| Author | Message | ||
     Prior |
It's been a bit since the last update, this is the latest news Mitch (Matt's Dad) has sent out, over a few emails: 23 April, 2006 Everyone, Time to put on the armor, and lock and load as we are off to war again! As most of you know, the cancer has reappeared in a few places on Matt's brain. We are so fortunate to be working with a great team of specialists at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit who specialize in brain tumors. In fact we will be working almost exclusively with them moving forward. They tell us that although there are several spots (one of which is fairly large), they believe that it is early on in the development of a tumor and that it can be successfully fought with chemotherapy. Therefore, we are starting chemo tomorrow! In fact, Matt will be on a low dose of the exact same type of chemo he took last time, which is also a double blessing... it is a form that can be taken orally at bedtime (no IV's, no time sitting in a clinic, no temporary port installed into your chest) and most importantly that saves the really big guns for next reoccurrence. So once again, here is proof that the many prayers for Matt have once again been heard and answered! Please mark June 16 and/or 17 on your calendars! This is the weekend that Kentwood celebrates the Relay For Life in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. We are putting together a really big team to have a presence in honor of Matt. We are hoping people from the neighborhood, church, school, Matt's fraternity brothers, our many friends, family, and co-workers will all come together in support. Perhaps you live in Michigan and have been getting these updates for the past two years and want to meet Matt! This is your opportunity to come meet him as well as our family! The event is basically a 24 hour walk-a-thon with participants taking turns making laps of the field. There are wonderful opening ceremonies, and closing ceremonies honoring those who are surviving as well as those who have succumbed to this disease. There is an luminary that is breathtaking and Matt's name will be on several of those for sure! We will be working out shifts for people to walk as requested by each participant. for the record, you don't have to be a walker to participate, we will need greeters, food coordinators, and other sorts of support as well such as the "spirit captain(s) who will help us win the coveted 'spirit award' or the tent decorating captain who will coordinate the decoration of our tent so that we can win the most awesome tent award! Oh yes... there will be food, food, and probably more food! Not to mention tons of laughs, great fellowship and an opportunity to make some really great memories all the while helping out a very important cause that impacts us all... cancer research!! The 24 hour event will be held in East Kentwood High School's new Falcon Stadium and will be totally awesome. We will have a big tent with Matt's name on it so you will have no trouble finding us. If you even think you are interested, drop me a note! We will get more specific info to you. We are very fired up to add to our great bank of memories! It would be really cool if you could be part of these memories! We are not scheduled to have another MRI for two months from Monday, which will be in June. We will keep you posted along the way. We will also get some more photos out to you! Hope to hear from you about Relay For Life, and as always, thank you for keeping Matt and us in your prayers! Mitch and family 3 May 2006 Everyone, Matt is on the second full week of chemo and it is a good thing he is a tough guy as he has had a rough go of it. An hour after taking his first chemo, seizure activity started and has been more or less active ever since! We are working very closely with his team of doctors to get this under control. It is a very frustrating situation. As the chemo does it's thing, it creates activity that causes the brain (and the tumors) to go into a 'seizure-mode'. This is an exhausting and very difficult... slippery slope to negotiate. When these small seizures happen, Matt experiences strong sensations i.e. strange smells, tingling, and a strong taste of metals in his mouth. His emotional center then gets into the mix as it goes into a depressive state, or one of moderate angst. Sometimes he gets a strange feeling of deja vu. All of these symptoms are precursors to a grand-mall seizure. And that could be very dangerous. So we are working hard to avoid that! This ordeal is much more difficult this time then last. Matt has even missed some work and is really feeling badly about not 'being there' for his co-workers and company. We continually remind him that he has to focus on getting better before he can do anything else. He understands that, yet he is so committed to his co-workers and employers that he still feels guilty for not being able to perform and contribute at a high level every single day. It should come as no surprise to you to hear that Matt's resolve remains solid. He is intent and committed to beating this disease. He shared with us that he knows in his heart that the road up ahead is going to be a rough one. Yet, he said we will get through it! And yes, together we will. Many of you ask how you can help, as you want to do something. The best way anyone can help is to pray for Matt. We have seen the power and the results of prayer. Prayer truly moves the hand of God. Matt's faith is very strong and getting stronger everyday. Prayer is the best gift you can give another person. Another way you can help is with your feet and legs... to volunteer to participate in the Kentwood Relay For Life on Team Matt Ware! We need 50+ volunteers to help man the walking/jogging course from 3pm Friday June 16 until 3pm Saturday June 17. We also need volunteers to man our tent and help coordinate food etc. This is a super fun event for people of all ages!! Families, work groups, church small groups, all are welcome to come join Team Matt Ware! In fact, there is so much to share about this event, that I am going to let Lisa Champlin, a colleague of mine from Burch Fabrics Group tell you more about it in another email coming to your 'inbox' within a day or so! The Relay For Life is a great way to put your faith and sense of caring into action! So please take a moment and read through Lisa's note when it comes! Choose to make today a good day for you and yours. Hug your kids this morning before they leave ... and watch them say "what's up with that" :-) Mitch and Family ------------ [EDIT - FB] from Mitch: May 9, 2006 Everyone, Lisa Champlin asked me to share with everyone that we are well on our way to making this an awesome outpouring of love for Matt and raising money for much needed cancer research! This is the sort of event that funds that research. Work that results in new clinical trails that result in break throughs!! Matt is in a trail. Trails sometimes lead to positive results! We are all effected by this disease, this is a way we can fight back and be part of the solution... discovering ways to understand how it works, and how it can be managed. With Gods help, even finding a cure! Relay For Life is a very necessary vehicle to raise much needed money to that end. And... as a bonus, it is a ton of fun!! A great time for kids of all ages. Lisa and I met with an official from the American Cancer Society today, and came to an agreement that each and every dollar that Team Matt Ware raises will be earmarked specifically for brain cancer research. Here is why... if you go to most cancer websites, brain cancer isn't usually listed. The reason being that it effects only 15000 people yearly, compared to millions with breast, colon, prostate and the like. Consequently, it gets very little if any money for research. The money that goes to brain cancer research is primarily raised by the survivors and their families via trusts, and private foundations. Hence, we are asking you to join us in finding a cure for this disease by funding research!! There are some really great minds dedicated to finding out how brain cancer works, and then exploring unique ways to manage it. In the two years that we have been on this journey we have seen results from research! But they need money to fund their work. This is one way to help out. And... as has been noted by many, when one researcher finds one key to one lock in the chain of cancer, it often leads researchers to other keys that open locks to discovering important information regarding other forms of cancer. So please stand with us in our fight to find a cure for cancer. Participate or write a check (to the American Cancer Society) forward it to Lisa, and we will make sure gets earmarked in Matt's honor for brain cancer research. Many of you have either called Lisa or emailed her to let her know that you want to walk, jog, or just cruise the track during the Relay. To do so, we ask that you fill out the official form. You will need a packet of info that we can make available to you. Just let Lisa know at lchamplin@burchfabrics.com. Another way to get your packet is to come out to Uno's this Thursday night May 11, from 6pm until 8pm. We will have packets there for you to take with you! Look for the black and red EK flag in the parking lot. We will be there handing out Relay For Life packets for Team Matt Ware. We will also have illuminaries available for purchase. These are very cool paper bags that you can take and decorate with a name of a survivor or perhaps someone who has lost their battle with cancer, and you would like to make a remembrance of them. It is great to have a design of your choice to be shared with Friday night of the Relay. Some are very simple with just a name, others are very ornate with colors and images that are very meaningful and inspiring. This illuminary during the Relay will be breath taking and totally cool! A word about Matt, he is struggling mightily this time around. The tumors are creating seizure activity that takes him from work and causes him to have nausea, sudden anxiety for no reason, flu like symptoms, trembling, trouble focusing and an over all feeling like 10 year old crankcase grease!! That would be roughly translated as very, very, Yucky! Please join your faith with ours, that the chemo is working hard on those tumors, and will in a very short time shrink them, eliminating the seizures as it eliminates the tumors! Rest assured that he is still Matt... a very very tough guy with a very strong faith and a very strong resolve... but in a very tough fight right now. Thanks for taking time to read this, and for your on going support! Thank you for praying for Matt. He is truly sustained by God's grace. Your prayers do move the hand of God, and we are proof of that! We look forward to hearing from you as well as to meeting some of you Thursday night at Uno's. Have a great day! Mitch and family (Message edited by jerry_haughton on May 05, 2007) | ||
| Prior |
Please keep Matt, his family and anyone and their families affected by cancer in your prayers and thoughts. If you have an opportunity to participtate in a Relay for Life or any other American Cancer society event please so. Small things can make a huge impact on another's life. Thank all of you who have prayed for Matt and sent him and is family prayers and thoughts. I know it means a lot to them and myself. Fight Matt, Fight, love you man.  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
thanks for the updates, Alex. Matt, you're in our thoughts and prayers. keep fighting! Ferris & Denise | ||
| Blackbelt |
Hay Alex, I can try and see if I can help w/ the tent at the bare minium. Let me see what my schedual is like that weekend. cause I want to attend. Hang in there Matt | ||
| Imonabuss |
Where is this event? | ||
| Bomber |
Stand Tall, Matt -- you've friends and loved ones uncountable! Prior -- thanks for the update! | ||
| Prior |
The Relay for Life will be held in Kentwood, MI, a suburb of Grand Rapids. More info follows below Hi, my name is Lisa Champlin. I work with Mitch Ware and have known Matt for a few years now. I first met Matt when he participated in our annual Big Brothers and Big Sisters bowling event. At that first bowling event, he actually bowled most of his games by merely palming the ball and did quite well too! Mitch has asked me to serve as Captain of "Team Matt Ware" for this years Relay for Life in Matt's honor. I am very glad to do it. Working closely with Mitch everyday, we at Burch Fabrics feel like we know Matt very well and have chosen to stand with the Ware family and fight his disease hour by hour, day by day until we find victory. Team Matt Ware is coming into this event literally at the eleventh hour. Our first deadlines are next week, so we are moving forward with a high sense of urgency. As Mitch alluded to in his latest update, cancer has effected and infected us all in one way or another. Like you, I have lost loved ones to this disease. It is time to get involved and be part of the solution. Please consider joining us in this wonderful effort. Aside from having fun with your friends and family, you are doing something tangible for a great cause. It is time to put faith and kind thoughts into action! We need walkers and or joggers to keep Team Matt Ware presence on the track for 24 hours. We are setting up a schedule for team members to sign up for times to walk or jog. Aside from that, we need people to help man our tents, coordinate the acquisitions and overseeing the serving of food and drinks during this event. We need team spirit leaders, team cheer leaders, someone to help with team activities, etc. We also need someone to take photographs to capture the highlights for Matt's journal as well as for Mitch to share on his updates so the world can see how we love Matt and how we are willing to be part of the solution. We need a tent coordinator to make sure the tent is manned and cared for. People will be sleeping in the tent from time to time, so we need someone to help coordinate the chairs, tables, etc. We will need to decorate the tent to help us win the highly coveted "totally best looking tent" award. We need to come up with some 'theme' ideas so we can present Matt with ideas for a group theme for him to choose from. Maybe we walk in toga's, maybe in grass skirts, who knows what we can come up with. If any of this sounds interesting and fun, please e-mail me and let me know. Maybe get a small group of friends or co-workers, family or just come yourselves. I will forward information to you that you will need for the event. As I mentioned before, we are slightly behind so time is of the essence. Relay for Life is asking that each participant (walker/jogger) raise $100.00 in cash or pledges. That is asking 10 friends or family for $10.00 each or 20 co-workers for $5 each. Or both! These donations are tax deductible!!! Checks are made out to the American Cancer Society. Team Matt Ware will be raising funds to help off set those expenses by selling candy bars and other cool things. Each participant who raises the $100 will get an official Relay for Life t-shirt from the ACS prior to the event. We are also asking for corporate pledges to help offset the entry fee of $150, as well as cost of food and decorations for the event. This is a great way to get involved with the community and help find a cure for cancer. Please consider participating in this event which takes place at the East Kentwood High School Football Stadium on Friday June 16th beginning with opening ceremonies at 3pm and running through 3pm Saturday June 17th. There are tons of things happening during the Relay, a DJ will be playing all 24 hours, a water balloon toss, bubble gum contest, all types of family fun things. If you can't make it, then why not donate? All checks are to be made out to the American Cancer Society. 90% of the funds collected in this event are going directly to research!! Thanks, Lisa Blake/moderators, is it ok to post info about donations and where they can be sent? (Message edited by awprior on May 04, 2006) | ||
| Rocketman |
Such brave people. I can't imagine how you all must feel. Rocket | ||
| Prior |
Another update on the Relay for Life, from Matt's Dad. Everyone, Lisa Champlin asked me to share with everyone that we are well on our way to making this an awesome outpouring of love for Matt and raising money for much needed cancer research! This is the sort of event that funds that research. Work that results in new clinical trails that result in break throughs!! Matt is in a trail. Trails sometimes lead to positive results! We are all effected by this disease, this is a way we can fight back and be part of the solution... discovering ways to understand how it works, and how it can be managed. With Gods help, even finding a cure! Relay For Life is a very necessary vehicle to raise much needed money to that end. And... as a bonus, it is a ton of fun!! A great time for kids of all ages. Lisa and I met with an official from the American Cancer Society today, and came to an agreement that each and every dollar that Team Matt Ware raises will be earmarked specifically for brain cancer research. Here is why... if you go to most cancer websites, brain cancer isn't usually listed. The reason being that it effects only 15000 people yearly, compared to millions with breast, colon, prostate and the like. Consequently, it gets very little if any money for research. The money that goes to brain cancer research is primarily raised by the survivors and their families via trusts, and private foundations. Hence, we are asking you to join us in finding a cure for this disease by funding research!! There are some really great minds dedicated to finding out how brain cancer works, and then exploring unique ways to manage it. In the two years that we have been on this journey we have seen results from research! But they need money to fund their work. This is one way to help out. And... as has been noted by many, when one researcher finds one key to one lock in the chain of cancer, it often leads researchers to other keys that open locks to discovering important information regarding other forms of cancer. So please stand with us in our fight to find a cure for cancer. Participate or write a check (to the American Cancer Society) forward it to Lisa, and we will make sure gets earmarked in Matt's honor for brain cancer research. Many of you have either called Lisa or emailed her to let her know that you want to walk, jog, or just cruise the track during the Relay. To do so, we ask that you fill out the official form. You will need a packet of info that we can make available to you. Just let Lisa know at lchamplin@burchfabrics.com. Another way to get your packet is to come out to Uno's this Thursday night May 11, from 6pm until 8pm. We will have packets there for you to take with you! Look for the black and red EK flag in the parking lot. We will be there handing out Relay For Life packets for Team Matt Ware. We will also have illuminaries available for purchase. These are very cool paper bags that you can take and decorate with a name of a survivor or perhaps someone who has lost their battle with cancer, and you would like to make a remembrance of them. It is great to have a design of your choice to be shared with Friday night of the Relay. Some are very simple with just a name, others are very ornate with colors and images that are very meaningful and inspiring. This illuminary during the Relay will be breath taking and totally cool! A word about Matt, he is struggling mightily this time around. The tumors are creating seizure activity that takes him from work and causes him to have nausea, sudden anxiety for no reason, flu like symptoms, trembling, trouble focusing and an over all feeling like 10 year old crankcase grease!! That would be roughly translated as very, very, Yucky! Please join your faith with ours, that the chemo is working hard on those tumors, and will in a very short time shrink them, eliminating the seizures as it eliminates the tumors! Rest assured that he is still Matt... a very very tough guy with a very strong faith and a very strong resolve... but in a very tough fight right now. Thanks for taking time to read this, and for your on going support! Thank you for praying for Matt. He is truly sustained by God's grace. Your prayers do move the hand of God, and we are proof of that! We look forward to hearing from you as well as to meeting some of you Thursday night at Uno's. Have a great day! Mitch and family If anyone is interested in participating in the walk or making a donation to the American Cancer Society to aid brain cancer research, please contact Lisa at lchamplin@burchfabrics.com or myself awprior@gmail.com. Correspondence can be sent to Lisa Champlin Burch Fabrics Group 4200 Brockton Dr. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 Please keep Matt in your prayers, he's struggling a bit more this time around. |
