Help Matt Richer Fight Cancer
Donation protected
Matt Richer is many things to the people in his life: Father, Son, Brother, Cousin, Nephew, Friend, Teammate and Co-Worker. Matt Richer is still all of those things to many people; however, we now add Cancer fighter to the list.
During the last year Matt has been dealing with an illness. Matt started out with dizzy spells which doctors first diagnosed as Vertigo. As his symptoms became worse, the doctors were sending him for more tests. In June of 2013 Matt was in Edmonton for another CAT scan and MRI. It was on July 4th, 2013 that the doctors at the University of Alberta Hospital found a large tumor in Matt's brain. The tumor was located at the base of his skull and emergency surgery was required because if the tumor grew it would block necessary fluids from getting to his brain.
On July 10th 2013 Matt went into a 7 hour surgery. The doctors updated the family on how the surgery went and advised they would know more over the next few hours as Matt would wake up and they could determine whether he still had all of his motor skills. It wasn't even 15 minutes later that his surgeon was running back to everyone with a huge smile on her face saying Matt had woken up and was able to grip his hand and move his legs! You could tell the she was impressed with Matt's recovery already. On July 12th Matt's breathing tube was removed and he was well on his way to recovering from surgery! The surgery was very successful as they were able to remove over 90% of the tumor.
The next step for Matt was to receive the biopsy results from the tumor and on July 18th those results were in and Matt was told the Tumor was a Medulloblastoma Tumor and he has Stage 4 Cancer.
For those of you that know Matt, you know he has been a hockey player his whole life. It's in his blood! Matt has been a fighter on the ice and he is bringing that fight off the ice and is ready to battle Cancer. As Matt says, "Cancer picked the wrong person to mess with". Matt has been very positive since this battle began. Visiting Matt in the hospital you are always greeted with that giant Matt Richer smile that lights up a whole room.
Matt has a long battle ahead of him. He will be starting radiation therapy in a couple of weeks. The radiation treatment will consist of five treatments a week for six weeks. Once the radiation is complete Matt will then start Chemotherapy. As of right now they are saying Matt will receive Chemotherapy treatments on and off for a year.
Matt will be receiving his treatments in Edmonton, Alberta which is approximately 660 km's away from his home in Fort St. John, BC. Matt's Dad (Robert) is currently staying with him in Edmonton, they have rented an apartment close to the hospital while Matt continues to recover from surgery and prepare for radiation treatment. Matt has an amazing employer, Dan Roane, from Dan's Rentals who has been very generous & supportive during the past year while Matt hasn't been able to work due to his symptoms and of course since his surgery and diagnosis. There are going to be many extra expenses in Matt's battle including out of town accommodations, out of town living expenses, travel & medication.
Please join Team Richer and help Matt fight this evil cancer. If we are able to help Matt with some of the financial burdens that come along with this battle Matt can focus his fight purely on what's most important, beating cancer. Matt is going into this with his game face on and he is ready to fight. Cancer really has messed with the wrong person!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read Matt's story.
On behalf of Matt Richer thank you for your generosity, thoughts and prayers.
***Please note that donations received will be going towards Matt's accomodations during treatment, Matt's transportations costs, Matt's medications and Matt's living expenses.***
During the last year Matt has been dealing with an illness. Matt started out with dizzy spells which doctors first diagnosed as Vertigo. As his symptoms became worse, the doctors were sending him for more tests. In June of 2013 Matt was in Edmonton for another CAT scan and MRI. It was on July 4th, 2013 that the doctors at the University of Alberta Hospital found a large tumor in Matt's brain. The tumor was located at the base of his skull and emergency surgery was required because if the tumor grew it would block necessary fluids from getting to his brain.
On July 10th 2013 Matt went into a 7 hour surgery. The doctors updated the family on how the surgery went and advised they would know more over the next few hours as Matt would wake up and they could determine whether he still had all of his motor skills. It wasn't even 15 minutes later that his surgeon was running back to everyone with a huge smile on her face saying Matt had woken up and was able to grip his hand and move his legs! You could tell the she was impressed with Matt's recovery already. On July 12th Matt's breathing tube was removed and he was well on his way to recovering from surgery! The surgery was very successful as they were able to remove over 90% of the tumor.
The next step for Matt was to receive the biopsy results from the tumor and on July 18th those results were in and Matt was told the Tumor was a Medulloblastoma Tumor and he has Stage 4 Cancer.
For those of you that know Matt, you know he has been a hockey player his whole life. It's in his blood! Matt has been a fighter on the ice and he is bringing that fight off the ice and is ready to battle Cancer. As Matt says, "Cancer picked the wrong person to mess with". Matt has been very positive since this battle began. Visiting Matt in the hospital you are always greeted with that giant Matt Richer smile that lights up a whole room.
Matt has a long battle ahead of him. He will be starting radiation therapy in a couple of weeks. The radiation treatment will consist of five treatments a week for six weeks. Once the radiation is complete Matt will then start Chemotherapy. As of right now they are saying Matt will receive Chemotherapy treatments on and off for a year.
Matt will be receiving his treatments in Edmonton, Alberta which is approximately 660 km's away from his home in Fort St. John, BC. Matt's Dad (Robert) is currently staying with him in Edmonton, they have rented an apartment close to the hospital while Matt continues to recover from surgery and prepare for radiation treatment. Matt has an amazing employer, Dan Roane, from Dan's Rentals who has been very generous & supportive during the past year while Matt hasn't been able to work due to his symptoms and of course since his surgery and diagnosis. There are going to be many extra expenses in Matt's battle including out of town accommodations, out of town living expenses, travel & medication.
Please join Team Richer and help Matt fight this evil cancer. If we are able to help Matt with some of the financial burdens that come along with this battle Matt can focus his fight purely on what's most important, beating cancer. Matt is going into this with his game face on and he is ready to fight. Cancer really has messed with the wrong person!
Thank you very much for taking the time to read Matt's story.
On behalf of Matt Richer thank you for your generosity, thoughts and prayers.
***Please note that donations received will be going towards Matt's accomodations during treatment, Matt's transportations costs, Matt's medications and Matt's living expenses.***
Organizer
Karen Clarke Day
Organizer
Fort St. John, BC
