Matthew AFM Double Muscle Transfer
Donation protected
On December 19th our son Matthew will be undergoing a life changing surgery. Matthew was diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis over 2 years ago. This left our son paralyzed in his left arm and muscle loss in his left leg. We were given the opportunity 6 months ago to explore a double muscle transfer in his arm. They will be taking his Trapezius muscle and moving it to stabilize his shoulder. Then the will be taking his Latissimus muscle and building him a new bicep. He will be in surgery for 8+ hours, and spending a few days at Boston Children's Hospital. Matthew will also be in a full body cast for 6-8 weeks. We are hopeful this surgery will give him a new lease on life. This surgery has never never been done on a child at such a young age but his team of surgeons is hopeful and confident. With this surgery come many hospital bills and after care expenses, since insurance finds Matthews diagnosis and surgery to be in a gray area we are expecting very high cost for surgery and treatment. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to give Matthew this gift. Any donations are extremely appreciated.
Matthew was diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) on June 15, 2016. At just 2 years old Matthew became paralyzed in his left arm and then lost the ability to walk out of no where with no signs or symptoms. After going through multiple treatments on his little body nothing changed. We have never stopped looking for options but due to lack of knowledge of what AFM is or what causes it, the only option we had was a nerve transplant. After talking with a few specialist at Children's hospital it was found that Matthew was not a good candidate for a nerve transplant due to the lack of movement in his arm. We never lost hope, never stopped praying but understood how rare his diagnoses is. Matthew goes to physical and occupational therapy 4 times a week this is our new norm.
Then about 6 months ago after speaking with his Neurologist Dr. Benson at Children's Hospital in Boston (who he follows up with regularly), she recommended we go see a team of Orthopedic surgeons at Boston Children's. Here they gave us the only other option we could try, a double muscle transfer.
Here is the link Fox 25 Boston did on Matthew and AFM shortly after his diagnosis.
Matthew was diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) on June 15, 2016. At just 2 years old Matthew became paralyzed in his left arm and then lost the ability to walk out of no where with no signs or symptoms. After going through multiple treatments on his little body nothing changed. We have never stopped looking for options but due to lack of knowledge of what AFM is or what causes it, the only option we had was a nerve transplant. After talking with a few specialist at Children's hospital it was found that Matthew was not a good candidate for a nerve transplant due to the lack of movement in his arm. We never lost hope, never stopped praying but understood how rare his diagnoses is. Matthew goes to physical and occupational therapy 4 times a week this is our new norm.
Then about 6 months ago after speaking with his Neurologist Dr. Benson at Children's Hospital in Boston (who he follows up with regularly), she recommended we go see a team of Orthopedic surgeons at Boston Children's. Here they gave us the only other option we could try, a double muscle transfer.
Here is the link Fox 25 Boston did on Matthew and AFM shortly after his diagnosis.
Organiser
Derek Melanson
Organiser
Nashua, NH