do each day. She does have moments as anyone else when she gets down. She’s a strong young woman and always pulls herself together. She doesn’t complain. I guess she’s learned throughout the past ten years that you just do what you have to do.”
Whiting added, “I have had the pleasure of knowing Maci since she was four years old. She was, and still is, absolutely precious. Throughout the years I have grown to love her, and her entire family, as my own.”
Whiting was initially Maci’s kindergarten teacher at CCPS and shared that she has had many fond memories of Maci ever since,
“Although she was one of the youngest in the class, she was one of the strongest readers I had ever taught. We had a small reading group of two and she was especially interested in any books related to horses,” Whiting reminisced. “We spent a lot of time that winter watching a mother bear on the internet as she was hibernating while waiting for her cub to be born. We submitted a name for the cub and the website chose our suggestion…Hope! Maci, of course, offered the original suggestion of her own middle name (Maci Hope).”
Adding, that she remembers Maci loving “story-time” and that she would always rush to the story-time carpet so she could get a front-row seat. “Her laughter was infectious…and still is,” Whiting said.
Maci takes general and special education classes at CCPS. She works hard each day and has physical and visual challenges as well as having a traumatic brain injury due to the brain tumor.
“Everything is a challenge to do but she doesn’t complain except maybe in math,” her mom shared with a little giggle. “The area of the brain most affected seems to be the part that handles math. Science is her favorite subject.”
The school also provides an aid to assist her in getting around as well as with her studies and working as a scribe.
“This has definitely been a collaborative effort,” Shari explained. “When her journey began, Jeanette Warwick was her principal. She always supported Maci and us in whatever she needed to succeed in school. Melissa Whiting was Maci’s kindergarten teacher (and now her principal). She is wonderful about giving Maci emotional support. The special education teachers do an amazing job day in and day out. Elaina Carper is over special education for Craig County. She has a heart for each child and has a way to reach them that is amazing. Each aid at school Maci has worked with has been professional. Maci also has lots of ‘mothers’ at school who really look after her. The aids have always taken her in and treated her like their own child.”
During the beginning of Maci’s journey, Warwick helped the family figure out “just where the best fit for Maci would be.” They visited other schools they thought would be better equipped.
“Finally, Jeanette Warwick looked at me and said, ‘I think we can teach her better in Craig,’” Shari said. “She was so right. Our school system has done a phenomenal job. It has definitely been a collaborative effort by every teacher, aid, Maci, and the administrative staff.”
Jerry, the father, added, “Whenever I am asked how I would describe Macy, I tell them first off she’s as tough as a $2.00 steak, mentally hard as any General, and is soft-hearted as a little Bunny. When the child sets her mind to something, she will exhaust all her abilities making it happen. She cries at sad songs and is ready to fight the next second if she needs to. She’s warm, loving, sentimental, concerned, empathetic, considerate and funny.”
Whiting shared that she feels Maci’s strongest attribute is that “she listens intently and thoughtfully contemplates before acting. She exhibits determination in a manner that I have never before witnessed.”
And Maci Hope has shown just that. Now a 16-year-old junior, she was recently tapped into the Beta Club. Whiting shared on Facebook, “I found myself a bit choked up on the stage with her this morning. I’m afraid I’ll be a blithering idiot at her graduation. I love you girl.”
Shari responded, “You’ve been with us every step of the way. She loves you too.”
Jerry added, “She loves you. And will always be at your hand if you want her. She thinks the whole world of you and Bud.”
The Facebook picture brought out almost 300 comments and likes. Some of the encouraging words were:
- You go Maci girl! Great job!!!!
- Proud of You!
- Awesome job Maci, Melissa and CC school system!
- Congratulations Maci! You are an inspiration!
- I just can’t love this enough, everything about this is amazing!
- Wonderful Maci! What an accomplishment! Whoot! Whoot!
- Give her a big-huge hug for me and make sure she knows how proud I am of her!!!
- You’ve come a long way Baby!
- Absolutely awesome. You are amazing!
- You are my hero!
- Congratulations on all your hard work Maci. Love you young lady!
- Along with lots of congratulations, thumbs up and dancing icons
Whiting was asked, “What is it that makes you proud of her accomplishments?”
She responded, “I have had many opportunities to spend quality time with Maci and consider myself fortunate to have these experiences. Without question, I learn much more from Maci than she learns from me. I am in continuous awe of her, and I am so looking forward to witnessing her future accomplishments. Maci will graduate from CCHS in just a few short years. I get choked up just thinking about her leaving and will likely be quite emotional when the day arrives. I consider myself very fortunate to call her my friend.”
Jerry noted, “These two have been together all the way through. I’m proud of them both!”
He added, “One more thing I’d like to add is that this community, these loving and caring children she goes to school with, and the whole staff at Craig Schools, grades K – 12, thank you for your treatment of my daughter. You’ve been wonderful!”
“We’ve definitely had many ups and downs during the past 10 years. Maci’s had surgeries, chemo on two different occasions when her tumor started growing again, more than 60 MRIs, thousands of hours of PT and OT, seen doctors from Baltimore to Fort Worth,” Shari explained. “She’s not had an easy journey and it’s far from over, but Maci definitely has had the love and support of a community and school that is second to none.”
Maci says that she has thought about her future. She loves children and animals and is currently looking at what she wants to do in those areas.
“We are hopeful she will be able to maybe help out with the preschool program after graduation,” Shari said. “She also wants to volunteer during her free time at Healing Strides where she does therapeutic riding.”
“We are proud of all our children, and don’t mind telling it,” Jerry continued. “Macy is not a better kid than either of the others. But given her situation, and her few limits, she always has smile for anyone who would notice her and speak. She smiles here all the time, bearing her world and taking it in stride as she constantly strives for more. She’s not perfect, but she is special. I can’t wait to see what Macy ends up becoming.”
“I love school and I like being with my friends (and enjoys keeping up with them on Facebook and Snapchat),” Maci said “To encourage them, I would tell them to continue to do your work and always ask for help because the teachers are always willing to help you if you just ask. Also, don’t (EVER) give up!”
