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As of January 2018 Matthew has had a relapse of re-occuring medullablastoma. Survival rate of recurring medualloblastoma is very few after 5 years of re occurance. Matt has tried a clinical trial drug but unfortunately new tumors have grown. He now has a handful of small tumors in his brain. We are currenlty waiting for the next clinical trial drug to open up and get him on a slot for the trial. He is a very respectful, polite 14 year old teen who shows maturity beyond his years. Please pray for a miracle and any help finacially would be very appreciated...we are hoping for the best but are preparing for the worst as we were advised from his medical team. I will ALWAYS believe a miracle is at hand. Thank you very much for any prayers or finacial help you are able to give.
My Matthew is a 12 year old boy in the 7th grade. He loves NFL football, and is a huge Miami Dolphins fan, playing video games, reading and loves watching The Walking Dead.
My family and I, (Crystal West) moved to Lake City, Fl in March 2015. My mother was ill and my Dad was taking care of my mom and my brother who has cerebral palsy and requires complete care. I made the decision to move from NJ to FL with my children Ben, Robert, Matthew and Faith, to be here with my family and to help my dad with my mom and brother. I resigned from a job I loved as a Certified Medical Assistant for a Cardiology Practice which i had been working for since 2011. I also brought the children’s father (we divorced in 2013) who is completely disabled from paralysis due to several strokes. Unfortunately on March 24, 2015 my mom passed away. I remained in Lake City to continue helping my Dad and brother.
Matthew Mazza is a 12 year old boy who started having symptoms of vomiting in Aug. 2015. We thought at first it was a stomach bug or anxiety about going back to school which he had been bullied and found very stressful. The vomiting was continuing on and off until one September day he went to school and was vomiting about 7 times in one day. I immediately took him to Shands Children's hospital pediatric ER (about an hours drive from where we live.) The ER doctors ran all kinds of tests which came back negative. They referred us to the Children's GI clinic. Matthews first visit to the GI doctor was in Oct 2015. The Drs. ordered a series of tests. Each test we were hoping to find an answer so Matthew could start enjoying his days without vomiting and losing weight. Endoscopy was negative although showed gastritis. We thought this was the reason so the Dr. started him on anti acid medication. Our next visit focused on medication and trying to help Matthew gain weight. After the next appointment the Doctor ordered more tests because his symptoms of losing weight and vomiting were continuing. The Ultrasound of the stomach was negative. Blood work for thyroid and other functions were negative. Testing and routine Dr. appointments continued. On February 16, 2016 we were going to our routine appointment and explained that His symptoms were getting worse. He started having headaches and was continuing to lose weight. Now his legs were weak and he felt like he was going to pass out at times although he never did. I said I am scared he's continuing to lose weight and now he is feeling weak in the legs and dizzy. They decided we needed to get an MRI done. Scheduled that for the following Wednesday, February 24, 2016. We Went to the MRI and were rushed to the ER right after because they saw the tumor and the next day he was in a 6 hour surgery to remove a brain tumor on his cerebellum. They removed 100% of the tumor and the tumor was isolated which means it had not spread to his spine or spinal fluid. The Pathology report confirmed Matthews tumor was Medullablastoma, a malignant brain tumor. The tumor had grown to 4cm which is considered a very significant size for where it was on his brain. This tumor had stopped the flow of cerebral fluid to Matthews spine and was the cause of the vomitting (to rid his body of fluid) and weakness in his legs (pressure to the brain from the tumor) He remained in ICU for about a week then we were moved to the pediatric oncology floor where he started more physical, occupational and speech therapies. He developed Posterior Fossa Syndrome which left him staring into space at times and also was very quiet. This is a temporary disorder from the surgery and the tumor which was very close to his brain stem. He also had to have stem cells harvest from his body. He went through 4 days of harvesting at 6 hours each day for when he starts Chemo. After each Chemo treatment they will put his own stem cells back in his body to help regenerate his white blood cells and bone marrow after the chemo destroys what he has now. Matthew was in the hospital until March 18,2016. We were able to spend 1 night home before we had to leave for our stay in Jacksonville for Proton Therapy for 6 weeks.
Matthew started treatment for radiation on March 21,2016 in Jacksonville, FL at the UF Proton Therapy Institute. We have had to live at the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, FL so Matthew can receive his daily treatment of radiation along with his physical and occupational and aquatic therapies. Matthew finishes his proton radiation treatment on Fri. April 29, 2016. I have exhausted my savings account due to the traveling on the weekends to be with my family and the expenses of my car breaking down and needing repair. Also, food expenses and gas are taking a toll on my already limited income. In the month of May, I will be traveling from Lake City to Jacksonville once a week for physical, occupational and aquatic therapies and back and forth to Gainesville to Shands hospital for doctors appointments, MRI scans, surgery for port placement for Chemo and eye doctors to just name a few. Matthew will begin Chemo, 4 rounds with an approximately 5 day stay in the hospital each month for 4 months starting in June. he will be monitored and scanned for 2 years to be able to state he is cured.
I have been my ex husbands caretaker since we moved to FL. This has prevented me from being able to work outside of our home. I was approved from the state of FL to be his full-time caretaker and receive an income starting February 28, 2016. Matthew was diagnosed with the brain tumor on February 24,2016. I had to contact his case manager and they have an agency coming to the house during the week only to take care of him. We go home on the weekends and I continue his care then but will not be able to take over from the agency because of the continued health care Matthew needs. I have limited income (SSI checks for the children).
Many have been reached out to ask how they can help. As always I would like to ask for continued prayers for Matthews full recovery and healing and financial assistance to help cover the medical expenses and the cost of travel between Jacksonville, Gainesville and home in Lake City.
We truly appreciate all of your prayers and support.
Love and blessings,
Crystal and Matthew
My Matthew is a 12 year old boy in the 7th grade. He loves NFL football, and is a huge Miami Dolphins fan, playing video games, reading and loves watching The Walking Dead.
My family and I, (Crystal West) moved to Lake City, Fl in March 2015. My mother was ill and my Dad was taking care of my mom and my brother who has cerebral palsy and requires complete care. I made the decision to move from NJ to FL with my children Ben, Robert, Matthew and Faith, to be here with my family and to help my dad with my mom and brother. I resigned from a job I loved as a Certified Medical Assistant for a Cardiology Practice which i had been working for since 2011. I also brought the children’s father (we divorced in 2013) who is completely disabled from paralysis due to several strokes. Unfortunately on March 24, 2015 my mom passed away. I remained in Lake City to continue helping my Dad and brother.
Matthew Mazza is a 12 year old boy who started having symptoms of vomiting in Aug. 2015. We thought at first it was a stomach bug or anxiety about going back to school which he had been bullied and found very stressful. The vomiting was continuing on and off until one September day he went to school and was vomiting about 7 times in one day. I immediately took him to Shands Children's hospital pediatric ER (about an hours drive from where we live.) The ER doctors ran all kinds of tests which came back negative. They referred us to the Children's GI clinic. Matthews first visit to the GI doctor was in Oct 2015. The Drs. ordered a series of tests. Each test we were hoping to find an answer so Matthew could start enjoying his days without vomiting and losing weight. Endoscopy was negative although showed gastritis. We thought this was the reason so the Dr. started him on anti acid medication. Our next visit focused on medication and trying to help Matthew gain weight. After the next appointment the Doctor ordered more tests because his symptoms of losing weight and vomiting were continuing. The Ultrasound of the stomach was negative. Blood work for thyroid and other functions were negative. Testing and routine Dr. appointments continued. On February 16, 2016 we were going to our routine appointment and explained that His symptoms were getting worse. He started having headaches and was continuing to lose weight. Now his legs were weak and he felt like he was going to pass out at times although he never did. I said I am scared he's continuing to lose weight and now he is feeling weak in the legs and dizzy. They decided we needed to get an MRI done. Scheduled that for the following Wednesday, February 24, 2016. We Went to the MRI and were rushed to the ER right after because they saw the tumor and the next day he was in a 6 hour surgery to remove a brain tumor on his cerebellum. They removed 100% of the tumor and the tumor was isolated which means it had not spread to his spine or spinal fluid. The Pathology report confirmed Matthews tumor was Medullablastoma, a malignant brain tumor. The tumor had grown to 4cm which is considered a very significant size for where it was on his brain. This tumor had stopped the flow of cerebral fluid to Matthews spine and was the cause of the vomitting (to rid his body of fluid) and weakness in his legs (pressure to the brain from the tumor) He remained in ICU for about a week then we were moved to the pediatric oncology floor where he started more physical, occupational and speech therapies. He developed Posterior Fossa Syndrome which left him staring into space at times and also was very quiet. This is a temporary disorder from the surgery and the tumor which was very close to his brain stem. He also had to have stem cells harvest from his body. He went through 4 days of harvesting at 6 hours each day for when he starts Chemo. After each Chemo treatment they will put his own stem cells back in his body to help regenerate his white blood cells and bone marrow after the chemo destroys what he has now. Matthew was in the hospital until March 18,2016. We were able to spend 1 night home before we had to leave for our stay in Jacksonville for Proton Therapy for 6 weeks.
Matthew started treatment for radiation on March 21,2016 in Jacksonville, FL at the UF Proton Therapy Institute. We have had to live at the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, FL so Matthew can receive his daily treatment of radiation along with his physical and occupational and aquatic therapies. Matthew finishes his proton radiation treatment on Fri. April 29, 2016. I have exhausted my savings account due to the traveling on the weekends to be with my family and the expenses of my car breaking down and needing repair. Also, food expenses and gas are taking a toll on my already limited income. In the month of May, I will be traveling from Lake City to Jacksonville once a week for physical, occupational and aquatic therapies and back and forth to Gainesville to Shands hospital for doctors appointments, MRI scans, surgery for port placement for Chemo and eye doctors to just name a few. Matthew will begin Chemo, 4 rounds with an approximately 5 day stay in the hospital each month for 4 months starting in June. he will be monitored and scanned for 2 years to be able to state he is cured.
I have been my ex husbands caretaker since we moved to FL. This has prevented me from being able to work outside of our home. I was approved from the state of FL to be his full-time caretaker and receive an income starting February 28, 2016. Matthew was diagnosed with the brain tumor on February 24,2016. I had to contact his case manager and they have an agency coming to the house during the week only to take care of him. We go home on the weekends and I continue his care then but will not be able to take over from the agency because of the continued health care Matthew needs. I have limited income (SSI checks for the children).
Many have been reached out to ask how they can help. As always I would like to ask for continued prayers for Matthews full recovery and healing and financial assistance to help cover the medical expenses and the cost of travel between Jacksonville, Gainesville and home in Lake City.
We truly appreciate all of your prayers and support.
Love and blessings,
Crystal and Matthew