Help Mac and his family

Hello everyone my name is Aidan O’Connell and I’m raising money for my wonderful brother in law and his family.

You never think someone close to you would get sick, until it happens. Many of you know Mac Cellitti, the owner and tattoo artist at the Gilded Lily in Felton. He’s a dedicated father of four, wonderful husband, loving uncle, brother, and my best friend, or twin so we say.

 

He’s so loved throughout our community and I think it’s time we share that love with him.

On Wednesday, June 21 2023 he got the actual diagnosis that he has stage IV metastatic kidney cancer. Unfortunately his kidney cancer has metastasized throughout his body, leaving him in crippling pain. On Wednesday July 26 his spine fractured because of a metastatic lesion. He is currently being transferred to UCSF to get emergency spine surgery. He is paralyzed from the waist down as of right now, hoping the surgery will resolve that. Mac has been trying to work to support his family even while in debilitating pain. His current health status makes it impossible to work as a tattoo artist. Unfortunately, he is the sole provider of income for his family, wife and four kids. He is always the first person to step up for others in their time of need. He is known for his generosity not only with his resources but with his time and emotional support. Mac is not someone who asks for help, so here I am doing it for him. His family needs extra support right now whether it’s a donation, a meal, or just a positive message to get them through this very difficult time. I’ve never in my life met someone as wonderful and selfless as he is. He cares for everyone around him, more than most even deserve. He is truly such a strong, incredible man.

UPDATE: The amount of love and support being shown in so many ways from so many people is just incredible. Mac feels so overwhelmed and lucky that so many people have shown him love. There’s no words to express how thankful and appreciative he and his family are for all of the love and support they are receiving. Nothing goes unnoticed.

Mac has went through 2 spine surgeries recently; one to fuse the spine together, and the other to try and remove some tumors on his vertebrae. He came out of them well, but still is bed ridden. He is healing at UCSF and was just transferred out of the ICU. He has re gained some feeling in his right leg, able to move it some, but his left leg is still having trouble. He’s still unable to walk.

Although the spine surgeries went smooth, he is now battling a case of pneumonia. Because of this, and because of the rapid growth of the tumor in his throat, he had to get a tracheotomy, which has made it so he can no longer talk. This has been frustrating and heartbreaking for him and his family.

With all of this going on, Mac and my sister decided it would be the best decision to close The Gilded Lily for good. After 19 years of hard work and dedication Mac has put into the shop, it is time for it to come to an end. This was his lively hood, the thing that brought him joy and peace. There will be a liquidation sale of the shops goods that I will keep you all updated on.

Thank you all for supporting Mac for So many years, and now supporting him and his family even more. Please keep him in your prayers and send good energy and love their way.