Welcome to Team M-CHOK
No one is ever prepared for a major illness, not you, not your spouse and certainly not your child. It happens though- and it happened to us. In October of 2020 our son Matthew, then 22 years old, had a seizure and was rushed to the hospital. A CT scan and MRI confirmed a brain tumor. Our son had cancer. Our son had cancer in his brain. The tumor needed to come out; immediately. Two days later Matthew had an emergency craniotomy in Baton Rouge. The care in Baton Rouge was good, but we knew that we needed to get Matthew to a major cancer center for the best, most current treatment.
We chose MD Anderson in Houston. We are blessed to have the resources and the flexibility to have made that choice. Matthew has since undergone two more Craniotomies at MD Anderson; one to remove remaining tumor and one to remove gliosis from previous surgeries. While Matthew's friends were living college lives, socializing, taking tests and graduating, Matthew was being tested in existential terms. Matthew was fighting for his life.
I am relieved to report that Matthew's cancer has been inactive for three years. What a blessing! And thanks to Matthew's spirit and will, his team at MD Anderson, and continual support and prayers from family and friends he has prevailed. He is back in college and hopeful for the future. But we are vigilant; cancer is persistent.
Still, we are grateful. Within the parameters of being unlucky, we are lucky.
And now to the point. Matthew, Michael, our daughter Brooke and I have joined with the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) to raise awareness and funds to drive research for the advancement of treatment options for patients with brain tumors. Cancer patients today are living in a new era of research and discovery; however, brain cancer research is grossly underfunded. Physicians are on the cusp of developing targeted, individualized treatment for brain cancer patients. It is a race against time. We have the technology and I know that with financial resources, there will be answers for patients like Matthew. And I pray they will come soon.
We have joined with the National Brain Tumor Society to raise money via the 5k Walk/Run for Hope in Washington DC on May 5th. On May 6th and 7th, we will be participating in the NBTS Head to the Hill meetings in DC to share Matthew's story with Louisiana Congress members advocating for funding.
Please join Team M-Chok in supporting brain cancer research! Help us get the breakthrough Matthew and many other brain tumor patients need.
With love and gratitude,
Matthew, Rochelle, Michael and Brooke Beychok
Our extended family that held us up and supported us: Bradley & Cassie Beychok, Beverly Freneaux, Margie & Donald Gauthier, Karen & John Eldridge, Brent & Michele Ramirez, Jene' LeBlanc & Willie Reale, and Ben & Lisa Beychok.
National Brain Tumor Society is fiercely committed to finding a cure for brain tumors. They are aggressively driving strategic research; advocating for public policies that meet the critical needs of the brain tumor community; and providing comprehensive patient, family and caregiver resources. Your support ensures this important work will continue.
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