Help Matthew Beat Cancer A 3rd Time
Donation protected
UPDATE from Matthew 6/26/17: Thank you all. Your kind words, thoughts & prayers, and generous donations have been so meaningful to me.
Thankfully, no further donations are needed.
With everyone's help -- most especially the undescribably amazing and truly steadfast support of my best friend, Patrice, and her wonderful parents who cared for me in their home for the past 9 months whenever I was not in the hospital -- I am now a survivor.
Less than one year ago, my body was under assault by hundreds of tumors. Now, scans indicate very little trace of the cancer that came within days (possibly hours) of ending my life.
This week, I will undergo surgical removal of several small, shrinking masses that remain. After a 6-week recovery, my doctor says that "this should be the last straw" for the cancer.
Moving forward, there are no guarantees. This has been the third time I have defeated this deadly foe. With each recurrence, my enemy has been stronger than the time before. This last gritty and desperate fight required all of my physical, mental, and emotional self - I doubt that I would prevail a fourth time. Knowing this, I experience a renewed joy and vigor as I prepare to resume normal life.
I am grateful for, and humbled by, the outpouring of love and support that I received during this time. Again, I thank you all.
-Matthew O'Neil
THE SHORT VERSION: Last fall, our hearts broke to learn that our friend and family member, Matthew O'Neil, unexpectedly discovered that his body was under attack by an unusual and aggressive form of testicular cancer ... for the third time. The cancer had spread to his abdomen, liver, and lungs. Because of the very advanced stage of the cancer, the doctors said that if Matthew didn't succumb to the disease during initial treatment, he would have just a 40% chance of surviving for 5 more years.
Update: Matthew's odds have improved! Amazingly, Matthew has has made it through the treatment better than anybody expected. The doctors now believe that he has a 70% chance of living a full and normal life. There is still a battle to be fought, but Matthew is a fighter and he has a lot to accomplish in life. We believe that he can win the fight ... but we need your help.
We don't have the funds to get through this. The good news is, Matthew's insurance has covered most of his $500K+ medical costs, but insurance won't cover everything. Matthew has used his savings and has no income - he is unable to work during this treatment process. And we don't yet have the additional $28,000 needed. We need your help.
Please donate if you can. Every $5 helps, every $20 matters, every $100 gets us closer to saving our very dear friend. Thank you for your donations!
WHO IS MATTHEW O'NEIL?
He makes us laugh. With his quirky wit, Matty, as we know him, can turn any situation into something funny. Fighting for his life in the hospital recently, he jokingly told the doctors that he was going to start a basketball team with the other cancer patients (at this point, Matty was bedridden and could barely move). When met with dubious looks by the serious doctors, he said, straight-faced, "Well, anyway, I had to drop out of that marathon for this weekend. They said that this oxygen tank was an unfair advantage and it wouldn't be fair to the other runners if I ran the race dragging this thing behind me." One time, a friend called him, distraught, as she was walking into court for a bitter divorce hearing: "Matty, I need a joke right now. A new joke, one that you've never told." Thinking fast, Matty came up with something silly on the spot and she walked into court with a smile. Another time, a friend called for help after a minor fender-bender. Saying "OK, I'll be right there," Matty stayed on the phone for an extra moment, with mock concern in his voice: "Oh no, wait a minute. You didn't hit a frog, did you?? .... Oh good, because if you had, then you would be TOAD."
Always a big kid. Our fun, silly Matty!
Bald from chemo last year, Matty still found his smile.
September 2016. Matthew's hair is falling out from cancer & chemo - again. But he's not worried! "Let's have some fun with it!" he says. So, here we go ... it's all COMING OUT lol!!!
He is an outdoor enthusiast. Matty can frequently be found hiking or running the trails around Maryland, DC, and Virginia, or jogging the dirt roads when visiting home in New York State's Hudson Valley. This past spring, weeks after getting the "all clear" from his second bout with cancer, he kayaked the Patapsco River 12 miles with a work buddy, from Ellicott City to Baltimore - enjoying the downpour that soaked them, Matty gushed about the wildlife they saw: a fox, a coyote, and "tons of birds." He loves to bike for miles on the C&O Canal and in the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge ("I love seeing turkeys. You know Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird? And snakes! There are beautiful snakes living in that refuge!"). When hiking with Matty, if you can keep up with his occasional, sudden bounding down the trail and leaping over boulders, you feel like you're hanging out with Nature Boy: "Watch out, that's poison ivy; when it grows like that it's kinda sneaky ... Hey look, berries! Remember the raspberries we saw before? Ok, these are blackberries and those are blackcaps. They taste a little different from each other - c'mon, wanna try?"
At the beach in N.C. with his foster mom, Barbara.
Hiking in Death Valley; finding a cool arch in the hills.
Paddling a stream in Virginia.
One of Matthew's favorite hikes - the Billy Goat Trail in Maryland, along a lovely stretch of the Potomac.
He is a social entrepreneur. With a passion for developing business-driven solutions to problems facing society, Matthew was about to join a socially-conscious startup when he was sidelined by his current diagnosis. Matthew describes the company's purpose as "creating a positive presence withing the community and providing beneficial services that people need. The company will explore opportunities to serve customers and create jobs in a variety of communities. We are committed to growing the organization in a way that promotes diversity, sustainability, and other aspects of social responsibility." Now, Matthew's focus is to defeat his cancer and rejoin the team: "In six months, I'll be doing good work. I am going to get healthy and launch into a career where I can really make a contribution. We are going to build a great company and we're going to make an impact. I can't wait - I am jumping out of my shoes to be doing this - I wish I was doing it right now!"
We love him. And with the work that he will do, we believe that saving his life will affect many other lives.
Pre-Cancer. With "adopted family" Nancy, Sylvie, and Jasmine.
Pre-Cancer. On a late-night Greek food chowfest in Fells Point, Baltimore, with best friend Patrice.
September 2016. "Adopted family" Sylvie and Tra-My (mom) deliver homemade Vietnamese food to help Matthew recover from a very difficult 2 weeks in the hospital, after the outstanding team at Johns Hopkins Hospital managed to stabilize Matthew.
September 2016. Unable to walk after 2 weeks of emergency chemotherapy and near-failure of his lungs, "adopted family" MiSou & Brandon take Matthew on his first outing in weeks - a perfect day :)
THE FULL STORY:
September 20, 2016: When Dr. Denmeade returned with the blood work results, he had temporarily lost his “doctor face”—that mask of professionalism that a physician wears when he or she must become the bearer of bad news.
Matthew already knew his cancer was back, and that it had metastasized to his lungs, liver, and intestines. But one look at the doctor’s face, and he knew that this was different from the last two bouts—this time it was a matter of life and death. And it was urgent.
There were more than 200 "uncountable nodules" in his lungs, nearly completely filling them. "Multiple tumors" in the liver. "Innumerable tumors" in the abdomen.
“We’re not going to talk about treatment over the next three months or years,” the doctor said. “Right now we need to focus just on the next three hours.” ... and within minutes, Matthew was upstairs in a hospital bed.
***
Matthew O’Neil was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2011. At the time, he was somewhat relieved to learn that this form of the disease tends to be highly treatable. Although it was difficult to submit to an orchiectomy—a surgery to remove his right testicle—Matthew’s innate positivity, his fierce determination to beat the disease, and his great sense of humor helped him to accept it. Afterward, he would often wear a T-shirt sporting a trio of squirrels, their arms full of acorns: “It’s all fun and games until someone loses a nut!”
In September 2015, Matthew’s cancer came back—this time more aggressively. The original tumor had metastasized to a lymph node in his abdomen, and it had grown to the size of an egg. But the prognosis was good, and after four cycles of chemotherapy that fall and winter, Matthew’s oncologist was confident he’d beaten cancer once and for all. “We consider this a cure,” she told Matthew last March. “And I don’t say that lightly. I don’t see it coming back.”
Fall 2015. During Matthew's 2nd bout with cancer, he did his best to keep working - even when at the hospital and hooked up to chemo! What a trooper; we love him.
Despite these encouraging results, by late summer 2016 (just a few months later!) Matthew started experiencing several troubling symptoms: excruciating lower-back pain, a persistent cough ... then rapid weight loss, shortness of breath, an elevated heart rate ... at first, he attributed these to the stress of working and exercising too much. Soon, though, he found that he couldn’t eat, and what he did manage to get down passed through his system rapidly and undigested. When he began coughing up blood, he knew it was serious and headed to the emergency room.
Sitting with oncologist Dr. Samuel Denmeade of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Matthew saw his CT scans. This time, he was far more scared than ever before. Not only shouldn’t the cancer have come back at all, it was completely unexpected for it to come back so quickly and aggressively. In that moment, Matthew knew he was facing a battle for his life.
On September 20th, 2016, Dr. Denmeade began treating Matthew at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, in consultation with Dr. Lawrence Einhorn of Indiana University’s Simon Cancer Center. Einhorn is not only the doctor who developed the standard treatment for testicular cancer 40 years ago, he also famously cured Lance Armstrong, who suffered from a case that was just as virulent as Matthew’s. Dr. Einhorn and his team are widely considered to be the international experts in treating rare and unusually aggressive cases of testicular cancer.
Together, Denmeade and Einhorn initially developed a short-term treatment plan for Matthew in an effort to stabilize him. During September and October 2016, Matthew received two rounds of powerful chemotherapy drugs. Visiting Matthew in the hospital at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Denmeade commented, "This is the most cancer I have ever seen in a human that is alive."
September 2016. Soon after being admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for the first emergency standard chemotherapy. His lung capacity was near zero and he was coughing blood at this point.
Drs. Denmeade and Einhorn agreed that the best and only option for Matthew's extremely aggressive cancer was to undergo High-Dose Chemotherapy with Stem Cell Transplant (HDCT and SCT), even though it would be a difficult and risky process. One of the other consulting oncologists, after describing the treatment and its risks, told Matthew, "Basically, you'd be crazy to want to do this. But in your case, it's your best shot."
Following his doctors' recommendations, Matthew travelled to Indianapolis in November 2016 for the HDCT and SCT, and began the treatment procedure on Monday, November 14th. The 6-week treatment was intense. Amazingly, Matthew handled it without experiencing any of the life-threatening side effects. He even stayed strong enough to occasionally powerwalk and jog around the hallways! Now, the doctors believe that Matthew has as much as a 70% chance of a "full cure" (see Medical Notes, below).
The treatment did, however, take its toll. Matthew lost 30 lbs in 6 weeks. He now experiences numbness and tingling in his feet - the doctors hope that this neuropathy will go away with time. Matthew's hearing was damaged also; the doctors say that this may return to normal within the next 6-24 months.
Matthew still has at least 3 more months of chemotherapy, beginning in mid-February 2017. If the cancer returns after that, the doctors say that there will be little to no hope.
The good news is that, even though nothing is guaranteed, the odds are finally in our favor. And Matthew does not plan to quit. Despite the challenge he faces, he remains positive: "This isn't the end. I feel like I’m at the starting line. I have a lot to do, so I'm not going anywhere. I can't wait to start doing something that matters!"
If we are able to raise the funds, and if the rest of the treatment goes well, Matthew may get back to work as early as July 2017.
We Need Your Help. We, his friends and family, hope that you’ll help us help Matthew with any donation you’re able to make. And please share this site, “Like” Matthew’s Facebook page ("Matthew's Fight" Facebook Page ), and tell others about our efforts to raise funds for a truly wonderful human being. He’s an exceptional person, and the great things he’s meant to accomplish - that he will accomplish once he’s well again - go far beyond one individual life. Any donation will help.
MEDICAL DETAILS
First Occurrence of Testicular Cancer - November 2011 Diagnosis
*Malignant mixed germ cell tumor composed of 40% seminoma and 60% nonseminoma - embryonal Ca (40%), yolk sac (5%), Teratoma (15%)
*Remained in a single testis
*Simple surgery - right orchiectomy
*No chemotherapy
Second Occurrence of Testicular Cancer - September 2015 Diagnosis
*Recurrent testicular cancer
*hCG = 4377 mIU/mL.
*Tumor had metastasized to lymph node in abdomen - about the size of an egg (68 mm * 41 mm * 33mm)
*4 cycles of chemotherapy - with Cisplatin and Etoposide
*The last cycle of chemotherapy took place in early January 2015. In late January, Matthew got the all-clear - no more cancer.
*In late March 2015, lab results indicated an hCG of 3 mIU/mL. This indicates that the tumor is gone. Normal hCG levels are between 0 and 6 mIU/mL. His previous oncologist said she didn’t see this coming back and indicated she didn’t say that lightly. She said, “we consider this a cure”
Third and Current Occurrence - September 2016 Diagnosis
Details of current diagnosis:
*Germ cell recurrent testicular cancer
*Stage 4, Medically noted as Stage 3C. (The medical community made the decision to eliminate the Stage 4 distinction as a descriptor regarding testicular cancer)
*Metastasized to lymph nodes all over abdomen, plus 2 large tumors in liver, and over 200 tumors in lungs
hCG, September 20 = 165,089 mIU/mL
*Under the direction of Dr. Denmeade, and with the consult of Dr. Einhorn, Matthew has so far been treated with one cycle (5 days) of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin. The next step is to get High Dose Chemotherapy at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, with Dr. Einhorn and his team.
October 2016. Back at Johns Hopkins Hospital, receiving the second round of standard chemo. This is Matthew's typical eyes-closed-with-a-grimace face that he gets when the strong metallic taste of chemo coats the inside of his mouth for hours or days :(
October 2016. Feeling a little better for the moment, cheered up by a visiting therapy dog :)
Prognosis, Treatment Thus Far, and Plans Going Foward
*Visited emergency room on Thursday, 9/15 where they performed a chest x-ray and then a CT scan.
*On 9/20, Matthew went to Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center to for a consultation with Dr. Samuel Denmeade.
*Admitted immediately to during consultation due to life-threateningly low lung capacity, coughing up blood, high tumor burden.
*Dr. Denmede consulted with Dr. Einhorn (expert on testicular cancer) on a treatment plan for Matthew, both for the short and long term. The short-term plan was to treat Matthew with higher than previous and different chemotherapy regimen to stabilize Matthew. This regimen included paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin. The goal is to follow up with High-Dose Chemotherapy (HDCT) using stem cell transplant (SCT). Learn more about that here: HDCT & SCT for Testicular Cancer .
*40-50% chance of survival if Matthew is able to get the HDCT & SCT, particularly with a team that is well-versed in this procedure and the recovery period.
*20-25% chance of survival with Conventional Dose Chemotherapy (CDT).
*Chances of survival double with HDCT & SCT.
September 2016. At FedEx Kinko's, working on photocopying medical records, after chemo.
September 2016. After chemo, Matthew's hair was starting to fall out. He explains what it's like.
Thin, pale, and exhausted, but happy to be outdoors :)
FINANCIAL DETAILS
While on chemotherapy earlier in 2016, Matthew, unfortunately, experienced a lapse in health coverage due to the confusion, forgetfulness, and "fuzzy-headedness" that was a common side-effect for him (commonly known as "chemo brain"). Now, he's working actively to try to acquire the coverage necessary to help with the medical expenses he's already accrued and that lie ahead. As explained above, Matthew has a fighting chance with this, but in order to get rid of these tumors, he needs to get the High-Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant. Without health insurance, this would cost about $500,000, for which a minimum down-payment of $100,000 would be needed. With health insurance, a heavy cost burden still exists, as even the best health insurance plan out there doesn't cover all that is involved with this intense treatment. There will be many days in the hospital, tests, and other expenses that aren't fully covered under even the best insurance plans. So far, Matthew has not been able to get insurance, but he's still trying. As you all are aware, open enrollment is not until Nov. 1 and those policies do not become active until January 1, 2017. We hate to be this cut-and-dry about this, but that's just too late. Fighting through his exhaustion and sickness, he's earnestly working every day to see what kind of insurance he can get and to make progress on hopefully getting health coverage.
Aside from the medical expenses, as you can probably imagine, Matthew has not been able to work. Climbing the stairs twice per day and going to the kitchen to get food is about as much his body can endure right now. And considering he just went through this last year, his available funds are extremely low and he does not currently have an income. Matthew is a hard-working person who has never been in this position of dire need from others before. In fact, he's usually the one on the giving side. Right now, we humbly ask for your gracious help to get him through this period.
In November, Matthew plans to be treated by Dr. Lawrence Einhorn at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center . This means 3 months of hospital stays, food, transportation, and all that is associated with getting such a treatment in a different state. Also, Matthew's support system, his close family and friends, have come together to help him get through this. As such, that results in a lot of time out of work for others as well. We need your help in order to help our friend.
We've calculated all the expenses, and the need is anywhere from $70,000 to $140,000 depending on the progress Matthew is able to make in the coming days with the insurance company. At this point, we have set a goal here of $40,000 and another $40,000 on another site, for a total of $80,000.
This takes a village and we need all the support we can get. Every dollar makes a difference. So we ask, if you are able, please consider helping us to get Matthew recovered and back to making a positive difference in the lives of those he touches.
Thank you in advance. We cannot do this without you!
For those who, for any reason cannot use WePay to donate funds, but would still like to, we have some more options:
Feel free to use any of the following options. Just be sure to indicate who you are and what the funds are for, so that we appropriately allocate the funds and have a way to thank you.
You can mail in a payment to: 5800 Main Street, Suite 3, Elkridge MD 21075.
You can also send us a (free for both parties) payment via Google Wallet. Just click "Contact Organizer" and we'll get back to you with the email address to use for Google Wallet.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MATTHEW, HIS BATTLE WITH TESTICULAR CANCER AND HIS FIGHT TO EMBRACE LIFE:
Facebook - Matty's Fight
Blog - Matty's Fight to Embrace Life
Twitter - @MatthewsFight
Working on a patio project with his foster dad, Tom.
Hiking in the desert with Sylvie and MiSou.
Inner Harbor, Baltimore. September 2016, immediately after finishing the 2 weeks of initial emergency treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Celebrating survival so far - with a burger and his bestie Patrice!
September 2016. After Matthew lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks and 45 lbs total in recent months, Sylvie and Mom delivered plenty of food to help give Matthew energy to recover before his next round of chemo.
Part of the "fatten-Matty-back-up" plan was to have him munch on a pint of ice cream while on the outing. Mmmmm, half coconut and half rocky road!
"Thank you, friends, family, and everybody, for helping me to beat this cancer. I can't do it without you. It feels incredible to have received this much support from so many people. Your efforts are literally saving my life. Thank you. I am so grateful. Thank you." -Matthew O'Neil
ORGANIZER INFORMATION
We want you to know who we are and how to reach us. The team helping Matthew with everything (from packing everything in his house, to moving him in with one of us, to managing the fundraising, and everything in-between) consists of his close family and friends. Many of us may not look like family. That's part of the beauty. Matthew considers family to be those who love him, who he also loves. He has been essentially adopted as part of our families by some of us ... really he didn't have much of a choice :)
Representing the many members of the family that began considering him part of their family 15 years ago is MiSou Hopkins. Here's her Facebook page: MiSou - Facebook.
Also helping is Patrice Parkinson, his best friend, and her family, all of whom he also considers family. She can be found here: Patrice - Facebook .
Any questions? We're here to answer any a potential donor may have. Just click on "Contact Organizer". We'll get back to you quickly. If another method of communicating is needed, we have an email address and phone number than we can share on an individual basis, if necessary.
How Donations Will Be Managed
Patrice, a close friend of Matthew, and his primary caregiver during this time, will receive the funds donated for this fundraiser. Matthew is currently residing in her home when not in the hospital. Otherwise, Patrice is providing daily care when he receives outpatient and inpatient care. Matthew has created a budget for his medical and daily living needs that he's unable to meet. As Patrice receives funds, she will either purchase items for Matthew when he is unable, with his permission, and according to Matthew's set budget or transfer funds directly to Matthew's account. As major medical and daily expenses are covered, updates will be posted.
Thankfully, no further donations are needed.
With everyone's help -- most especially the undescribably amazing and truly steadfast support of my best friend, Patrice, and her wonderful parents who cared for me in their home for the past 9 months whenever I was not in the hospital -- I am now a survivor.
Less than one year ago, my body was under assault by hundreds of tumors. Now, scans indicate very little trace of the cancer that came within days (possibly hours) of ending my life.
This week, I will undergo surgical removal of several small, shrinking masses that remain. After a 6-week recovery, my doctor says that "this should be the last straw" for the cancer.
Moving forward, there are no guarantees. This has been the third time I have defeated this deadly foe. With each recurrence, my enemy has been stronger than the time before. This last gritty and desperate fight required all of my physical, mental, and emotional self - I doubt that I would prevail a fourth time. Knowing this, I experience a renewed joy and vigor as I prepare to resume normal life.
I am grateful for, and humbled by, the outpouring of love and support that I received during this time. Again, I thank you all.
-Matthew O'Neil
THE SHORT VERSION: Last fall, our hearts broke to learn that our friend and family member, Matthew O'Neil, unexpectedly discovered that his body was under attack by an unusual and aggressive form of testicular cancer ... for the third time. The cancer had spread to his abdomen, liver, and lungs. Because of the very advanced stage of the cancer, the doctors said that if Matthew didn't succumb to the disease during initial treatment, he would have just a 40% chance of surviving for 5 more years.
Update: Matthew's odds have improved! Amazingly, Matthew has has made it through the treatment better than anybody expected. The doctors now believe that he has a 70% chance of living a full and normal life. There is still a battle to be fought, but Matthew is a fighter and he has a lot to accomplish in life. We believe that he can win the fight ... but we need your help.
We don't have the funds to get through this. The good news is, Matthew's insurance has covered most of his $500K+ medical costs, but insurance won't cover everything. Matthew has used his savings and has no income - he is unable to work during this treatment process. And we don't yet have the additional $28,000 needed. We need your help.
Please donate if you can. Every $5 helps, every $20 matters, every $100 gets us closer to saving our very dear friend. Thank you for your donations!
WHO IS MATTHEW O'NEIL?
He makes us laugh. With his quirky wit, Matty, as we know him, can turn any situation into something funny. Fighting for his life in the hospital recently, he jokingly told the doctors that he was going to start a basketball team with the other cancer patients (at this point, Matty was bedridden and could barely move). When met with dubious looks by the serious doctors, he said, straight-faced, "Well, anyway, I had to drop out of that marathon for this weekend. They said that this oxygen tank was an unfair advantage and it wouldn't be fair to the other runners if I ran the race dragging this thing behind me." One time, a friend called him, distraught, as she was walking into court for a bitter divorce hearing: "Matty, I need a joke right now. A new joke, one that you've never told." Thinking fast, Matty came up with something silly on the spot and she walked into court with a smile. Another time, a friend called for help after a minor fender-bender. Saying "OK, I'll be right there," Matty stayed on the phone for an extra moment, with mock concern in his voice: "Oh no, wait a minute. You didn't hit a frog, did you?? .... Oh good, because if you had, then you would be TOAD."
Always a big kid. Our fun, silly Matty!Bald from chemo last year, Matty still found his smile.September 2016. Matthew's hair is falling out from cancer & chemo - again. But he's not worried! "Let's have some fun with it!" he says. So, here we go ... it's all COMING OUT lol!!!
He is an outdoor enthusiast. Matty can frequently be found hiking or running the trails around Maryland, DC, and Virginia, or jogging the dirt roads when visiting home in New York State's Hudson Valley. This past spring, weeks after getting the "all clear" from his second bout with cancer, he kayaked the Patapsco River 12 miles with a work buddy, from Ellicott City to Baltimore - enjoying the downpour that soaked them, Matty gushed about the wildlife they saw: a fox, a coyote, and "tons of birds." He loves to bike for miles on the C&O Canal and in the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge ("I love seeing turkeys. You know Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird? And snakes! There are beautiful snakes living in that refuge!"). When hiking with Matty, if you can keep up with his occasional, sudden bounding down the trail and leaping over boulders, you feel like you're hanging out with Nature Boy: "Watch out, that's poison ivy; when it grows like that it's kinda sneaky ... Hey look, berries! Remember the raspberries we saw before? Ok, these are blackberries and those are blackcaps. They taste a little different from each other - c'mon, wanna try?"
At the beach in N.C. with his foster mom, Barbara.Hiking in Death Valley; finding a cool arch in the hills.Paddling a stream in Virginia.One of Matthew's favorite hikes - the Billy Goat Trail in Maryland, along a lovely stretch of the Potomac.He is a social entrepreneur. With a passion for developing business-driven solutions to problems facing society, Matthew was about to join a socially-conscious startup when he was sidelined by his current diagnosis. Matthew describes the company's purpose as "creating a positive presence withing the community and providing beneficial services that people need. The company will explore opportunities to serve customers and create jobs in a variety of communities. We are committed to growing the organization in a way that promotes diversity, sustainability, and other aspects of social responsibility." Now, Matthew's focus is to defeat his cancer and rejoin the team: "In six months, I'll be doing good work. I am going to get healthy and launch into a career where I can really make a contribution. We are going to build a great company and we're going to make an impact. I can't wait - I am jumping out of my shoes to be doing this - I wish I was doing it right now!"
We love him. And with the work that he will do, we believe that saving his life will affect many other lives.
Pre-Cancer. With "adopted family" Nancy, Sylvie, and Jasmine.Pre-Cancer. On a late-night Greek food chowfest in Fells Point, Baltimore, with best friend Patrice.September 2016. "Adopted family" Sylvie and Tra-My (mom) deliver homemade Vietnamese food to help Matthew recover from a very difficult 2 weeks in the hospital, after the outstanding team at Johns Hopkins Hospital managed to stabilize Matthew.September 2016. Unable to walk after 2 weeks of emergency chemotherapy and near-failure of his lungs, "adopted family" MiSou & Brandon take Matthew on his first outing in weeks - a perfect day :)THE FULL STORY:
September 20, 2016: When Dr. Denmeade returned with the blood work results, he had temporarily lost his “doctor face”—that mask of professionalism that a physician wears when he or she must become the bearer of bad news.
Matthew already knew his cancer was back, and that it had metastasized to his lungs, liver, and intestines. But one look at the doctor’s face, and he knew that this was different from the last two bouts—this time it was a matter of life and death. And it was urgent.
There were more than 200 "uncountable nodules" in his lungs, nearly completely filling them. "Multiple tumors" in the liver. "Innumerable tumors" in the abdomen.
“We’re not going to talk about treatment over the next three months or years,” the doctor said. “Right now we need to focus just on the next three hours.” ... and within minutes, Matthew was upstairs in a hospital bed.
***
Matthew O’Neil was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2011. At the time, he was somewhat relieved to learn that this form of the disease tends to be highly treatable. Although it was difficult to submit to an orchiectomy—a surgery to remove his right testicle—Matthew’s innate positivity, his fierce determination to beat the disease, and his great sense of humor helped him to accept it. Afterward, he would often wear a T-shirt sporting a trio of squirrels, their arms full of acorns: “It’s all fun and games until someone loses a nut!”
In September 2015, Matthew’s cancer came back—this time more aggressively. The original tumor had metastasized to a lymph node in his abdomen, and it had grown to the size of an egg. But the prognosis was good, and after four cycles of chemotherapy that fall and winter, Matthew’s oncologist was confident he’d beaten cancer once and for all. “We consider this a cure,” she told Matthew last March. “And I don’t say that lightly. I don’t see it coming back.”
Fall 2015. During Matthew's 2nd bout with cancer, he did his best to keep working - even when at the hospital and hooked up to chemo! What a trooper; we love him.Despite these encouraging results, by late summer 2016 (just a few months later!) Matthew started experiencing several troubling symptoms: excruciating lower-back pain, a persistent cough ... then rapid weight loss, shortness of breath, an elevated heart rate ... at first, he attributed these to the stress of working and exercising too much. Soon, though, he found that he couldn’t eat, and what he did manage to get down passed through his system rapidly and undigested. When he began coughing up blood, he knew it was serious and headed to the emergency room.
Sitting with oncologist Dr. Samuel Denmeade of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Matthew saw his CT scans. This time, he was far more scared than ever before. Not only shouldn’t the cancer have come back at all, it was completely unexpected for it to come back so quickly and aggressively. In that moment, Matthew knew he was facing a battle for his life.
On September 20th, 2016, Dr. Denmeade began treating Matthew at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, in consultation with Dr. Lawrence Einhorn of Indiana University’s Simon Cancer Center. Einhorn is not only the doctor who developed the standard treatment for testicular cancer 40 years ago, he also famously cured Lance Armstrong, who suffered from a case that was just as virulent as Matthew’s. Dr. Einhorn and his team are widely considered to be the international experts in treating rare and unusually aggressive cases of testicular cancer.
Together, Denmeade and Einhorn initially developed a short-term treatment plan for Matthew in an effort to stabilize him. During September and October 2016, Matthew received two rounds of powerful chemotherapy drugs. Visiting Matthew in the hospital at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Denmeade commented, "This is the most cancer I have ever seen in a human that is alive."
September 2016. Soon after being admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for the first emergency standard chemotherapy. His lung capacity was near zero and he was coughing blood at this point.Drs. Denmeade and Einhorn agreed that the best and only option for Matthew's extremely aggressive cancer was to undergo High-Dose Chemotherapy with Stem Cell Transplant (HDCT and SCT), even though it would be a difficult and risky process. One of the other consulting oncologists, after describing the treatment and its risks, told Matthew, "Basically, you'd be crazy to want to do this. But in your case, it's your best shot."
Following his doctors' recommendations, Matthew travelled to Indianapolis in November 2016 for the HDCT and SCT, and began the treatment procedure on Monday, November 14th. The 6-week treatment was intense. Amazingly, Matthew handled it without experiencing any of the life-threatening side effects. He even stayed strong enough to occasionally powerwalk and jog around the hallways! Now, the doctors believe that Matthew has as much as a 70% chance of a "full cure" (see Medical Notes, below).
The treatment did, however, take its toll. Matthew lost 30 lbs in 6 weeks. He now experiences numbness and tingling in his feet - the doctors hope that this neuropathy will go away with time. Matthew's hearing was damaged also; the doctors say that this may return to normal within the next 6-24 months.
Matthew still has at least 3 more months of chemotherapy, beginning in mid-February 2017. If the cancer returns after that, the doctors say that there will be little to no hope.
The good news is that, even though nothing is guaranteed, the odds are finally in our favor. And Matthew does not plan to quit. Despite the challenge he faces, he remains positive: "This isn't the end. I feel like I’m at the starting line. I have a lot to do, so I'm not going anywhere. I can't wait to start doing something that matters!"
If we are able to raise the funds, and if the rest of the treatment goes well, Matthew may get back to work as early as July 2017.
We Need Your Help. We, his friends and family, hope that you’ll help us help Matthew with any donation you’re able to make. And please share this site, “Like” Matthew’s Facebook page ("Matthew's Fight" Facebook Page ), and tell others about our efforts to raise funds for a truly wonderful human being. He’s an exceptional person, and the great things he’s meant to accomplish - that he will accomplish once he’s well again - go far beyond one individual life. Any donation will help.
MEDICAL DETAILS
First Occurrence of Testicular Cancer - November 2011 Diagnosis
*Malignant mixed germ cell tumor composed of 40% seminoma and 60% nonseminoma - embryonal Ca (40%), yolk sac (5%), Teratoma (15%)
*Remained in a single testis
*Simple surgery - right orchiectomy
*No chemotherapy
Second Occurrence of Testicular Cancer - September 2015 Diagnosis
*Recurrent testicular cancer
*hCG = 4377 mIU/mL.
*Tumor had metastasized to lymph node in abdomen - about the size of an egg (68 mm * 41 mm * 33mm)
*4 cycles of chemotherapy - with Cisplatin and Etoposide
*The last cycle of chemotherapy took place in early January 2015. In late January, Matthew got the all-clear - no more cancer.
*In late March 2015, lab results indicated an hCG of 3 mIU/mL. This indicates that the tumor is gone. Normal hCG levels are between 0 and 6 mIU/mL. His previous oncologist said she didn’t see this coming back and indicated she didn’t say that lightly. She said, “we consider this a cure”
Third and Current Occurrence - September 2016 Diagnosis
Details of current diagnosis:
*Germ cell recurrent testicular cancer
*Stage 4, Medically noted as Stage 3C. (The medical community made the decision to eliminate the Stage 4 distinction as a descriptor regarding testicular cancer)
*Metastasized to lymph nodes all over abdomen, plus 2 large tumors in liver, and over 200 tumors in lungs
hCG, September 20 = 165,089 mIU/mL
*Under the direction of Dr. Denmeade, and with the consult of Dr. Einhorn, Matthew has so far been treated with one cycle (5 days) of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin. The next step is to get High Dose Chemotherapy at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, with Dr. Einhorn and his team.
October 2016. Back at Johns Hopkins Hospital, receiving the second round of standard chemo. This is Matthew's typical eyes-closed-with-a-grimace face that he gets when the strong metallic taste of chemo coats the inside of his mouth for hours or days :(October 2016. Feeling a little better for the moment, cheered up by a visiting therapy dog :)Prognosis, Treatment Thus Far, and Plans Going Foward
*Visited emergency room on Thursday, 9/15 where they performed a chest x-ray and then a CT scan.
*On 9/20, Matthew went to Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center to for a consultation with Dr. Samuel Denmeade.
*Admitted immediately to during consultation due to life-threateningly low lung capacity, coughing up blood, high tumor burden.
*Dr. Denmede consulted with Dr. Einhorn (expert on testicular cancer) on a treatment plan for Matthew, both for the short and long term. The short-term plan was to treat Matthew with higher than previous and different chemotherapy regimen to stabilize Matthew. This regimen included paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin. The goal is to follow up with High-Dose Chemotherapy (HDCT) using stem cell transplant (SCT). Learn more about that here: HDCT & SCT for Testicular Cancer .
*40-50% chance of survival if Matthew is able to get the HDCT & SCT, particularly with a team that is well-versed in this procedure and the recovery period.
*20-25% chance of survival with Conventional Dose Chemotherapy (CDT).
*Chances of survival double with HDCT & SCT.
September 2016. At FedEx Kinko's, working on photocopying medical records, after chemo.September 2016. After chemo, Matthew's hair was starting to fall out. He explains what it's like.
Thin, pale, and exhausted, but happy to be outdoors :)FINANCIAL DETAILS
While on chemotherapy earlier in 2016, Matthew, unfortunately, experienced a lapse in health coverage due to the confusion, forgetfulness, and "fuzzy-headedness" that was a common side-effect for him (commonly known as "chemo brain"). Now, he's working actively to try to acquire the coverage necessary to help with the medical expenses he's already accrued and that lie ahead. As explained above, Matthew has a fighting chance with this, but in order to get rid of these tumors, he needs to get the High-Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant. Without health insurance, this would cost about $500,000, for which a minimum down-payment of $100,000 would be needed. With health insurance, a heavy cost burden still exists, as even the best health insurance plan out there doesn't cover all that is involved with this intense treatment. There will be many days in the hospital, tests, and other expenses that aren't fully covered under even the best insurance plans. So far, Matthew has not been able to get insurance, but he's still trying. As you all are aware, open enrollment is not until Nov. 1 and those policies do not become active until January 1, 2017. We hate to be this cut-and-dry about this, but that's just too late. Fighting through his exhaustion and sickness, he's earnestly working every day to see what kind of insurance he can get and to make progress on hopefully getting health coverage.
Aside from the medical expenses, as you can probably imagine, Matthew has not been able to work. Climbing the stairs twice per day and going to the kitchen to get food is about as much his body can endure right now. And considering he just went through this last year, his available funds are extremely low and he does not currently have an income. Matthew is a hard-working person who has never been in this position of dire need from others before. In fact, he's usually the one on the giving side. Right now, we humbly ask for your gracious help to get him through this period.
In November, Matthew plans to be treated by Dr. Lawrence Einhorn at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center . This means 3 months of hospital stays, food, transportation, and all that is associated with getting such a treatment in a different state. Also, Matthew's support system, his close family and friends, have come together to help him get through this. As such, that results in a lot of time out of work for others as well. We need your help in order to help our friend.
We've calculated all the expenses, and the need is anywhere from $70,000 to $140,000 depending on the progress Matthew is able to make in the coming days with the insurance company. At this point, we have set a goal here of $40,000 and another $40,000 on another site, for a total of $80,000.
This takes a village and we need all the support we can get. Every dollar makes a difference. So we ask, if you are able, please consider helping us to get Matthew recovered and back to making a positive difference in the lives of those he touches.
Thank you in advance. We cannot do this without you!
For those who, for any reason cannot use WePay to donate funds, but would still like to, we have some more options:
Feel free to use any of the following options. Just be sure to indicate who you are and what the funds are for, so that we appropriately allocate the funds and have a way to thank you.
You can mail in a payment to: 5800 Main Street, Suite 3, Elkridge MD 21075.
You can also send us a (free for both parties) payment via Google Wallet. Just click "Contact Organizer" and we'll get back to you with the email address to use for Google Wallet.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MATTHEW, HIS BATTLE WITH TESTICULAR CANCER AND HIS FIGHT TO EMBRACE LIFE:
Facebook - Matty's Fight
Blog - Matty's Fight to Embrace Life
Twitter - @MatthewsFight
Working on a patio project with his foster dad, Tom.Hiking in the desert with Sylvie and MiSou.Inner Harbor, Baltimore. September 2016, immediately after finishing the 2 weeks of initial emergency treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Celebrating survival so far - with a burger and his bestie Patrice! September 2016. After Matthew lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks and 45 lbs total in recent months, Sylvie and Mom delivered plenty of food to help give Matthew energy to recover before his next round of chemo.Part of the "fatten-Matty-back-up" plan was to have him munch on a pint of ice cream while on the outing. Mmmmm, half coconut and half rocky road!"Thank you, friends, family, and everybody, for helping me to beat this cancer. I can't do it without you. It feels incredible to have received this much support from so many people. Your efforts are literally saving my life. Thank you. I am so grateful. Thank you." -Matthew O'NeilORGANIZER INFORMATION
We want you to know who we are and how to reach us. The team helping Matthew with everything (from packing everything in his house, to moving him in with one of us, to managing the fundraising, and everything in-between) consists of his close family and friends. Many of us may not look like family. That's part of the beauty. Matthew considers family to be those who love him, who he also loves. He has been essentially adopted as part of our families by some of us ... really he didn't have much of a choice :)
Representing the many members of the family that began considering him part of their family 15 years ago is MiSou Hopkins. Here's her Facebook page: MiSou - Facebook.
Also helping is Patrice Parkinson, his best friend, and her family, all of whom he also considers family. She can be found here: Patrice - Facebook .
Any questions? We're here to answer any a potential donor may have. Just click on "Contact Organizer". We'll get back to you quickly. If another method of communicating is needed, we have an email address and phone number than we can share on an individual basis, if necessary.
How Donations Will Be Managed
Patrice, a close friend of Matthew, and his primary caregiver during this time, will receive the funds donated for this fundraiser. Matthew is currently residing in her home when not in the hospital. Otherwise, Patrice is providing daily care when he receives outpatient and inpatient care. Matthew has created a budget for his medical and daily living needs that he's unable to meet. As Patrice receives funds, she will either purchase items for Matthew when he is unable, with his permission, and according to Matthew's set budget or transfer funds directly to Matthew's account. As major medical and daily expenses are covered, updates will be posted.
Organizer and beneficiary
Patrice Parkinson
Organizer
Arbutus, MD
Matthew ONeil
Beneficiary