Here is an update on Matthew:

The progress with Matthew has been slow coming.

Unfortunately, we did not get the news we were hoping for. His cancer has returned and spread to more of his lymph nodes, but this time in his abdomen. He is back to having more aggressive treatment in the hopes that it stops it in its tracks.

He continues to have terrible gastro issues, where he is unable to hold food down. He is still on his nutritional IV for 12 hours a day. His pain and discomfort are daily. He is scheduled to have a test called a double balloon enterostomy in January at NYU Langone. Hopefully tell us what is exactly going on. Right now, he is being treated chronically.

MSK has advised us to look outside to other hospitals for help on his other health issues. His autoimmune disease: Membranous Nephropathy is still a challenge, but doctors have it somewhat under control. It has not gotten better as his albumen continues to remain dangerously low and not rise. This causes edema and severe inflammation.

His most recent hospital stay has been for sepsis.

He rarely leaves the house, only to take the kids to school when he can. He could not attend his daughter Madeline’s College Graduation, his son Christian’s High School Graduation and has missed many of his daughter Lili’s performances.

Angela continues to be the caretaker by working and supporting Matthew's needs in every way that she can.

My name is Stephanie Maxwell and on the 25th of May of 2022, my brother Matthew was diagnosed with stage 3 Renal Cell Carcinoma that metastasized to his lymph nodes. He had a 9cm tumor on his kidney that was removed via a radical Nephrectomy performed at MSK. After the diagnosis of his cancer, an auto-immune disease was discovered (MN), a disease so rare that the team of doctors at MSK are doing all that they can, but his body is not cooperating.

Matthew is married to his wife Angela for 27 years and has 3 children. My brother has been a hard worker his entire life. His profession as a chef caused him to sacrifice time with his family to cater to the diners of NYC for years. He has not been able to work for some time now. The funds raised will be used to help pay for living expenses for the family and uncovered medical expenses for medications and hospital stays. He has been hospitalized for 40 days in the last two and a half months and is on his way to the hospital once again as I write this. Angela works when she can but is unable to work the days that she has to travel from Long Island to Manhattan when he is hospitalized.

In 1983 when Matthew was 15 and I was 8, our oldest brother was killed in a car accident. Our family; my parents suffered tremendous grief and although it's been 40 years, the pain is still fresh at times. Now 40 years later my parents and I have to watch another child; my brother suffer, and once again we are held in a helpless state. Please pass this on not only raise funds but to raise awareness about Membranous Neuropathy (MN) in the hopes that someone else in this world has experienced what Matthew has and can shine a light of hope on our family.

Here is his story:

Upon receiving some rounds of treatment Matthew’s doctors realized that his Albumin (protein) was declining and not improving. A second biopsy was performed on his remaining kidney. It was discovered that Matthew had a secondary disease of the kidney called Membranous Nephropathy (MN). MN is a rare autoimmune and glomerular disease of the kidney which causes nephrotic syndrome. It is characterized by proteinuria, presenting large amounts of Albumin loss and causes severe edema in the body and some of its organs filling with fluid. He has had procedures to remove multiple liters of fluid from his lungs and stomach and has had a shunt placed in his abdomen to co-tell fluid.

In easier terms, instead of Matthew’s red blood cells distributing Albumin throughout his body, it dumps it right into his urine and it comes out. The rapid loss of albumin that he has experienced has made him severely malnourished. Very low Albumin makes your body to search for places for protein and he has lost a great amount of muscle throughout his entire body.

Matthew has been undergoing TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition), which is administered via IV. He is connected to an IV nightly by his wife Angela for the IV to give him nourishment and raise his Albumin, but his body is struggling to hold on to the protein. TPN has become his main source of nutrition.

He has great difficulty eating due to GI and abdominal problems including inflammation in his colon stomach esophagus and intestines which all cause him to vomit. This has all caused life-altering problems in Matthew’s day to day.

Matthew had to stop working after the removal of his kidney. His illness became so severe he is unable to work in his profession as an Executive Chef in NYC. He is now unable to leave his home except for doctor's appointments and treatment. Matthew is undergoing palliative care to help with pain management but his pain is severe. Matthew has been hospitalized for weeks at a time to perform life-saving surgeries and procedures.

Help me to help my brother and his family. I believe in the power of prayer and if every person that donates can say a prayer, I know he will be given strength. Show Matthew that when he fights we all fight!!

Katy Nicole / I speak the Name of Jesus

I speak the name of Jesus over you

In your hurting, in your sorrow

I will ask my God to move

I speak the name 'cause it's all that I can do

In desperation, I'll seek Heaven

and pray this for you....

I pray for your healing, that circumstances would change

I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus'name

I pray that a breakthrough would happen today

I pray miracles over your life in Jesus' name

I pray for your healing, that circumstances will change

I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name

I pray that a breakthrough would happen today

I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name

I pray for revival, for restoration of faith

I pray that the dead will come to life in Jesus name...

In Jesus's name.

I