Help our hero win his battle against life threatening cancer.
Max Spartacus Kleckner is a brave four-year old boy diagnosed with stage 4 embryonic type rhabdomyosarcoma. This is an inoperable condition requiring a long fight with mounting medical expenses. A group of family, friends, and neighbors have gathered to support Max and his parents Mark Kleckner and Natalie Young. We hope you will join us on this journey towards healing.
For a more detailed look into Max's everyday challenges and triumphs, follow the family on Check on Someone.
Scar Tissue! The latest biopsy came back all scar tissue and the MRI showed again that the mass is stable in size. Yahoo!!! Now it’s really time for champagne. It’s going to be a great summer focusing on fun and health. 
Dr Jenny delivered the great news with caution that the biopsy is only a small snapshot of the mass and she is still concerned that the cancer can take hold in other places in his body, so we will continue to do frequent scans and test. For now we are very optimistic and so happy. Go Spartacus!
Posted on 18 June '09 by admin, under News. No Comments.
3 families in one RV? We really do like each other a lot. We had a great whirlwind vacation with some great friends to the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Lake Havasu. Lots of laughs and adventure. It was great to go a entire week with no TV or video games, just lots of big and little kid fun.
Last time I wrote we were facing a rough decision to start another year of chemo. Well we decided that the results were not conclusive enough to put Max’s body through another year of poison so we have chosen to wait a month and repeat the MRI and the biopsy. We are hoping for some good news later this week.
Posted on 16 June '09 by admin, under News. No Comments.
Max’s biopsy results were not as positive as we had hoped for. Both scar tissue and a-typical cells were seen in the small needle core samples that were removed. There are no clear answers to what this means except that the medical team feels that it puts Max at high risk that the cancer is not dead. Dr Jenny did a lot of research last week, she also consulted with MD Anderson and they are both recommending that Max go on a low dose chemo regimen for the next year.
Over the past few months my research and philosophy has been in the opposite direction of chemo, more along the lines of immune boosters and immunotherapy. At some point the body needs to be able to fight the disease on its own but at what point does it have enough power to do that? Immunotherapy is making strides with several cancers; antibodies are being developed to light up cancer cells so that the body’s own white cells know where to attack. Unfortunately for Max, the breakthroughs in science are not targeted at Rhabdo’s. Rhabdo’s are too rare so there is no funding for research to help Rhabdo kids. The standard Rhabdo chemotherapy protocols haven’t changed in 20years.
Many options are on the table for discussion; full resection of the tumor, more aggressive chemo’s, travel to other major cancer centers for clinical trials, gamma knife, more radiation, do nothing, increase the integrative meds…..lots of research ahead.
Despite the hell that Max has been through this past 10 months he has continued to conquer every battle put before him. This latest news is definitely a set back but nothing that we can’t come back from. For each of us this journey touches our hearts in many ways; to me this latest news was devastating; to my parents, Max being their only grandson, this news really knocked the wind out of their sails and left them in complete despair; to Mark thankfully for Mark, he was able to look at this news with relief that the cells were not cancer, his positive outlook has once again helped me through a weak moment. Its time to regroup and get ready for the next path in Max’s journey with cancer; it’s going to be a long week deciding which path to take.
Natalie (Max’s mom)
Posted on 18 May '09 by admin, under News. No Comments.
Max turned 5 this month and what a time to celebrate, eight months ago we didn’t know if this day would come. Max’s village made an incredible showing of support for this major event and his birthday celebrations went on for weeks, including a trip to SeaWorld, Lego Land, Playworks and a huge party at Winners Tennis club. 
We have made a decision to stop chemo after this round is complete in 3 weeks, 1 round short of the original standard protocol. This decision is supported by both Max’s oncologist Jenny Kim and our trusted friend and integrative medicine guru Richard Helfrich. After completing 3 MRI’s over a 5 month time period the tumor appears to be stable in size at 2.6cm so our hope is that only dead tissue remains. No more chemo, no more poisoning Max’s little body. A time for champane or tears?…….probably a little of both.
Dr Kim thinks it would take 6 months before scans would be able to detect any new cancer growth so the next 6 months will be a time to focus on Max’s strength and immune system. Ahead of us will be years of intense supplements and healthy choices in our lives to help Max’s body have the best chance of beating his battle against cancer. We will be managing the late effects of cancer, chemo and radiation for years to come but for now its time for a fun, normal kid summer. Go Spartacus!
Posted on 21 March '09 by admin, under News. No Comments.
We had a fabulous week in Hawaii filled with fun, adventure, relaxation and lots of decadence. Max was so happy and so energetic, his appetite and health were in peak form. Make-A-Wish arranged so many special activities for Max in Hawaii and he was treated as the guest of honor at each event. We stayed at the luxury Hyatt Kaanapali resort, we went whale watching, to a luau, to the aquarium, snorkeling, swimming and playing on the beach. Thank you Make-A-Wish for making Max’s wish come true. 
Posted on 22 February '09 by admin, under News. No Comments.
We are starting off 2009 with some fantastic news, Max’s PET CT scan results from Dec31st shows that his tumor has no pathologic FDG activity. (In plain English I think it indicates that the cancer may be dead)
A huge thank you to all of our friends and family for all of your incredible love and support that has helped to keep us going on this long and torturous journey. Max has 5 more months of chemotherapy ahead of him and this latest news has re-charged our spirits.
Have a happy and healthy New Year.
Lots of Love
Max, Mark and Natalie
Posted on 2 January '09 by admin, under News. No Comments.
See Max and Tim Flanery on KUSI morning show click here
Winners Tennis Club,
Meridian Tennis and Friends
invite you to a day of fun benefiting
Max Spartacus Kleckner
You are invited to two events in support of Max’s fight against the cancer. 100% of the proceeds from these events will go directly to Max Kleckner.
November 8, 2008 11:00am to 2:00pm
Location: Winners Tennis Club, Solana Beach
Ages: All ages are welcome to attend – Invite your friends and family!
Cost: This event is free but donations for Max are appreciated!
Come join us for:
- Meridian Tennis pro exhibition and QuickStart Tennis games for the kids
- Free appetizers and drinks
- Silent Auction (to be completed at Music for Max- see below)
- Raffle for a Winners Tennis Package including one year free membership to Winners Tennis Club, a new racket, and a private lesson package
- Grand Prize valued at over $1000!
- Tickets are $10 each (or 5/$40) and can be purchased at Winners Tennis Club
November 8, 2008 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: The Belly Up, Solana Beach
Ages: This event is for adults 21 and up – Invite your friends and family!
Cost: Tickets are $60 and can be purchased at Winners Tennis club (cash/check)
or at www.thebellyup.com (credit/debit)
Come join us for: 
- A concert by Tim Flannery and Friends (www.timflannery.com)
- Silent and Live Auction
- Appetizers will be served
For more information, please call Zac Markham at (858) 754-1160
Posted on 31 October '08 by admin, under Events, News. No Comments.
Let your memories become precious gifts. Images from the Max the Super Hero website are available for holiday purchases. Aaron of True Photography has kindly offered to give all proceeds to Max’s foundation.
Max the Super Hero photos are available to order until November 30th
To view these images, follow the instructions below:
Go to http://www.collages.net.
Fill in the following log-in information:
Username: af080812
Password: 15885
Posted on 30 October '08 by Natalie, under News. No Comments.
At lunchtime on Friday, Oct. 24th, students of the Associated Student Body from San Dieguito Academy carved pumpkins to help with decorations for Lights Up - Cardiff to show their support for four-year-old Max.
Posted on 25 October '08 by Natalie, under Events, News. No Comments.
Tags:Cardiff, Lights Up, North County Times.
The North County Times released another great article about Max and his family. Read the full story here.
“I think the positive energy surrounding us is partly why Max’s treatment has been so successful so far,” Young said.
Posted on 20 October '08 by admin, under News. No Comments.
