Matt has been featured in the latest issue of Woman's Day (17 April 2017), thanks to Alison and the team.
Here is the article: https://goo.gl/88LEwm
Updates are from Louise on 28 March 2017, via https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com/recent-posts/
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A bit of a looking back day on Sunday! Seven Years since Matt was admitted to Starship. Not the best 7th anniversary we would want. Matt is doing ok on chemo, bald again :), and struggling at times. But he says definitely a time to appreciate the 7 years. Always thankful!!
Matt had day 8 of chemo last Friday (21 day cycle). It is not the nice one, his tastebuds go and his immune system goes right down. So this week is a low week for Matt.
Matt thinks and talks about his scans after 4 rounds of this chemo. What this will show and what this means is hopefully all positive.
It’s pretty tough for him, but he keeps going to uni as much as possible. He now has a prosthesis leg and he is doing well with it. A lot for him to get used to and he needs a lot of energy to walk with it. Lots more physio needed before he is getting around normally.
Take care all xxx
Updates are from Louise on 1 March 2017, via https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com/recent-posts/
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Matt started Media Design School on the 20th March, something he has been looking so forward to for a long time. He is attending from 9 till 1 five days a week, so has been quite tied getting back into the swing of things.
Matt has recently taken over ownership of Nikki’s car, he has been driving me around as much as possible. Hopefully, he will get his restricted in the next few months then and he can drive himself to Uni! I feel like an Uber driver at the moment but making no money :)
Last Thursday afternoon Matt started chemo. It’s quite mixed emotions for him as chemo was certainly not on the list to go to again. Matt would have preferred trying the drug Keytruda, which has been on trial in the USA. If there was just one tumour, then he would have had the time to trial and see if it is working. However, with the five or more tumours, everyone was in agreeance that we just need to halt the tumours with this regime of chemo. Matt had this chemo at the end of 2015 and he had quite a few months of stable disease. We can always try Keytruda at a later date. The chemo is in a 21 day cycle with chemo on day 1 and day 8. He was doing ok until today, feeling quite sick. Matt will have day 8 chemo tomorrow.
Last Friday Matt had his first fitting of his leg at the Limb Centre. He went really well and they were pleased with how he was taking to it. The great news is his leg will be ready next Tuesday. So exciting for him! It will be a long process to get walking around normally, he has lots of physio appointments booked. It will take quite a while to wear the leg in at first. He will still use crutches for a while, but a least he knows he is on that path to walking again. The people at the limb centre are so lovely, you really couldn’t wish for nicer people to work with.
The other week Matt and I were invited to Shore-Mariner’s conference to see their guest speaker Tony Christensen. What an amazing guy, lots of positives for Matt. He had a good talk to Matt afterwards and they talked about feelings and what is certainly possible to achieve with an artificial limb.
It still breaks our hearts to see Matt going through this again. He copes so well but it is still a hard road for him. We thank everyone for their support; his many good friends, family we thank you all.
Take care all, xxx
Updates are from Louise on 9 January 2017, via https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com/recent-posts/
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Matt is doing really well, I am probably more tied than him…and I can walk!
I can’t believe it, or really I can, how amazing Matt has handled the leg amputation. Not once has he complained about having to use crutches. He’s been out and about, movie, Rainbows End, friends houses for movies, beaches and more. He is just talking about when he gets his new leg. First fitting was this week.
On a little down side, or really having to face things, Matt had a pet scan on Tuesday 31st Jan. We really didn’t want to face the results, but we did today. 5 or more tumours in his lungs.
We changed oncologists late last year and our new one is amazing. Tells us so much more, and all about saving Matt. She has given us so much information.
Matt will look at what is suggested over the next few days, it’s a huge decision. Chemo may be the best thing at the moment. We never expected the results today, but we will work through this once again..xx
Updates are from Louise on 11 January 2017, via https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com/recent-posts/
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Sorry it’s been a while since I have updated. We had a very busy New Year. Matt had a great time with many friends and it was certainly busy for us at Matarangi.
Matt is doing amazing well, he has had the odd down moment but nothing like we expected. He hops around the house like nothing has happened!
Yesterday we had an appointment at the Limb Centre in Auckland, purely to see them about the phantom pain he has been having. We had talked on the phone about the sleeve for his leg and that might help his pain. When we got there, Matt was in the waiting room with Liam Malone. What an amazing guy. He talked to Matt about moving forward and that crutches are a pain.
We saw the physio and she was impressed with how well Matt was doing. They decided then to do the intro appointment..this was meant to happen on 31st January….We got a sleeve for his leg and now the first appointment to start building his new leg is on 1st February.
We again, thank you all for your support. From far and near you have all meant a lot to us. The give a little page has blown us away as a family.
Updates are from Louise on 24 December via https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com/recent-posts/
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Matt is doing really well. A bit of a down day today, but he always seems to pick himself up. His leg is healing very well and he will get the stitches out next Friday. Matt is off to Matarangi on boxing day with many friends coming down for New Years.
We will then come back to quite a few appointments in January to get Matt ready for his new leg.
Matt and us all, would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and an amazing 2017. Thank you all for your support. Times have been a little tough lately, but we will continue to look forward positively!!…No one knows what tomorrow brings….xxx
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to wish everyone an amazing Christmas and a wonderful New Year, as well as thank you all so much for your incredible generosity and support.
You are all amazing and so supportive to give so much. Thank you all, every bit counted - and to see we are at over $100,000 is both shocking and amazing! I am so humbled to have such amazing support. You are all such amazing, generous and kind people and I am so lucky to have known most of you.
Thank you all so much and I am so grateful for what you have given me. Thank you again, and have a lovely Christmas and a happy new year.
Cheers,
Matt (and family)
Matt was allowed to go home on Monday. Cleared by all areas and all saying how amazingly he is doing.
The dressing came off yesterday and the Dr was stunned to how well it looked for being day 6 from the op. Matt was a little worried about seeing the leg for the first time but it was all ok. The Dr then said that if the physio and occupation therapist clear Matt, then he is good to go home……always a great feeling!
We finally left hospital around 3pm on Monday. Matt was pleased to get home and see his cockatiel Chico. The bond those two have is incredible.
While Matt was in hospital, we moved Matt’s room to one on the level of the kitchen, lounge and a toilet close by. The girls have decorated it and Olivia painted a chalk wall for him. Together with beer crates as shelves it looks pretty good and Matt was thrilled with it.
So all in all, everything is fine. He is fine on crutches and has a good balance. He had mate’s visit last night which was so good for Matt. Here is a photo of Matt looking at his new room…xx
(updates from Louise via https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com/recent-posts/)
A good weekend, many friends to visit and we as a family don’t really need to be here, but we were. Not a lot going on medically.
His left leg seems fine. He has been exercising it really well and in and out of bed.
Tomorrow the dressing will come off and the last iv line removed. We will hopefully be home Tuesday…fingers crossed.
Thank you all xxxxx
(Updates by Louise via https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com/recent-posts/)
16 December 2016 - Another good day. Matt is down to just one iv pain relief that goes into his leg which is for nerve pain and this will be removed on Monday.
Today, he got himself out of bed and into his wheelchair to go to the bathroom several times with absolute ease, and not complaining once….I think he has quite a high pain tolerance!!
Hopefully once the dressing comes off on Monday, we will have a clear plan for going home. There is certainly a little more to do ahead in the process than we thought…
Matt is just blown away by the amount of support he has received by family, friends and the community. Words really fail him and us as a family…..We thank you all immensely for your lovely messages and donations xxx
(Via Louise's post on https://mattsjourneysite.wordpress.com)
Matt was out of bed today and on to a walking frame, to where he moved around a little then sat on a chair. The physio was so impressed with how well he did. They were so encouraging about Matt being strong and ready to see the limb centre in January to start the process to get a prosthesis.
He is honestly taking this so well, less pain than losing a lung lobe! I’m sure there will be tough times ahead, but it is off to a good start.
P/s: Thanks again for all the support.
(Updates by Louise)
Updates from Louise last evening (14 December 2016)
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Matt is doing so well. It’s been a long night and day, managing pain, but tonight he is a lot better. He has moved himself from side to side.
It’s quite strange how the brain works. Matt can still feel his leg and sometimes it’s not doing what he wants. The pain team said to him today, that if it feels strange then to sit back and visualize it moving to where he wants it. He has done this and it actually works, it’s happened many times today.
He is sound asleep now, he has had a good day with visitors from friends and family.
We are all, as Matt and family, so so thankful for the support, we are truly humbled….
XXXXX
(The Hogarth family)
Matt's surgery has been completed after around 2.5 hours. He is now in recovery.
- Updates from Murray (via text)
Dear Murray,
Matt and your family has been in our thoughts and prayers. Your son is an incredibly brave lad as I cannot even begin to imagine the roller coaster of emotions both him and your family must be going through all this while.
So pleased to hear that Matt's in recovery. We wish him the very best. I know that he has the support of his classmates, but please also let him know that kids who are his juniors, as is my son, are also thinking of him and wishing him well.
If there is any practical assistance our family can provide, please do contact me, it would be our pleasure to do so.
Our very best wishes to Matt and your family,
From one SHC family to another
Its been a long few days after the results last week. Matt has come to the decision to go ahead with the amputation of his left leg to remove the tumour. It has been a quite an emotional roller coaster for him and the family but again he has continued to amaze us all with his strength and positivity.
Yesterday, Matt was at the hospital ready for today's surgery. Before going in, he was enjoying games with his friends and they have all helped to keep his spirits high.
We will update you all after the op. We want to thank you all again for your ongoing support for Matty and the family. The Hogarths are so grateful.
