In Support of Matthew, Jocelyn & Silas Koski

Hi my name is Martha Koski and I am organizing this GoFundMe for my dear older brother Matthew Koski and his precious family as they navigate a heartbreaking prognosis.

Matthew travelled to Red Lake, Ontario on October 5th with his dad and some brothers for a much anticipated annual fly-in moose hunting trip. When arriving to the cabin, Matthew began to feel unwell and developed a fever a few days into the trip. His brother had the same symptoms for the previous few days but began to feel much better after, so all assumed Matthew got the same sickness. Matthew quickly learned that it was not the case when he began to have neck swelling with difficulty breathing and swallowing. An urgent call was placed to the main outfitters to request a float plane to pick up Matthew and his dad, Matt, from their isolated cabin and bring them into the town of Red Lake so that Matthew could receive healthcare. Upon admission, antibiotics were started immediately and imaging showed that Matthew had a peritonsillar abscess that was spreading quickly. After a day in the hospital, Matthew's condition worsened. Matthew completely lost his ability to swallow and was in respiratory distress. He was transported via Orange Learjet to Saint Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba for STAT imaging that the small town hospital could not provide.

Upon arriving, a CT scan was done and showed a huge abscess in his airways and two other abscesses nearby. His airways were pushed over by 60% and he immediately was prepared for an emergency surgery. The surgery went well and Matthew was given a 4-5 day length of stay before he would be able to be discharged. The whole family was relieved that Matthew was doing better and was moved from the ICU to a ward room. Matthew's wife Jocelyn was booking flights to travel to be with Matthew, as the boys planned to begin their drive from the hunting outfitters. While travel plans were made, a failed swallowing test and a repeat CT scan on Matthew's neck and thoracic region revealed devastating news. The infection had rapidly travelled to nearby tissues caused by necrotizing fasciitis.

Matthew was able to speak to his family, including his 11 month old first child and son; Silas, before he was rushed into another emergency surgery.

A call from the surgeon following the operation had Matthew's entire family in despair; the infection was uncontrolled to the point where he only has a 10-20% survival rate to make it through the weekend. The whole family, who lost a beloved little sister to brain cancer not two years ago, frantically began booking flights and beginning their drives to reach Matthew's side. Cousins, uncles, friends and more also began to make their way to Manitoba to be with him.

Matthew has been intubated and sedated since the operation and continues to be at this time, surrounded by many dear loved ones.

We pray that God will heal Matthew and give him strength to fight and return back to his wife and son, as well as all those who dearly care and have so much love for him.

Any donations will go directly to Matthew, Jocelyn and baby Silas, as this little family navigates the frightening and uncertain future ahead.

We thank you for your donations in advance. If anyone would like to e-transfer directly to the family you can do so by this email: [email redacted].