Matt's Stomp Out Cancer Fund

You know sometimes it seems like everything couldn't be going more perfectly. You know those almost too good to be true type feelings that you hope is nothing more than you just overthinking. Well what happens when your feeling is right?

I thought I was on top of the world. I had just done my first bodybuilding show, I was doing well in my career, I loved my family and amazing friends. Nothing could go wrong for me.

Well that is until that one fateful trip to the Oncologist to review my bloodwork. I had gotten blood work done in November of 2016 where my doctor noticed that my white blood cell count was a little too high. About 4 times the normal "high" amount. Concerned, I looked into it a little further and got some more blood work with an oncologist thinking that everything would be fine. Fast forward to Friday, January 13, 2017. I meet with my oncologist and I hear the words "you have CANCER." I was diagnosed with Leukemia and Lymphoma. This is news that no one would ever want to hear for themselves or their loved ones. Many questions ran through my head for quite of while such as "how? Why? Why me? What next? What does this mean?" Etc.

The fact of the matter is that it happened and I have it and being sad about it doesn't help anyone I know feel better or help myself get better. After additional testings I found out that I have a rare mutation of Leukemia. The 17P deletion mutation. This mutation is very resistant to treatment and harder to cure. After speaking with my doctors, we decided that a bone marrow transplant would be the best course of action to try to beat this cancer and eventually live a normal life. Unfortunately with that he had to throw in the caveat that its about a 50/50 shot to make it through the procedure. 
Hard to believe that the outcome of my future just changed so fast, but I am young and I am strong and I am here to fight. I don't believe my time is up yet, and I'm going to do everything in my power to keep it that way.

Fortunately Insurance does cover most of the procedures. The out of pocket portion and procedures not covered look to be around $40,000.00. Thank god for insurance for covering the majority of this nearly $900,000.00 procedureI seldom ask for anything from anyone, but now I ask you all, if you are able, for some financial help. Any amount, no matter how small, that you are able to contribute would mean the world to me.

Thank you to everyone who has been here so far and thank you to everyone who will be here going forward.

One thing I want to leave you all with. I have found that in this time I have become more appreciative of what I do have and the amazing people who surround me. I ask you all to think and try to let someone close to you or even not so close to you know why you appreciate them or how special they are to you. It hurts a little to know that it always takes a big even such as this to really make us remember we are human and to be thankful for all the blessings we take for granted on a day to day basis.

Any money donated that I end up not using for medical purposes will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Thanks for fighting with me!