Matt's Medical Fund
Donation protected
1/19/18 Update from John:
The Connolly family wishes to say a heartfelt Thank You to all of you generous donors to Matt's Medical Fund. The support, both in dollars but more importantly, in your kind words means so much. Matt would check the campaign regularly and would really get cheered up that so many of his friends care about him. Powerful medicine to say the least. Unfortunately, Matt's long journey is nearing an end, but know that by recognizing him you all made his days brighter. Please continue to keep Matt in your memories.
Thanks again and we'll keep you all informed regarding an upcoming celebration of Matt's blessed life.
The Connolly's: Matt, Sam, Pam and John
__________________________________________________
Matt’s journey (as told by his father, John):
Matt Connolly is 20 years old, a 2015 graduate of Burnsville High School. Matt completed a 2 year Associate Degree in Architecture Technology from DCTC in the Spring of 2017. Matt’s employed at Reprise Design as a Design Technician.
Matt’s was diagnosed in 2008 with medullablastoma, a brain cancer, in the 5th grade. He had surgery to remove the tumor and was given 30 doses of radiation and 1 1/2 years of chemotherapy. Continuing on for the next 4 years, Matt had regularly scheduled MRIs and his condition remained stable. A scan in 2013 revealed that Matt now displayed 4 tumors and was treated for the next year and a half with a procedure called a Blood Brain Barrier Disruption. Again after this treatment, things looked stable for another year +.
Unfortunately a new scan revealed that 2 of the 4 tumors became active again, and this time, the treatment regimen involved a series of chemo drugs orally, called a metronomic treatment.
2017, Matt finished his Architectural Design degree and was working in the field. In August, Matt’s blood labs revealed blast cells and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed that blast cells were being produced by the bone marrow. Another treatment plan was put in place and unfortunately, before it was initiated, Matt got an infection that landed him into the hospital for 18 days. A subsequent bone marrow biopsy showed that Matt had developed AML, treatment-related leukemia. The only cure for AML is a stem cell transplant.
We sought a 2nd opinion at Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, because Matt has both the Medullablastoma and AML, the transplant was deemed to risky to do and so the current treatment to control and reduce the marrows production of blast cells continue. As a result, Matt’s in the Clinic at U of M weekly for blood transfusions and chemo. With his immune system suppressed, Matt’s susceptible to infections. That’s where we are today, hoping the brain cancer remains stable and through treatment, the AML can be controlled and possibly put into remission.
*Please join me in providing monetary donations to help with Matt's medical expenses. Thank you for your continued support for the Connolly family.
~ Chantel Brace, a family friend
The Connolly family wishes to say a heartfelt Thank You to all of you generous donors to Matt's Medical Fund. The support, both in dollars but more importantly, in your kind words means so much. Matt would check the campaign regularly and would really get cheered up that so many of his friends care about him. Powerful medicine to say the least. Unfortunately, Matt's long journey is nearing an end, but know that by recognizing him you all made his days brighter. Please continue to keep Matt in your memories.
Thanks again and we'll keep you all informed regarding an upcoming celebration of Matt's blessed life.
The Connolly's: Matt, Sam, Pam and John
__________________________________________________
Matt’s journey (as told by his father, John):
Matt Connolly is 20 years old, a 2015 graduate of Burnsville High School. Matt completed a 2 year Associate Degree in Architecture Technology from DCTC in the Spring of 2017. Matt’s employed at Reprise Design as a Design Technician.
Matt’s was diagnosed in 2008 with medullablastoma, a brain cancer, in the 5th grade. He had surgery to remove the tumor and was given 30 doses of radiation and 1 1/2 years of chemotherapy. Continuing on for the next 4 years, Matt had regularly scheduled MRIs and his condition remained stable. A scan in 2013 revealed that Matt now displayed 4 tumors and was treated for the next year and a half with a procedure called a Blood Brain Barrier Disruption. Again after this treatment, things looked stable for another year +.
Unfortunately a new scan revealed that 2 of the 4 tumors became active again, and this time, the treatment regimen involved a series of chemo drugs orally, called a metronomic treatment.
2017, Matt finished his Architectural Design degree and was working in the field. In August, Matt’s blood labs revealed blast cells and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed that blast cells were being produced by the bone marrow. Another treatment plan was put in place and unfortunately, before it was initiated, Matt got an infection that landed him into the hospital for 18 days. A subsequent bone marrow biopsy showed that Matt had developed AML, treatment-related leukemia. The only cure for AML is a stem cell transplant.
We sought a 2nd opinion at Mayo Clinic. Unfortunately, because Matt has both the Medullablastoma and AML, the transplant was deemed to risky to do and so the current treatment to control and reduce the marrows production of blast cells continue. As a result, Matt’s in the Clinic at U of M weekly for blood transfusions and chemo. With his immune system suppressed, Matt’s susceptible to infections. That’s where we are today, hoping the brain cancer remains stable and through treatment, the AML can be controlled and possibly put into remission.
*Please join me in providing monetary donations to help with Matt's medical expenses. Thank you for your continued support for the Connolly family.
~ Chantel Brace, a family friend
Organizer and beneficiary
Chantel Olson Brace
Organizer
Prior Lake, MN
John Connolly
Beneficiary
