Caleb Matthews vs Lung Cancer
Donation protected
On May 31, 2019, Caleb was diagnosed with lung cancer. Shocking in a healthy 27 year old non smoker. Completely odds defying. Keep reading for the rest of the story.
But then again, so is Caleb.
Out of 37,000 doctors who applied for residency in 2017, Caleb matched at IU for Cardiothoracic surgery. There are only 27 programs in the US offering that training. And he's one. And he didn't just match, in his 2 years, he's thrived in Indiana. Scholastically, he's excelled on written tests, written papers in Adult Cardiac, Thoracic and Congenital Cardiac in addition to showing no fear in the operating room and functioning at a level years ahead of his training.
Caleb is an electric personality. People gravitate towards him. He's made countless friends throughout the years. He's one of those guys that makes you say, wow, I can't wait to see where he goes. But now, he needs us.
With his cancer diagnosis, he didn't miss a beat. He began chemotherapy. Originally thought to be small cell lung cancer, it didn't quite add up, so, he got a second opinion in New York at Memorial Sloan Kettering. The diagnosis was changed to Atypical Carcinoid. Still an aggressive tumor, but this tumor includes surgery as a treatment. On August 7, he will undergo a right sided mediastinal lymphadenectomy, then flip over and have a left sided lung resection. 2 chest surgeries in one day.
Caleb has taken the time to answer hundreds or thousands of phone calls, texts. He is constantly being bombarded with 'how you feeling' 'how you doing'. But he has never stopped smiling. He has never publicly said "why me'. He's just kept hammering. But facts are facts and 3 different hospitals, dozens of scans, surgeries, consults add up. Not to mention the loss of livelihood as he's delayed his residency. So as a result, there are plenty of us (physicians and non physicians alike) who can step up and help ease one aspect of this crazy couple months.
If we know anything about Caleb, he won't half ass this.
But then again, so is Caleb.
Out of 37,000 doctors who applied for residency in 2017, Caleb matched at IU for Cardiothoracic surgery. There are only 27 programs in the US offering that training. And he's one. And he didn't just match, in his 2 years, he's thrived in Indiana. Scholastically, he's excelled on written tests, written papers in Adult Cardiac, Thoracic and Congenital Cardiac in addition to showing no fear in the operating room and functioning at a level years ahead of his training.
Caleb is an electric personality. People gravitate towards him. He's made countless friends throughout the years. He's one of those guys that makes you say, wow, I can't wait to see where he goes. But now, he needs us.
With his cancer diagnosis, he didn't miss a beat. He began chemotherapy. Originally thought to be small cell lung cancer, it didn't quite add up, so, he got a second opinion in New York at Memorial Sloan Kettering. The diagnosis was changed to Atypical Carcinoid. Still an aggressive tumor, but this tumor includes surgery as a treatment. On August 7, he will undergo a right sided mediastinal lymphadenectomy, then flip over and have a left sided lung resection. 2 chest surgeries in one day.
Caleb has taken the time to answer hundreds or thousands of phone calls, texts. He is constantly being bombarded with 'how you feeling' 'how you doing'. But he has never stopped smiling. He has never publicly said "why me'. He's just kept hammering. But facts are facts and 3 different hospitals, dozens of scans, surgeries, consults add up. Not to mention the loss of livelihood as he's delayed his residency. So as a result, there are plenty of us (physicians and non physicians alike) who can step up and help ease one aspect of this crazy couple months.
If we know anything about Caleb, he won't half ass this.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Kasten
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN
Caleb Matthews
Beneficiary