Matthew’s Fight for Neurosurgery Fundraiser

**ALL DONATIONS WILL GO STRAIGHT TO TEXAS CHILDRENS HOSPITAL AND WILL HELP PAY FOR MATTHEW’S UPCOMING MEDICAL EXPENSES/SURGERY**

Please see posted updates to follow our journey so far and see what’s been happening along the way.

For those of you who know my son, he has struggled with cognitive and behavioral problems his entire life, requiring years of therapies and specialists to try and figure out what’s going on. 

Three years ago, he was diagnosed with having an arachnoid cyst in his brain. The cyst is located in an area responsible for cognition and behavior and it has grown and is now putting pressure on his brain. He was recently diagnosed with an intellectual disability and suffers from chronic migraines, emotional outbursts and is unable to regulate his emotions. He’s been diagnosed with ADHD, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, adjustment disorder, developmental delay, and a speech delay. I have been advocating and fighting for Matthew to receive the care that he needs. I’ve finally found a neurosurgeon who listens and cares and is willing to help us. 

For these reasons, we sought help at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where our concerns were dismissed. We recently spent 2 weeks in Texas where we spent most of our time at Texas Children’s Hospital, just to be told the surgeon was not comfortable performing the surgery because it was too risky. The area where the cyst is has a lot of blood vessels, risking the chance of cerebral hemorrhage. We were advised to find a surgeon who is comfortable with performing the surgery that Matthew needs. So our fight is not over. It’s only just begun…. Again.

Since his doctors are out of state, the insurance company he has is not covering any of his bills. 

I have been fighting for my son to get the help that he needs since I first noticed a problem at 10 months old. Matthew is such a sweet kid and he deserves the best chance, and with your help I believe we will be able to find a surgeon who has the skills to help us. 

Matthew has overcome so much in the last seven years, and I know he will overcome this as well. He calls the cyst his “bubble brain” and wants it gone as bad as I do.

Removing the cyst would drastically improve his everyday life and allow Matthew to catch up to his peers and alleviate the physical symptoms associated with his cyst.

Any donations made will go towards his medical bills and transportation to and from hospitals. If you don’t have the means to donate, please keep Matthew in your prayers and pray that the medical teams that are included in Matthew’s care are able to help Matthew l.

Thank you everyone who has prayed for Matthew and stood by us on this very long journey.

Matthew’s most recent MRI: