Last year Matthew endured an abdominal injury while on active duty deployment. Upon returning from his deployment he sought medical treatment at 23rd base side medical at Mood Air Force base, where he was assigned to a military contract worker, PA-C Christopher Boyd who acted as Matthew's Primary Care Manger (PCM). Matthew's diagnosis was missed by C. Boyd and Matthew went without a referral to a Doctor for 9 months. Due to Matthew's insistence and determination to address this worsening medical issue, Matthew was finally referred to a surgical specialist at the Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie, Georgia. Where he underwent abdominal surgery in May.

Since Matthew's surgery, and to our dismay, Matthew's condition has continued to decline, rather than improve, following the surgical repair. To our knowledge, the surgical repair was preformed successfully. However, Matthew's continuous regurgitation of food, solids and liquids, has aggressively continued to progress, since the onset of his symptoms over a year ago. Matthew experiences regurgitation and vomiting 10-15 minutes after consuming, either fluids, food, or both. His body is unable to successfully process, breakdown, and absorb nutrition. Matthew has experience a rapid weight loss, from, once, actively working out and weightlifting, at a body weight of 240 lb. down to a body weight of 149.6 lb. While Matthew has been able to receive treatment at the Colquitt Regional Medical Center, the doctors have done everything within their scope of practice to manage his care. They have requested that Matthew, finally, be evaluated on Moody Air Force base by a Medical Doctor. Then, to have Moody AFB refer and transfer him to a major research hospital to undergo more extensive testing at a research facility that has the capacity and sophistication to achieve a clearer diagnosis and prognosis for Matthew. The Doctors and Specialists at the Colquitt Regional Medical Center have requested that Moody Air Force base, refer Matthew to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida, and if he can not be admitted in timely manner due to the impact and constraints of COVID-19, then they suggest, Emory Hospital in Atlanta, and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

 

It is possible that Matthew maybe suffering from what is referred to as M.A.L.S. Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome. But the regional doctors strongly feel it is necessary that more testing be done at a research hospital before making the official diagnosis. As M.A.L.S. surgery can be complex and outcomes from the procedure can greatly vary depending on the patient's condition.

 

As Matthew awaits further medical evaluation and action from Moody Air Force base, we will need help securing funds to help with Matthew's liquid nutritional supplements, transportation, travel, and hotel expenses and help affording the accruing medical expenses necessary to get Matthew to where he needs to go, in terms of securing his stay and treatment at a research hospital. As some may know, enlisted Airmen are on a very limited income and Matthew is anxious about keep "the lights on" physically, mentally, spiritually, and within his apartment!

 

As with any unexpected medical emergency, things move very quickly and change rapidly on a day to day basis. We'd like to be able to raise these funds and have them secured over the next few weeks and we'd be extremely grateful for your support and any generosity you can extend Matthew.

 

If you are able to donate, God bless you, if you are able to pray for Matthew (as I say, if that's all you can do, that's everything you can do), if you feel compelled to share Matthew's story with your community please, share, and help us raise awareness.

 

As a sister, I look at Matthew's situation and I look at the young enlisted men and women in Matthew's squadron and think, this is what they are all up against here. If this wasn't happening to Matthew, it would be, and might be, happening to someone else on this base. Matthew's battle for proper military medical treatment at Moody ARB, is not solely Matthew's battle, it's a battle being fought for every enlisted member who needs adequate access to medical care at 23rd base side medical group on Moody Air Force base in Valdosta Georgia.

 

Thank you to everyone who has sent your love and support; it means more than we can express!

 

& a special thank you to all the Doctors, PAs, NPs, and RNs at Colquitt Regional Medical Center who have been absolutely beaten down and burnt out by this COVID-19 pandemic, and yet, have still tried to help Matthew. Your efforts have not been lost on us.

 

May God bless you & keep you!


Please contact me directly with any questions through my email(s): [email redacted] or [email redacted]