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Matthew Garnett Wilbert 
Welcome to Matthew's Web Page.
Matthew was diagnosed on August 7, 2001, with an inoperable Pontine (Brainstem) Glioma. We lost our battle to this cancer 20 months later, on April 4, 2003, 9 days after his 10th birthday.
To learn more about Matthew's fight with his brain tumor, see our journal entries.
Please feel free to share your memories of Matthew with us in our guestbook.
ALWAYS LOVED.
NEVER FORGOTTEN.
FOREVER MISSED.
NOBODY is ever really gone, as long as SOMEBODY remembers them.
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"One More Day"
by Diamond Rio
Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money
Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset
Baby, I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishin' still for one more day with you
One more day...
First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl
I'd unplug the telephone
Keep the TV off
I'd hold you every second
Say a million "I love you's"
That's what I'd do with one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset
Baby, I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishin' still for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset
Baby, I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishin' still for one more day...
Leave me wishin' still for one more day...
Leave me wishin' still for one more day...
With you
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This was written by Matthew's very best friend, Adam, some 2 years after Matthew's death as a part of an Autobiography for his Languarge Arts class at school.
MATTHEW: REST IN PEACE
When I was ten another breathtaking change occurred where I had to gather and use every bit of adaptability I could. One of my dearest friends, who was my age, died of a brain tumor. This is what happened.
I had known that my friend, Matthew, was diagnosed with a brain tumor so my family and I prayer for him each night. I had always assumed that the Lord would free him from this illness but He never did. It was his time to go.
On my mom's birthday she told me that a day before Matthew had died in his living room while napping and never woke up. When I heard this my heart stopped. I couldn't believe he was gone. At first I felt a rush of sadness and shock over take me. Then for a split second I felt anger at the entire world because I would not get to see him again. After the anger I felt hopeless and alone because he was gone. My feelings were hopeless and alone for some time after that. They changed again after I got thinking about his death. I was happy for the first time in a while. It hit me that he was in Heaven.
President George W. Bush called for a youth memorial day a few months after Matthew died. At 7:00 PM everyone in the USA was to light a candle for one child who died. We were going to light one for Matthew. Dad went to make sure that his Jesus and Mary candle would light. That candle did not light. Dad then tried the Sacred Heart of Jesus candle that I had picked out and bought myself. My candle lit! That was very special to me because I thought it meant I still had a special connection with Matthew.
Although I was very dissappointed that I did not get to go to the last rites I did learn from this experience. What I learned was how it felt to lose someone you care about. By the pain I suffered I became much more adaptable helping me to become the person I am today.
Journal
Monday, February 25, 2008 In June, 2008, a very special friend of our family, Terry Simplins, rode his Honda Goldwing motorcycle from Yorktown, VA, to the Arctic Circle in Yukon Territory, Canada, and then back to Yorktown. (Total distance: 9,000 miles. Total time: 3 weeks.) Terry is did this to raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and dedicated his ride in memory of Matthew! To learn more about Terry's "Ride to the Arctic Circle" or to make a donation, go to http://arcticride.com/index.html
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For updates since we lost Matthew, and for more pictures, please check our other site. We don't update on a regular basis - only on special or thoughful occassions.
http://journals.aol.com/teachguns/LifeWithoutMatthew/
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Brain stem tumors account for 10 percent of pediatric brain tumors. The peak incidence is between ages 5 and 10. The patients' symptoms often improve dramatically during or after six weeks of irradiation. Unfortunately, problems usually recur after six to nine months, and progress rapidly. Survival past 12 to 14 months is uncommon.
For more information on the type of tumor that Matthew had, go to
http://www.stjude.org/search/0,2616,582_3161_5033,00.html
OR
http://www.childrenshospital.org/cfapps/A2ZtopicDisplay.cfm?Topic=Diffuse Pontine Glioma
Read Journal History
Hospital Information: Naval Medical Center - Portsmouth
Links: http://www.heavenlylights.homestead.com/page10.html Matthew's Star
http://artwells.com/oracula/modules.php?op=modload&name=Anonimmus&file=shrine&shaemmusid=0205257504225 To light a candle
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