Matt Hestad
Donation protected
Friends and Family,
As you know, the Hestads’ lives were turned upside down when they learned of Matt’s brain tumor in February. We are grateful to all of you for the ways in which you have rallied around their family as they endure this grueling marathon of a journey. They have handled these past months with incredible grace and strength.
Matt is having complications from his surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments as well as the strokes he suffered before the surgery. This was further intensified when he suffered an infection in his brain and had to have a "brain flap" performed where they removed part of his skull. He must wear a helmet any time he is standing up. The cognitive problems are unpredictable and play out in a variety of ways. Sometimes he doesn’t believe he is living in his own house. He repeats questions, and needs to be assisted any time he uses the bathroom. His vision is poor and his balance is unpredictable. They currently use a camera monitor when he is resting to make sure he does not bolt out of bed and potentially fall down and fatally hurt himself. For these reasons, and his own safety, he is not able to be left alone.
As we look ahead with Katy, it appears that the next step is creating a GoFundMe account. This is something that Katy has truly wrestled with and and had hoped to not have to take. However, the reality is that there are financial obligations that cannot be denied as they continue to fight his cancer and the side effects of surgery and treatment. The hope is to collect enough resources to meet both the short term and long term needs. With Matt unable to teach, and Katy juggling work along with taking care of him and the kids, the need for a personal care attendant seems unavoidable. Insurance and disability will only cover part of this expense. The hiring of this person would be top priority with the GoFundMe resources. His day to day needs are intense and literally span the entire 24 hours. As well, because he is unable to drive or be left alone, this person is a necessity both for Matt’s safety and the daily activities of the family.
Our second priority is to finish the kitchen remodel Matt started. Every summer he and Katy would take on a update project in their home with funds they had carefully saved, along with materials Matt had collected from garage sales and "construction thrift stores". This was all put together with "sweat equity" via Matt's carpentry skills assisted by Katy. Many of us have seen first hand his incredible work, but this tumor hit in the middle of finishing the kitchen and they have temporary flooring and counters along with some other incomplete sections. The kitchen needs to get back in full working order and be a safe environment for Matt and the family to navigate and use. Realistically he will never be able to finish this himself.
We are reaching out to you with hope, gratitude and humility. Many of you have already given financially - through money and gift cards - and that has helped ever so much and we thank you for this. We are indebted to those of you from Seattle Public Schools who have generously donated vacation time to both Matt and Katy, this has been an incredible gift and has allowed Katy the ability to care for Matt in the midst of trying to provide financially for the family. We are also appreciative to those of you who have provided dependable "dinner service" and to care for Matt, whether sitting with him at home or driving him to appointments. And finally, thank you to those of you who have stepped in with some of the day to day logistics of Vincent and Bridget’s lives. Katy and the kids are FULLY aware they are not enduring this marathon alone. If you wish we to contribute to GoFundMe we thank you in advance. Please do not feel obligated to do this. We cannot express how overwhelmed they have already been with the love, generosity and support of all of you.
As you know, the Hestads’ lives were turned upside down when they learned of Matt’s brain tumor in February. We are grateful to all of you for the ways in which you have rallied around their family as they endure this grueling marathon of a journey. They have handled these past months with incredible grace and strength.
Matt is having complications from his surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments as well as the strokes he suffered before the surgery. This was further intensified when he suffered an infection in his brain and had to have a "brain flap" performed where they removed part of his skull. He must wear a helmet any time he is standing up. The cognitive problems are unpredictable and play out in a variety of ways. Sometimes he doesn’t believe he is living in his own house. He repeats questions, and needs to be assisted any time he uses the bathroom. His vision is poor and his balance is unpredictable. They currently use a camera monitor when he is resting to make sure he does not bolt out of bed and potentially fall down and fatally hurt himself. For these reasons, and his own safety, he is not able to be left alone.
As we look ahead with Katy, it appears that the next step is creating a GoFundMe account. This is something that Katy has truly wrestled with and and had hoped to not have to take. However, the reality is that there are financial obligations that cannot be denied as they continue to fight his cancer and the side effects of surgery and treatment. The hope is to collect enough resources to meet both the short term and long term needs. With Matt unable to teach, and Katy juggling work along with taking care of him and the kids, the need for a personal care attendant seems unavoidable. Insurance and disability will only cover part of this expense. The hiring of this person would be top priority with the GoFundMe resources. His day to day needs are intense and literally span the entire 24 hours. As well, because he is unable to drive or be left alone, this person is a necessity both for Matt’s safety and the daily activities of the family.
Our second priority is to finish the kitchen remodel Matt started. Every summer he and Katy would take on a update project in their home with funds they had carefully saved, along with materials Matt had collected from garage sales and "construction thrift stores". This was all put together with "sweat equity" via Matt's carpentry skills assisted by Katy. Many of us have seen first hand his incredible work, but this tumor hit in the middle of finishing the kitchen and they have temporary flooring and counters along with some other incomplete sections. The kitchen needs to get back in full working order and be a safe environment for Matt and the family to navigate and use. Realistically he will never be able to finish this himself.
We are reaching out to you with hope, gratitude and humility. Many of you have already given financially - through money and gift cards - and that has helped ever so much and we thank you for this. We are indebted to those of you from Seattle Public Schools who have generously donated vacation time to both Matt and Katy, this has been an incredible gift and has allowed Katy the ability to care for Matt in the midst of trying to provide financially for the family. We are also appreciative to those of you who have provided dependable "dinner service" and to care for Matt, whether sitting with him at home or driving him to appointments. And finally, thank you to those of you who have stepped in with some of the day to day logistics of Vincent and Bridget’s lives. Katy and the kids are FULLY aware they are not enduring this marathon alone. If you wish we to contribute to GoFundMe we thank you in advance. Please do not feel obligated to do this. We cannot express how overwhelmed they have already been with the love, generosity and support of all of you.
Fundraising team (3)
Molly Busacca
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Mary Katherine Wiswall-Hestad
Beneficiary
Laurie Morrison
Team member
Megan Becker
Team member
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