Dear Uncle Matt,

I will never forget that Halloween back in 2012.  It was on this day when something occurred that wasn’t just going to change your life, but all our lives.  I will nearly kill you.  This was during the same call that we found out you were diagnosed with colon cancer.

This was some hard news to hear, especially for my dad l never forget the phone call we got saying that you had a tumor burst inside of you that night and I.  You’ve been in my life since the day I was born.  I still remember all of those great memories we’ve made throughout all of the vacations, holidays, and school breaks we’ve spent together.  My dad couldn’t even bear the sadness he felt.  He couldn’t imagine his life without you being a part of it. 

You went through chemo and they thought they got all of the cancer out of you, so you entered remission.  In 2013, they were proved wrong.  The cancer came back and the process began again like deja vu.  They did another surgery and thought it would be more effective.  Following this surgery, you were given stronger chemo that they thought for sure would get rid of it.  You finished chemo and entered remission.  Yet again, in 2014, the cancer returned.  You went to a different medical center to get better care and hopefully get rid of it for good.  They put you through chemo before even putting you through surgery.  The chemo shrunk the tumor, but when you went in for surgery the tumor had already grown back even bigger.  You went recently went through a huge and long surgery.

Right now, you are recovering from this surgery.  All we can think about is how much you need to get better.  You’re the strongest person I know.  Not many people can say they fought three battles with cancer and survived.  Cancer is tough, but I know you’re tougher.  Hopefully this recent surgery scared the cancer away for good. 

I hope the teddy bear I sent you wearing the University of Nebraska shirt, put a smile on your face.  No matter how old you are, sometimes you just need a stuffed friend to get through things.  I know all of this very emotional, especially for you and Angie. 

One of my  favorite singers, Gary Allan, sang a song called “Every Storm.”   In the song he says that every storm runs outta rain, and every dark night turns into day.  The lyrics are implying that every hard time in your life eventually has to come to an end and something good will come out of it.  Keep your head up and remember every storm runs outta rain, Matt. 

Keep going strong.  Nothing and no one is stronger than someone who survived cancer.  Beat the cancer for good.  I miss you and I love you, Poots!!

Love always,

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