My name is Matthew Hall. In October 2016, I just started my junior year at Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen, NJ, and was in the middle of Cross-Country track season. I started having back pain, but thought it was just a pulled muscle from running 35-40 miles per week. Within a week, my life changed forever - my family's lives were changed forever. The doctors found cancer in my back and my hip. I was diagnosed with Burkitt's Leukemia. I received my treatment at the Valerie Center at Morristown Medical Center. The doctors, nurses, social workers and other members of the staff have become part of our family. I don't feel like I'm just another patient at the hospital to the doctors and nurses. I know they really care that I get better. It's not just a job to them. To also see the social workers and other staff help my parents and me to ensure that I can keep up with my schoolwork so I can graduate on time (the Valerie Fund provided the hospital with a VGo robot at my school so I could participate in class remotely), that I have activities each day (like the therapy dogs - I love Tahoe!), and even the tacos, ice cream and other goodies each day. They made every day less difficult. That meant so much to me.

Five months have passed and on St Patrick's Day 2017, my treatment was done! The worst is hopefully behind me.  This year, when I'm eligible, I will be volunteering at the hospital to help other patients and share my experiences with them. Hopefully, I can make it less difficult for someone else.