Help Matt Burbacher's boys

Hi, this is a fundraiser to help the Burbacher boys, who are left without a father after Matt's untimely passing.   

On an otherwise normal day in late May 2022, Matt Burbacher was not feeling well, and checked in to the emergency room.  Within a few days, he was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease.  Through a short roller-coaster ride, where Matt would experience good and bad days, Matt's family battled to expedite the approval of his insurance and a transfer of Matt to a hospital that would consider transplanting his liver, possibly saving him.  While there were positive outcomes along the way in getting Matt his insurance and a hospital transfer upstate, and despite Matt fighting with all his will, he was just too sick to go through with the transplant.  Matt hung on until just after a visit with one of his sons, and went to join God on the evening of June 22, 2022.

Matt was 43 when he passed away.  His 3 boys, ages 9, 11, and 14, now live full-time with Matt's ex-wife, Kim Burbacher.  Kim was already working 4 jobs to help support the boys, and things will be even tougher without Matt around.  This fundraiser is meant to help with many things as the boys grow to adulthood.   Matt was able to get the boys to school when needed, and to academic and sporting events, and other activities; now, Kim will be faced with the daunting task of juggling it all.  Having some funds set aside to allow for babysitting or other help will be a God-send.  Also, allowing the boys to participate in school and other activities that require not only a time but financial commitment is a goal of this campaign.  Having some semblance of a normal boyhood after their father passes would be a wonderful outcome.  

We've been working to make sure that the boys have good counseling resources as they move forward.  I (Joe) personally wish that I would have done more to tell my brother how much I loved him while he was alive, and to let him know how much I appreciated him.   In lieu of turning back the clock, I know that I can help his boys going forward to not fall by the wayside, just because they no longer have a father. 

I got the chance to spend some close time with Aiden (14) before Matt died.  He was recruited--away from where his friends were going--to join a high school with a strong academic program.  He made the very mature choice to leave his friends, and is excelling at the new school, joining the math team and pursuing other avenues that will support a dream of doing something in cyber-security or another STEM field.  Aiden cares very much about his brothers, and is like a shepherd to them.  Except when he is playing jokes on them and "pushing their buttons"... We'll leave it there.  Andrew (11) is perhaps the most insightful one of the bunch.  He is quiet/shy, but is able to size up a situation very well.  He's the guy you want in the room while everybody else is posturing and rambling on -- he'll silently absorb and process it all and tell you what's really going on.  Justin (9) is so cute that you probably will buy one of his many fibs.  Kidding aside, he is a very loving and outgoing boy.  And, it's not a lie to say that he's a great soccer player, and athlete in general. 

All of the boys have huge hearts and are very sensitive to the needs and emotions of others.  On a sad note, the boys' puppy (and good friend), Sabbath, had to be relocated after Matt passed, but the good news is that Matt's younger brother, Brady, has offered to take him in.  So, the beloved pooch will stay with the family.

Thank you for considering helping Matt and Kim's boys grow into fine young men, through some financial support.

-Joe Burbacher (Matt's older brother and first good friend)