Matt's "Broken" Heart
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Meet my brother, Matthew Letter. Matt has non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, or as he would put it, a “junk heart.” Twenty-eight years ago, against all odds, my brother beat cancer. We had no idea the very treatment that saved him then, would be what might take him from us now. Unfortunately, a side effect of many chemo treatments is cardiomyopathy. With the odds stacked against him, Matt is staring death in the face for the second time! His courage and bravery inspired me when he faced cancer at just 18, and his perseverance and optimism inspire me as he faces this new battle.
Matt’s ability to maintain his sense of humor in the face of such adversity is most impressive. He has a knack for putting hospital room visitors at ease, making his nurses laugh, and reminding us all that being funny, kind, and having a sense of adventure can get us through even the worst of times. Matt often worries more about how his mother and son feel than about himself. The first thing he said when the doctor told him his prognosis was, “Sorry Mom.” He looks at this journey as just another adventure where others may find it crippling. He is the most courageous and optimistic person I have ever known!
Since November of 2018, Matt was in and out of the hospital and eventually ended up at St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee where his longest stretch was a 48-day stint! During this stay, he ended up having an LVAD implanted. (If you watch Grey’s, yes, the surgery Denny had!) For many people LVAD surgery restores some quality of life, but for some, it causes right ventricle heart failure. Of course, with Matt’s luck, he’s the latter. He’s really a bit of a “bionic man” with two battery packs to keep his LVAD flowing, a PICC line to feed the Milrinone intravenously to his heart, and a defibrillator to keep his rhythm rockin’. All of this is trying to keep him alive long enough to receive a heart transplant.
Late February
Mid-May (amazing what the body can do!)
I’m sure many of you have navigated the challenging “Medical Olympics” of our healthcare system with your families over the years as well. I feel for anyone who has to face financial strain on top of trying to stay strong while fighting for their life. I am starting this GoFundMe page because as a result of Matt’s condition, he faces the additional struggle of being unable to work. He lost the new job he LOVED after just five months. He has multiple doctor’s appointments monthly and has had several setbacks since his surgery in February, which often land him back in the hospital and ICU for days at a time. The additional expenses without being able to work have put a strain on both Matt and his family.
We hope and pray Matt will get his heart transplant. Even then, it will be a long time before he can work again, in addition to being on countless medications for the rest of his life.
“Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.” ~Mineko Iwasaki
Matt’s ability to maintain his sense of humor in the face of such adversity is most impressive. He has a knack for putting hospital room visitors at ease, making his nurses laugh, and reminding us all that being funny, kind, and having a sense of adventure can get us through even the worst of times. Matt often worries more about how his mother and son feel than about himself. The first thing he said when the doctor told him his prognosis was, “Sorry Mom.” He looks at this journey as just another adventure where others may find it crippling. He is the most courageous and optimistic person I have ever known!
Since November of 2018, Matt was in and out of the hospital and eventually ended up at St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee where his longest stretch was a 48-day stint! During this stay, he ended up having an LVAD implanted. (If you watch Grey’s, yes, the surgery Denny had!) For many people LVAD surgery restores some quality of life, but for some, it causes right ventricle heart failure. Of course, with Matt’s luck, he’s the latter. He’s really a bit of a “bionic man” with two battery packs to keep his LVAD flowing, a PICC line to feed the Milrinone intravenously to his heart, and a defibrillator to keep his rhythm rockin’. All of this is trying to keep him alive long enough to receive a heart transplant.
Late February
Mid-May (amazing what the body can do!)
I’m sure many of you have navigated the challenging “Medical Olympics” of our healthcare system with your families over the years as well. I feel for anyone who has to face financial strain on top of trying to stay strong while fighting for their life. I am starting this GoFundMe page because as a result of Matt’s condition, he faces the additional struggle of being unable to work. He lost the new job he LOVED after just five months. He has multiple doctor’s appointments monthly and has had several setbacks since his surgery in February, which often land him back in the hospital and ICU for days at a time. The additional expenses without being able to work have put a strain on both Matt and his family.
We hope and pray Matt will get his heart transplant. Even then, it will be a long time before he can work again, in addition to being on countless medications for the rest of his life.
“Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.” ~Mineko Iwasaki
Organizer
Rebecca Letter
Organizer
Sheboygan, WI
