Matthew B.Follow

January 25, 2000 I brought Matthew, who had just had his 3rd birthday, into our pediatricians' office for a cough and a fever. 2 hours later we were on our way to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL with a diagnosis of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). He was admitted onto the Oncology Ward with pneumonia and it would be the first of a dozen admissions.

He began treatments the next day and within weeks he had lost all his hair. Matthew was a fighter and went into remission with ease. Each time we made the trip, Matthew made sure he brought "Teddy", his faithful teddy bear who helped him through his shots, blood draws and transfusions. If Matthew had a band-aid, Teddy had one too.

My brave little guy had intensive treatments for a year with weekly trips to Chicago and several trips a week to our local pediatrician's office for his chemotherapy. We also had several pills a day and his "bubble gum" medicine that was flavored to help it go down with ease.

2008 marks Matthew's 8th year of being "Cancer-free". He is a happy, healthy 5th grader who still remembers his "back shots" and being sick. I LOVE you so much buddy and thank God every day for you!!!