Meet Mayson — And Why Our Community Is Coming Together

The haunted attraction industry has always been a tight-knit family — and when one of our own needs help, we show up. Today, we’re sharing the story of 19-year-old Mayson Gibson, the daughter of longtime industry members Shannon and [Father’s Name], whose lives were turned upside-down earlier this year.

In early April, Mayson was diagnosed with Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer that had already spread extensively throughout her neck. On May 30, surgeons at Rush University performed a six-hour, life-saving operation, removing her thyroid, one parathyroid gland, and 49 lymph nodes. During surgery, doctors discovered the cancer had wrapped tightly around her jugular vein and vocal cords — creating serious risk to both her life and her ability to speak.

Against the odds, Mayson came out of surgery talking when doctors believed she might not be able to speak again for a long time. She spent only two days in the hospital and showed incredible strength and resilience during recovery.

Mayson then began radioactive iodine treatment in July to target remaining cancer cells. While follow-up scans fortunately showed no spread elsewhere in her body, they did reveal that cancer has now fully involved the lymph nodes on the right side of her neck. She is currently undergoing evaluation to determine her next steps in treatment.

Through every stage of this journey, Mayson has shown tremendous courage — but the physical, emotional, and financial burden has been overwhelming. As she prepares to continue the fight, our community is stepping up to help.