Every morning begins the same for my son, Matthew. Before he can think about breakfast or school, he has to prick his finger, test his blood sugar, calculate every blessed carb, and take insulin just to survive. He’s only 15. Most teenagers wake up and scroll through their phones or grab a snack without thought. Matthew wakes up to survival. For five years, he has lived under the heavy weight of Type 1 diabetes. No days off. No breaks. Every meal, every outing, every night’s sleep comes with risk. He has handled this burden with quiet strength, courage, and a smile that has inspired everyone around him.

In August 2025, another storm hit. Doctors told us Matthew had brain and spinal cancer. Life was no longer about managing diabetes, it became about fighting for his very future. Now, Matthew faces relentless headaches, crushing fatigue, dizziness that makes walking difficult, weakness on one side of his body, and sleepless nights stolen by pain. While his peers plan for homecoming dances and football games, Matthew plans for multiple therapy sessions daily, radiation/chemo sessions and long hospital visits. Instead of dreaming about college or first jobs, he wonders if he’ll have enough strength to get through another round of treatment.

Here’s what makes my Matthew extraordinary. Through the IVs, the needles, the nausea, and the endless hospital corridors, he never stops smiling or pushing ahead. His faith remains unshaken and he believes this battle is not just about illness, it’s about becoming a living testimony of God’s strength, healing, and love. Our family is fighting alongside him at the bedside, with everything we have, but the financial reality is overwhelming.

This is where your generosity can change everything. A donation doesn’t just pay a bill, it gives Matthew the chance to reclaim pieces of his stolen teenage years. At just 15, his days are not filled with laughter or carefree plans with friends, but with needles, scans, and the uncertainty of whether tomorrow will be harder than today. That is Matthew’s reality right now. But with your help, it doesn’t have to be his future.

Your generosity will go far beyond hospital bills. Every gift helps provide Matthew with the care and stability he needs as he battles both cancer and type 1 diabetes. Donations will cover safe housing, nutritious meals, and transportation to and from treatments, along with medical supplies not fully covered by insurance. They will also ease the burden on our family by supporting his siblings, making up for lost wages while I care for him full-time, and ensuring Matthew has the tutoring and comfort items he needs during long hospital stays. Most importantly, your support allows Matthew to hold on to the joys of being a teenager and gives our family the strength to keep fighting for his life with hope instead of fear.

Please, join us. Be part of Matthew’s testimony. Help us give him the chance to live, to dream, and to keep fighting. Thank you!