The Malley Family

On behalf of the Malley family, we are writing to ask for your help.  Our childhood friend Diane Zeng Malley’s husband Matt, 38 years old, has been in the hospital for over 100 days. 

 

In mid-October of 2016, Matt went to his doctor with flu like symptoms, was diagnosed with an infection and sent home. Late during the night of October 22, Diane found Matt in their bed having seizures and burning up.  She immediately called an ambulance which took Matt to the closest hospital. Within two hours, Matt had to be transported to Northwell Manhasset, a much larger facility that has the doctors necessary to treat him.  Matt and Diane are familiar with that hospital- just two years ago, he was treated there for grand mal seizures related to a childhood condition.  During this three week stay, Matt had kidney failure, brain shunt revision surgery, and was intubated.  Luckily, with the help of his doctors and support of his family, he was able to go back to teaching and resume his normal life in a few months.

 

This time, within Matt’s first week of being in the Northwell Neurosurgical ICU, he experienced more extreme multi-organ failure and became gravely ill. He was put on full dialysis, and doctors began looking for transplant options for his kidneys and liver.  Matt has had 13 surgeries in an effort to repair his badly damaged organs. Diane has been told several times that the family should prepare for the worst.  He has been tested for autoimmune diseases, cancers, blood disorders and rare infections. Doctors have been unable to pinpoint the cause of this organ failure and his weight has dropped by 85 pounds.  He currently needs a feeding tube to ensure he is getting the nutrients he so badly needs to survive.  He also has a trach collar which helps with getting oxygen to his lungs when he needs help.  Matt is starting to get some physical therapy that consists of dangling his legs. But with the feeding tube, many rehab places will not take him.  Diane is praying he gets stronger to get the rehab help he needs as Matt continues to fight to regain his life. 

 

Before Matt’s previous hospital stay, life had not been kind to the Malley family.  Matt was excessed at his job in the Roosevelt schools, causing them to lose their home in Massapequa Park, and move into Diane’s family home in Farmingdale.  They live there with Diane’s parents, their dog Murphy, their beautiful 6-year old daughter Erin and their handsome little boy Connor, 2 ½.  The children have only been to the hospital twice to see their father, and Diane hasn’t heard Matt’s voice since that evening in October.  They have been married for almost 10 years, and together for 15.  They are so blessed to have such a large family, on both sides that have been helping with the kids and staying over night at the hospital.

 

Both Matt & Diane are popular local teachers and coaches- Matt in the Island Trees and Roosevelt School District and Diane in Syosset.  Matt has also coached for Holy Trinity and South Side.  Diane and Matt have dedicated their lives to improving the communities they live and work in through their teaching, coaching and community involvement.  Many of the people whose lives they have touched have asked how they can help.  The medical bills are mounting, and we are hoping that through the GoFundMe page and the fundraiser on April 1st at the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale, we can help ease the burden.  More details to follow regarding the event.