A mother was devastated when a swindler created a fraudulent fundraiser for her critically ill infant. Katelyn Clarke, 23, initiated a legitimate fundraising campaign for her 11-month-old daughter Macey-Mai after discovering that her uncommon birthmark was cancerous. Shockingly, a heartless scammer established a duplicate GoFundMe account under the child’s name, deceiving donors who believed they were supporting Macey-Mai’s cause.
Approximately £12,600 had already been collected, and Katelyn, currently pursuing fraud reporting, criticized the deceitful act, stating, “They are profiting from a severely ill child.” Macey-Mai was born with giant congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN), a benign, tumor-like abnormality covering various parts of her body.
The genuine GoFundMe initiative aimed to assist with the expenses of attending numerous appointments at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Conversely, the fake account falsely asserts that they opted for private treatment for Macey-Mai after alleging the NHS had declined to remove her CGMN.
Expressing her distress, Katelyn from Plymouth, Devon, lamented the deception, emphasizing the urgency of the funds for Macey-Mai’s well-being. She highlighted the impact on innocent donors who believed they were aiding Macey-Mai but were essentially being defrauded. Katelyn, a mother of three, explained the challenges of balancing medical appointments with family time.
Over the past 11 months, they have attended numerous appointments in London and are awaiting biopsy results from Macey-Mai’s recent surgery to determine the status of another lesion. Katelyn emotionally shared her reaction to the devastating news of Macey-Mai’s diagnosis and the unexpected malignancy.
GCMN affects 1% of newborns, with a reported 1 in 20,000-500,000 live births. The condition manifests in various colors and textures, typically larger than 20cm. Katelyn emphasized the need for vigilant monitoring of her daughter’s birthmark for any changes indicating melanoma.
Furthermore, she detailed the challenges of managing Macey-Mai’s sensitive skin and the financial strain of acquiring specialized garments for her comfort. Despite the difficulties, the family has raised £20,000, crucial for Macey-Mai’s ongoing medical care and essential needs.
The community’s support has been instrumental in ensuring Macey-Mai’s access to vital healthcare services and necessities during their London trips. Katelyn underscored the invaluable assistance from donors in providing for Macey-Mai’s well-being. The Mirror has reached out to GoFundMe for a response to the situation.