Help Give Matt More Time
Donation protected
Matt was diagnosed with a very aggressive metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (small cell carcinoma) in February 2019, along with a PE (clot) in his right lung. He has battled through six different types of chemotherapy (75+ doses), back-to-back with 25 doses of radiation to his chest, brain and spinal cord. He has been through a trial immunotherapy causing a tumour flare, nearly compressing his vena cava requiring a 16cm cardiac stent; as well as 45+ radiology scans and 4 surgical procedures (many thanks to QldXray team). He's had every type of symptom you could imagine from pain, 'chemo brain' memory, neuropathy, numbness, neutropenia, weakened muscles, fatigue, oesophageal burns from radiation, fibrosis of the lungs, nausea and sleep deprivation. Currently his phrenic nerves have been compressed by tumours and have caused his diaphragm to collapse, making it difficult to breathe and swallow fluids safely. As a result, on Christmas Eve he underwent a gastrostomy tube insertion into his stomach. The cancer has metastasised to his spinal cord and tumours are growing in his chest, compromising his voice box causing him to lose his voice entirely.
He has had several ‘near misses’ but has battled on bravely and determinedly. However, we have received the most incredibly painful words that there is no more conventional treatment left, which has left us scrambling to look for other alternative therapies.
Matt has always had a fun-loving, positive personality who has always helped others whenever he could. Nothing gives him more joy than making others laugh, usually in some of his most challenging personal moments; we can't even fathom where he gets the resilience to keep his humour. Matt is part of a large and wonderful family of eight. He has a loving Mum (Carol) and wife (Kat) and 4 children. He is doing everything possible to live for his family.
Even after all this, Matt has never given up and as a family we are all frantic to help him start new therapies of IV infusions with large doses of vitamins, hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We are hoping all these treatments will help Matt to stem the tumour growth. Matt has started his initial dose of IV infusions at a cost of $357 per dose but this cost will increase as the dose increases. He will require up to two IV treatments per week, ongoing. In addition, he will need 2-3 hyperbaric treatments per week (requiring at least 100 hours at a cost of approx $200 per 2hr treatment). These treatments are currently being self-funded but they will not be able to sustain this for long by themselves and are desperate for help.
He has had several ‘near misses’ but has battled on bravely and determinedly. However, we have received the most incredibly painful words that there is no more conventional treatment left, which has left us scrambling to look for other alternative therapies.
Matt has always had a fun-loving, positive personality who has always helped others whenever he could. Nothing gives him more joy than making others laugh, usually in some of his most challenging personal moments; we can't even fathom where he gets the resilience to keep his humour. Matt is part of a large and wonderful family of eight. He has a loving Mum (Carol) and wife (Kat) and 4 children. He is doing everything possible to live for his family.
Even after all this, Matt has never given up and as a family we are all frantic to help him start new therapies of IV infusions with large doses of vitamins, hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We are hoping all these treatments will help Matt to stem the tumour growth. Matt has started his initial dose of IV infusions at a cost of $357 per dose but this cost will increase as the dose increases. He will require up to two IV treatments per week, ongoing. In addition, he will need 2-3 hyperbaric treatments per week (requiring at least 100 hours at a cost of approx $200 per 2hr treatment). These treatments are currently being self-funded but they will not be able to sustain this for long by themselves and are desperate for help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Bronwyn Eadie
Organizer
Lytton, QLD
Katherine Mellor
Beneficiary