Hi, I’m Matt McCullough.

I never thought I would be here as a guest speaker, to all you survivors.  I’m a survivor myself.  I was diagnosed in February 2008 with Medulloblastoma, which is Brain Cancer. 

When my parents told me I had cancer, I was shocked, mad, sad and frustrated.  I decided I was going to fight this horrible disease everyday.  I have been in the fight for 14 months now and it’s been a long hard journey.

I’ve missed a year and half of my childhood and really miss my friends.  I get up everyday fighting and I will win this battle.  It hasn’t been easy, I just want to be a normal 12 year old boy. 

I’ve had (3) surgeries, (9) blood transfusions, (6) weeks of radiation and (7) rounds of chemo.  On Wednesday, I will have my last round of chemo.  All my MRI’s have been clear so far and I’m going to be okay.

 

I thank God for my Mom and Dad, who have been by my side every step of the way.  They always encourage me to keep on fighting.  When I’m down, they always lift me up and when they are down, I always tell them I am going to be okay.

Because cancer affects the whole family, it’s been hard on all of us and has brought us closer.  It’s been hard on my brother and sister as well, I love you all.  I’ve learned how precious life is and not to take things for granted.

I want to thank this great community for all your love and support and for always cheering me on.  Thanks to everyone at Avery Middle School and all my friends, who have always been there for me.

Thanks to Mr. Chanteloup, for being my home teacher and thanks to Raeann Rodr, for all my massages and making me feel better. 

I hope someday they will find a cure for childhood cancer, because no kid should ever have to go through what I am going through.