Matthew Harmon

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. Matthew was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on October 18th, 2016.  That is the day that our lives changed forever.  We had brought him to his PCP for a check-up because he just couldn't seem to get rid of this virus he had.  I thought they were going to say, "He has the flu, just take him home and have him rest."  I was so very wrong.  The doctor did bloodwork because he was very pale.  Thank goodness she did.  We received a call an hour later saying to rush him over to the Pediatric Hematology center right away.  Again, I thought maybe it was anemia.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think cancer.  Then we entered the center and it said Pediatric Oncology.  My heart literally skipped a beat.  They brought us into a small room and the doctor said, "Your son has Leukemia."  That was it.  Period.  We were all in shock.  The first thing my son asked was about his plans for a career in the military.  This is all he has dreamed of since he was small.  To be an officer in the army.  That is when he cried.  Knowing that he cannot enter into the ROTC program and go to college, that the military might not accept him now.  Not only is this diagnosis threatening his life, it has also changed his whole plan for his future.  I know we should be grateful that we can beat this, but my heart breaks for my son and the loss of his dreams and goals.  After the meeting with the Oncology doctor we rushed Matthew to the hospital.  He had bone marrow taken, a spinal tap and central line inserted.  Then chemo started that Friday.  He has finished the first round, and we have had some wins.  There was no cancer in his brain or spinal fluid, and he  does not have the genetic mutation FLT3 that makes Leukemia difficult to treat.  I am so very thankful for this.  Yet, he is in the hospital, away from his family and friends, fighting for his life.  I wanted to share with you all his  story.  And I hope he will share with you, too.  Thank you all for your support.