He always had an amazingly positive outlook on life, and his diagnosis. Every day, he lived to the fullest and wanted to make people smile. When August of this year came around, Matthew was sleeping excessively and not feeling well almost every day. One day, he collapsed at home and was rushed to Norton Children’s Hospital. There, he lost all cognitive and physical abilities helping him to function comfortably. We couldn’t wrap our minds around how this terrible disease affected Matthew. The doctors had informed us that his cancer had came back rapidly, in his brain and now his spine. The last few days we had with Matthew were extremely difficult but we will always be grateful for every moment we shared with him. The doctors were able to take tissue samples of his tumors that were found and were able to donate them to a research facility to help further exploration into cancer research. We are grateful for the care he recieved and the care we also recieved during this difficult process. He will forever remain with us!

For anyone facing the same difficulties my son Matthew faced, know you are strong. Know that no matter what you are diagnosed with, you are courageous and will be able to battle what obstacles come your way. “One step at a time,” Matthew quoted in a WLKY interview. It’s something that always sticks with me when I am feeling hopeless. I hope Matthew’s story can inspire you to be brave and strong through what you are facing and thank you for reading!