M@ STRONG

My friendship with Matt began about 15 years ago when I started a new job....and there he was with his feet up on his desk eating a doughnut with a grin on his face that said "yeah, that's right".  As I got to know M@, it didn't take long to understand what kind of man Matt  is.  Matt is one who will do anything for you without fail and always has your back!  He is a friend that has been like a brother to me for a long time. 

Please read Matt's story below and consider helping him with medical bills and other expenses during his fight with Lymphoma.   We are M@ STRONG!

Here's Matt's story:

On February 12th I went to the ER with a chest pain that came and went for the previous three days. It was constant on the 12th. Naturally they rushed me in for EKG and blood work. They didn't find anything so I was sent to CT looking for a blood clot. Still didn't find anything but thankfully for a seasoned ER doc, he noticed enlarged lymph nodes and s...pleen. He went back to review the blood work and found a few things out of line. He came back with a diagnosis of lymphoma. He forwarded my results to Hall-Perrine Cancer Center and encouraged me to take the following day off and get in to see them. Micki and I met with my oncologist and reviewed the findings and signs and symptoms. I then had a biopsy the following Wednesday the 18th. By Friday the 20th, they had confirmed it as Follicular Lymphoma. Grade 1 (indolent) Stage 3, possibly 4. More consultation and more tests. Wednesday the 25th I had a bone marrow biopsy (good times!) and the following day I had a PET scan. On Friday the 27th more consultation with the results of cancer in 50% of the bone marrow and the scan showed it in many lymph nodes as well as my spine. The scan confirmed it being stage 4. Plans are set in place moving forward and my first chemo treatment is Wednesday March 11th. 8 hours that day and 2 hours the following day. Booster chemo every 8th, 15th, and 22nd day after that cycle starts. Repeats every 35 days for 6 cycles. PET scans after the completion of the even numbered cycles. Then chemo every 2 months for the next 8 months.
So that's the plan. We've been overwhelmed with support, calls, messages, and texts. I have a strong faith, a strong family (I implemented a 'No Crying Zone' 24/7), and an undeniable great group of friends. This will be quite the journey but it picked the wrong guy. I hate to lose.
Oh, and it's not these jeans that make me look fat. It's my spleen that makes me look fat! That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Keep the prayers coming.
Much love,
Matt
‪#‎NCZ24‬/7