Our brother, son, friend, and unwavering fighter Matthew Lick is entering a new and difficult chapter in his 11.5‑year battle with brain cancer. Many of you have been with him since his first surgery in 2014, through years of treatments, recoveries, setbacks, humor, resilience, and hope. Throughout it all, Matthew has met every turn with honesty, grit, and his signature ability to find light—even in the harshest hospital rooms.

This winter, during what was supposed to be a routine check, Matthew received news of worrisome activity. Despite restarting oral chemotherapy immediately, follow-up scans in January and February showed continued changes. Three MRIs in less than six weeks ultimately confirmed what we feared:

His cancer is growing again.

After surgeries in 2014 and 2020, chemo and radiation in 2015 and 2023, and a few years of trying to let his brain rest and heal, 2026 has forced Matthew back into the fight. His medical team is now transitioning him to Vorasidenib, a newer FDA-approved treatment, and restarting Avastin infusions to help manage swelling and the symptoms that have returned.

But this time, the burden is heavier.

Because of the tumor’s current state, Matthew lives with a daily risk of seizures—a danger that affects every part of his life. He already hasn’t been able to maintain consistent nor financially sustaining work throughout this entire journey, but he is now restricted from driving. He’s experiencing peripheral vision loss. And while he’s typically the quickest and most articulate person in any room, Matthew is now facing cognitive and memory struggles that are deeply disorienting. A simple text is now a frustrating chore of recall, adding a void of disconnect when he needs connection most.

All of this loss of independence, the waning trust in his physical control, and the inability to provide for the people he loves most is a harder pill to swallow than any cancer drug.

A Joyful Light in the Middle of Chaos

Amid all this, 2023 brought one of the greatest blessings of Matthew’s life: the birth of his daughter, Murphy, after a long and hopeful IVF journey. Becoming a father has been his greatest joy—his pride in her is unmistakable, and every moment with her is treasured.

Recently, Matthew suffered a seizure at 3 a.m. He had woken up for one of his favorite duties, to rock his baby back to sleep, when the seizure hit. Not only was it a scary moment for his family, it has led to additional safety precautions that may now limit him from holding Murphy on his own, a devastating concept to even fathom.

Why We’re Asking for Help

Cancer is not only a medical battle—it is emotional, spiritual, and, of course, financial. Matthew’s past medical debt, new treatment plan, ongoing scans, 4-hour long infusions, rides to appointments, and the need to support a house and family all come with overwhelming costs.

We are asking his community—everyone who has loved him, laughed with him, encouraged him, or been moved by his strength—to stand beside him now.

Matthew has fought this disease for more than a decade with courage, clarity, humor, and heart. He deserves to focus on healing and on being a dad—not on how he will pay for the care that keeps him alive.

Your help—whether through donation, sharing his story, or sending love—means more than words can express. Every bit helps lighten the load as he begins yet another round of this long fight.

Thank you for standing with Matthew.

Love,

Megan, Maryrose, and Margaret Lick