Help Firefighter Matt Gallina’s Family

“For it is in giving that we receive.” -Francis of Assisi

Virginia Beach Fire Department (VBFD) team member Matt Gallina has built his life around being of service to others. As a loving husband and father, a 20+ year veteran of VBFD, and currently serving as an investigator at the VBFD Fire Marshal’s Office, Matt knows what it means to give of himself to help others in need.

Now it’s time for us to give back to Matt during his time of need.

After a department wide blood screen for early detection of cancers, Matt was unexpectedly diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer. All cancer diagnosis is alarming, but being that Matt was asymptomatic and in excellent health at the time of the screening, his diagnosis was particularly shocking for him and his family.

Matt is currently undergoing treatment at the Brock Cancer Center in Norfolk, VA but will soon be restaged and treated at MD Anderson in Houston, TX. Because his cancer has already metastasized to his lymphatic system, he must battle this disease with immunotherapy and chemotherapy to stop the spread and reduce the involvement to the surrounding tissue. Eventually Matt will undergo an esophagectomy at MD Anderson.

Unfortunately, chemotherapy often comes with incredibly challenging side effects and symptoms which can impede treatment and place further hardships on patients and their families. Matt recently experienced a set back from his treatments and was hospitalized for 4 days for severe dehydration. His oncologist is currently adjusting the dose to keep him as healthy as they can during this process.

Matt and his wife Michelle have been married for 21 years. They currently live in Virginia Beach with their three children, Dominic who is 17, Mia who is 16 and Lincoln who is 11. Dominic recently graduated from high school and is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology at a local University. Mia, a straight A student, is now driving and will be a junior in High School this Fall. Lincoln is starting 6th grade and is very active with his travel baseball team, the Tidewater Drillers. Matt is a loving husband and the best dad to his three children. They all have learned the ways of sarcasm, thanks to him. Matt is extremely passionate about his family, friends and of course, the Yankees (just maybe not this year).

Matt’s mental and physical health during his treatment is paramount. One of the ways we can easily support Matt and his family right now is by donating funds to help alleviate some of their current and upcoming financial burdens. Let’s come together and support Matt, Michelle and the kids by allowing them to focus less on the strain of expenses and more on the wellness, treatment and healing that lies ahead.

Matt has been to thousands of calls to help residents across Virginia Beach including responding to structure fires, hazardous material incidents, and most recently digging through fire scenes to determine the origin of a fire. He truly has the heart of a servant.

Now it’s our time to be of service to him.

Please consider supporting this local fire fighter and his treasured family. We know that with your loving support and continuous prayers, Matt can find the strength to battle and beat this cancer.