Matthew's Fight - Never Give Up!!!!!!!!

Matthew was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L.)on November 27, 2000. After 3 years and 2 months of chemotherapy, Matthew officially completed chemotherapy on January 26, 2004!


Sadly, Matthew relapsed in December 2004. We begin this fight and journey once again. I am thrilled to share that on July 20th, 2007 Matthew finished chemo for the second and hopefully last time!


On October 10th at 4pm we received the horrible news that Matthew had relapsed again, this time in his Central Nervous System. Our world has been shattered once again. We are fighting for remission and then on to a bone marrow transplant.


On January 24th 2008 after Cranial, Total Body (TBI) and Testicular radiation and 3 days of very strong chemo, Matthew received the gift of life from an unrelated donor. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to the wonderful lady that donated her bone marrow to Matthew. We hope to make contact with her after the mandatory one year mark! My son is a fighter and one of the strongest young men that I know.

Normal Counts:
Hemoglobin 13.0-16.0
Platelets (Plates) 150,000-450,000
White Blood Cell(WBC) 4,500-13,500
AGC (ANC) 1000 or greater


Matthew’s Poem
By: Alicia Heimann
(Nursing Student at St. Mary’s College)

Cancer you say
What is that?
How can it be?
I am only eight.
That is still young you see.

My throat hurts.
That is all.
Nothing else.
Please explain this to me.

Mom says it is called,
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,
ALL for short,
Believe me I would rather be sick because of a sport.

The needles hurt.
What more can I say?
You give me poison,
And expect me to stay?

Alright, almost through.
My counts are up.
I feel brand new.

I did it!
I won!
The cancer is gone!
Mom calls me her victorious one.

Life goes on.
It seems so new.
Back to school, homework, sports and play
As normal kids do.

Uh, oh.
Not feeling so hot.
Mom, I think I need to see the doc.

He looks me in the eye.
Tells me the solemn news.
The cancer is back.
No time to lose.

I look at mom.
Scared and confused.
Am I going to die?
What do we do?

It’s not fair.
I do not see.
Is this a merry Christmas for me?

Harder this time.
Why is that so?
I have already taken such an extraordinary blow.

More needles.
I can hardly wait.
Hurry up already,
Give me my birthday cake.

Thirteen years old.
A brand new teen.
I am ready to fight,
To get my cells clean.

More chemo and drugs,
Some old, some new.
Just make sure,
The barf bucket is in view.

No hair on my head.
That is no bother.
Because neither does my awesome brother.

I love my mom,
Family and friends.
They all support me,
With out-stretched hands.

Trips to the hospital
Are no fun.
But, I do get to see,
The nurses I love.

Some days good.
Others bad.
That depends on the meds I have had.

Strong to the end.
Not a weak pup.
Continue to fight.
Never give up!









If you would like to help with the extremely high cost of Matthew's Bone Marrow Transplant, please send donations to:

St. Charles Borromeo, Attention: Margaret Sorg
4916 Trier Rd
Fort Wayne IN 46815


* Checks should be made out to: St. Charles Borromeo
* On the comment line please put: Matthew Fackler, account # 220.150.15
* If you desire a receipt/statement, please include a note requesting one.



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Matthew’s Worldwide Prayer Chain

I had another idea……I know I know…another crazy Mom idea….

We get guestbook entries and emails daily with wonderful loving, caring people assuring us that they are praying for Matthew. I thought it might be interesting to see how far around the world Matthew’s prayer chain can go. So, I thought I’d try to keep track daily when a new person from a new location lets us know they are praying for Matthew.

So, starting yesterday (1/13/08) I’m going to keep track and place the list above. So pass the word to your friends and family far and wide…… “Please Pray for Matthew!”

1. Alabama, USA
2. Antwerp, Belgium
3. Arizona, USA
4. Arkansas, USA
5. Auckland, New Zealand
6. Australia
7. Baumholder, Germany
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. British Columbia, Canada
10. Buenos Aires, Argentina
11. Cairo, Egypt
12. California, USA
13. Changzhou, JS China
14. Colorado, USA
15. Connecticut, USA
16. Florida, USA
17. Focsani, Romania
18. Gent, Belgium
19. Georgia, USA
20. Great Western, Australia
21. Holland
22. Idaho, USA
23. Illinois, USA
24. Iowa, USA
25. Indiana, USA
26. Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada
27. Kelowna, British Columbia
28. Kentucky, USA
29. Lankaran, Azerbaijan
30. Lima, Peru
31. Louisiana, USA
32. London, England
33. Luanda, Angola
34. Luxembourg, Europe
35. Lyons, France
36. Maine, USA
37. Manitoba, Canada
38. Maryland, USA
39. Massachusetts, USA
40. Michigan, USA
41. Minnesota, USA
42. Mississippi, USA
43. Missouri, USA
44. Montana, USA
45. Moscow, Russia
46. Nebraska, USA
47. Nevada, USA
48. New Hampshire, USA
49. New Jersey, USA
50. New Mexico, USA
51. New York, USA
52. North Carolina, USA
53. North Dakota, USA
54. Ohio, USA
55. Oklahoma, USA
56. Oregon, USA
57. Ottawa, Canada
58. Pennsylvania, USA
59. Rhode Island, USA
60. Saint-Brieuc, France
61. Sotogrande, Spain
62. South Carolina, USA
63. South Dakota, USA
64. Tennesee, USA
65. Texas, USA
66. Vannes, France
67. Vermont, USA
68. Virginia, USA
69. Washington, USA
70. Washington DC, USA
71. West Virginia, USA
72. Wisconsin, USA
73.Paris, France

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We still have cookbooks available!!!
If you would like one you can get one by
• Contact Sandy by email at teamnevergiveup@comcast.net.

• Pick up at the St. Charles Parish Office.
Thank you from our entire family……..


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Here’s to Matthew ….....By Tammy from New Mexico

Matthew’s just a youngin’
only 16 years of age
He’s been through more than most of us
Oh, how can he explain …
The trials that he’s conquered,
The efforts that have poured
through his veins and onward,
from the people on his ward.

We pray for you, oh Matthew.
We pray that you would be
the son that defies logic,
and defines humanity.

We pray your stable spirit
will prevail on through these fights,
We pray the Lord will guide you
and keep you through the nights.

We pray for something awesome,
something power, something free.
We pray these words to reach you
and touch upon your cheek.

Dear Matthew, you are held
in prayers around the earth.
Your story touches all of us,
and all of us have heard
the gentle voice of heaven
just a whisperin’ your name
for us to pray and honor
the call from God again.
To pray for all our neighbors,
To pray for peace and love,
and offer our thanksgivings
to the One who lives above.

Amen.

Journal

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 5:53 PM ET

Day 194

Well, the eating and tummy issues are about the same. He just isn’t able to eat much. It’s probably too soon to see if the increase in meds has made a difference. We also rechecked his creatinine level (kidney function) and the results were higher than Monday. UGH. We are pushing the “drinking” (AKA nagging incessantly) to keep those kidneys well flushed. We will recheck his creatinine and cyclosporin levels on Friday to see where things are. Just another day in BMT land!


Love,
The Fab Five

Read Journal History

Hospital Information:

Home Sweet Home!!!

Links:

E-mail Author: nancyvinson@verizon.net

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