Big Love for Matt McHugh
Donation protected
Life for Matt changed rather suddenly a day before his 27th birthday in 2011. While visiting friends and family in Chicago, he experienced a gran mal seizure which fractured his L3 and L4, and led to the discovery of a clementine sized tumor in his brain. He underwent surgery with an initial pathology of a Grade 2 Oligoastrocytoma in his right frontal lobe. He recovered like a serious champ, and had relatively smooth sailing for a few years here.
Last summer he underwent a second surgery. This pathology came back as a Grade 4 Glioblastoma (GBM-Glioblastoma Multiforme - the worst and most aggressive and infiltrative brain tumor that a person can get). It’s taken us a long while to really process what this means. But we did. Since surgery he’s been through radiation, various chemotherapy (loumastine/ccnu, temador/temazolamide), and now is currently receiving Avastin infusions bi-weekly.
He works as a “cheese juggalo” (says it on the name tag) at Whole Foods, and kicks it with his cat Phil.
The fact of the matter is, we don’t make much. We have bills coming in, and a lot of expenses, and no end in site. Just living in the city is costly, let alone adding serious medical bills to the mix. There’s the very real reality of disability in his future at some point, and we can’t survive on just one person’s income.
Having recently been told by our current doctors that Avastin is their last option it means we have to pick up and start hunting for options on our own. We need to start consulting with other doctors elsewhere, writing other places for second, third, fourth opinions. There’s also the possibility of alternative diets (though, we do eat pretty healthy for Americans, lots of fresh vegetables, quality meats, and the like). We'd also like to get on a regular acupuncture schedule at some juncture. The list goes on.
Matt is a seriously awesome guy---he’s loved by so many, and I would argue there isn’t anyone who meets him who doesn’t think he is a big sweetheart. He is gentle, patient, thoughtful, and a heck of a lot of fun to be around. Who doesn’t love someone who loves cheese, beer, gardening, bonfires, and the outdoors???
We need to make sure we are doing everything to fight this GBM that we can…he needs, we need, ALL the help and love and prayers and support we can get. Anything helps! We will not stop fighting, ever.
Please help us in this fight. <3
Last summer he underwent a second surgery. This pathology came back as a Grade 4 Glioblastoma (GBM-Glioblastoma Multiforme - the worst and most aggressive and infiltrative brain tumor that a person can get). It’s taken us a long while to really process what this means. But we did. Since surgery he’s been through radiation, various chemotherapy (loumastine/ccnu, temador/temazolamide), and now is currently receiving Avastin infusions bi-weekly.
He works as a “cheese juggalo” (says it on the name tag) at Whole Foods, and kicks it with his cat Phil.
The fact of the matter is, we don’t make much. We have bills coming in, and a lot of expenses, and no end in site. Just living in the city is costly, let alone adding serious medical bills to the mix. There’s the very real reality of disability in his future at some point, and we can’t survive on just one person’s income.
Having recently been told by our current doctors that Avastin is their last option it means we have to pick up and start hunting for options on our own. We need to start consulting with other doctors elsewhere, writing other places for second, third, fourth opinions. There’s also the possibility of alternative diets (though, we do eat pretty healthy for Americans, lots of fresh vegetables, quality meats, and the like). We'd also like to get on a regular acupuncture schedule at some juncture. The list goes on.
Matt is a seriously awesome guy---he’s loved by so many, and I would argue there isn’t anyone who meets him who doesn’t think he is a big sweetheart. He is gentle, patient, thoughtful, and a heck of a lot of fun to be around. Who doesn’t love someone who loves cheese, beer, gardening, bonfires, and the outdoors???
We need to make sure we are doing everything to fight this GBM that we can…he needs, we need, ALL the help and love and prayers and support we can get. Anything helps! We will not stop fighting, ever.
Please help us in this fight. <3
Organizer
H.R. Buechler
Organizer
Chicago, IL
