Matthew is a 28-year old husband and father of two sweet kids, active in his community. He’s most often seen at his open houses on the weekends, pickleball courts with his family, and practicing jiu jitsu as often as possible. In February, Matt went in for his very first skin check with a dermatologist—and received an unexpected diagnosis of melanoma. He underwent surgery on March 9th, but after two long weeks waiting for pathology results, they learned the margins were not clear and a second procedure would be necessary.

Wanting to be as thorough as possible, Matt and his wife Holley sought a second opinion through Scripps. Their dermatologist took a comprehensive approach, ordering a head and neck consult to rule out lymph node involvement and recommending a PET scan before proceeding with another surgery.

As they were preparing for that next step, everything changed again.

Just days before scheduling the second melanoma surgery, Matt discovered a mass in his testicle. They immediately went to Scripps, where—within just a few hours—he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. A PET scan was rushed and completed within two days. Thankfully, they received encouraging news: neither the melanoma nor the testicular cancer appeared to have spread.

At that point, the focus quickly shifted. Matt met with a urologist on April 20th and underwent surgery for testicular cancer on April 28th. He is now recovering at home, and they are awaiting pathology results in the coming week. In the meantime, Matt is scheduled to undergo his second melanoma surgery May 3rd.

In just a matter of weeks, Matt has faced three separate surgeries—each costing $2,500 out of pocket, in addition to copays, deductibles, and ongoing travel expenses to and from San Diego. As a self-employed provider and a young family who recently moved into a new home with their two babies, the financial strain has been significant.

Through it all, Matt and Holley have remained positive, even joyful, rooted in their faith that God has a purpose for everything and can bring good out of anything. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, meals, prayers, and support from friends, family, and neighbors—and as Matt’s sister, I can say there is no one more deserving or grateful.

Matt also hopes to use his experience to raise awareness about testicular cancer, especially in young men. He encourages all men to consistently do self-checks and be vulnerable during doctor’s visits to be thorough in their health examinations. One important risk factor he has learned about is Cryptorchidism, or an undescended testicle at birth. Boys with this condition have a higher lifetime risk of developing Testicular cancer.

The good news is that early treatment—typically a simple procedure called Orchiopexy, usually done within the first year of life—can significantly reduce that risk and allows for better monitoring as they grow.

Matt encourages parents of baby boys to be aware of this and to follow up with their pediatrician if a testicle has not fully descended within the first few months. Awareness and early action can make a meaningful difference.

Please help us rally around Matt and Holley during this time, whether through a donation, keeping him in prayer, or simply sharing their story. It would be a tremendous blessing! Your support allows them to focus on healing, recovery, and caring for their family.

Thank you for helping my brother through this unexpected and trying time. Our entire family is grateful for the support given already and humbly ask you to continue praying for Matt’s complete healing and trust in God! God bless you all!