Matthew’s new journey with Hodgkin Lymphoma

As most of you know, our nephew, Matthew, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 7 years old. Through the years, there have been challenges, but he has been able to live his “normal” and never let a broken pancreas get in the way of living life.

Now, at 19 years old, he was just diagnosed with a very rare sub-category of Hodgkin Lymphoma: Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma.

We are reaching out to family, friends, and the community to help support the journey Matthew is about to begin.

In addition to his current diabetic medical/pharmacy expenses, he was in the hospital for 11 days with numerous diagnostic tests/procedures, and he will move forward to fight this cancer with 6 months of chemotherapy & immunotherapy.

The family is needing to adjust their current work conditions/situation as our brother-in-law, Joel, will be Matthew’s primary caregiver.

Some of you have reached out on how you can help. In addition to sending your continued thoughts and prayers for Matthew, donations in any amount can help with his medical bills & transportation to UCSF in San Francisco where he has been blessed to be able to work with a doctor who is the head of the UCSF Lymphoma program alongside his primary oncologist in Clovis as well as his endocrinologist in Fresno.

If you are unable to donate, please share Matthew’s story.

This is not only a new journey for Matthew, but also for our sister, Chris, brother-in-law, Joel, Matthew’s sister, Malia, Matthew’s girlfriend, Katie, and their 9-month-old baby, Aurelia.

Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you

Michele Ochoa and Marie Lavata