Penndale seventh-grader Matthew Knoebel is surrounded by love and generosity.
The leukemia patient, 12, has spent a month on a hospital bed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, but you can tell his mother, Christina Simpson, has made him feel at home.
The hearts of the West Point-rooted Simpson family — sisters Christina and fiance Tom Coughlin, Kellie Roggio, of Upper Gwynedd, and Mary Aderman of Lansdale; brother Michael; and parents Mike and Sue — are much like their homelife (and Matthew's hospital room door): open.
On Halloween, Knoebel and his mom spent the afternoon watching Jim Gaffigan’s “Beyond the Pale.” Later that night, Christina took a Halloween bag of candy to her son, which was donated through Altoona’s “Make a Difference Day,” from the Ronald McDonald House Room at CHOP.
When she came back, Matthew had a sad look on his face: he didn’t want the candy because there were youths who needed in more than him.
“I just love him so much, it hurts,” said Christina.
On Friday, Knoebel was readmitted to the hospital; his leukemia is now high risk.
Doctors need Matthew’s cell count to be one leukemia per 10,000. Matthew’s is 400 to 10,000.
Chemotherapy, most likely, will not cure him. Relapse chance is high.
A bone marrow transplant must happen soon, his mother said.
Matthew's doctors are, at present, in the process of determining his human leukocyte antigen tissue type. HLAs are proteins on cells in the body, and the immune system uses the proteins to recognize the right cells for the body and the wrong cells for the body. The closer a match to Matthew's HLA proteins, the better.
Matthew was in the hospital for 37 days, and discharged on Wednesday. Remission was a possibility, as he was responding well to that chemotherapy. In the meantime, he was receiving home medical attention.
Matthew was diagnosed on Oct. 28 with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, or Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia.
Last weekend, Matthew’s neighbors held a hot chocolate fundraiser for him near Pine and Poplar streets. They are planning another one for next weekend.
Matthew's Hot Chocolate Sale is Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. rain or shine on Pine Street, between Squirrel Lane and Edgemont Avenue.
Baked goods will also be sold. If you wish to donate baked goods, contact Rochelle at rndgirl3@gmail.com or call 610-574-7823. Baked goods can be dropped off day of or ahead of time, or picked up.
Friends and family of Matthew have organized a public "Matthew's Fight Against Leukemia" pancake fundraiser breakfast at Applebee's at Ralph's Corner from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. December 16.
The event is sold out.
All proceeds will go to fund Matthew's medical expenses.
There will be a 50/50 drawing at the breakfast.
It will also have a special guest: Santa Claus.
Donate online at "Let's Help Keep Matt Healthy" on Indiegogo at this link:http://igg.me/p/273535.
To read Matthew’s full story, check out his CaringBrige blog at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewknoebel.
December 15, 2012 Rain or Shine! Hours will be 10:00am - untill the kids have had enough! ***Pine Street is located between Squirrel Lane and Edgemont Avenue *** We also are going to be selling baked goods! If anyone would like to donate any baked goods it would be APPRECIATED :) Baked goods could be dropped off the day of the sale or ahead of time. Need it picked up? I will come and get it! Further questions about the Hot Choclate / Bake Sale. I can be reached at rndgirl3@gmail.com or 610-574-7823. All money raised will go tho Matthew's family. Thanking you all in advance! Rochelle
In the meantime, we are in contact with the National Bone Marrow registry BeTheMatch.org and are trying to arrange a drive for people to get registered. They definitely will be going to the National registries with a goal of finding a perfect match for him. If we can get a marrow drive running we will definitely pass the info on to get as many people registered as possible! Thank you all for your love, prayers and support! <3
I almost fell off my chair when I read that the Ronald McDonald House is giving candy to children that are very sick. Couldn't it have been things like packs of crackers, pretzels, little boxes of raisins, etc. I had learned that soda and man-made sugars actually can feed cancerous cells. I think it was the Un. of Miami laboratory study of Acai fruit that found it to kill 60% of leukemia cells. Check that online. I think there is a good health program on a Lansdale area radio. called something like Duke and doctor. I heard they really help people across the country with all illnesses. I hope they can help. Stay strong Matt!! We're praying for you!!
I am pretty sure if you are between ages 18 and 44 there is no cost to join the registry. If you are between 45 and 60, then it is a $100 donation...it's explained in the FAQs here. But you can order your kit online and send it back (postage paid) with your cheek swabs and you will be entered into the National Registry.