[Applause] so if someone were to offer you a chance
so if someone were to offer you a chance
so if someone were to offer you a chance of something with the odds being one to
of something with the odds being one to
of something with the odds being one to one and a quarter million would you take
one and a quarter million would you take
one and a quarter million would you take the chance those aren’t very good odds
the chance those aren’t very good odds
the chance those aren’t very good odds if you’re trying to win the lottery but
if you’re trying to win the lottery but
if you’re trying to win the lottery but if it’s brain cancer and you are there
if it’s brain cancer and you are there
if it’s brain cancer and you are there surviving 1% you’d take the chance and I
surviving 1% you’d take the chance and I
surviving 1% you’d take the chance and I did it’s true what my wife says about me
did it’s true what my wife says about me
did it’s true what my wife says about me being one in a million
being one in a million
being one in a million yeah and she does and so this is the
yeah and she does and so this is the
yeah and she does and so this is the beginning of my new normal
beginning of my new normal
beginning of my new normal now some maybe I’d just say that I’m
now some maybe I’d just say that I’m
now some maybe I’d just say that I’m lucky and in fact I am I am lucky 13 in
lucky and in fact I am I am lucky 13 in
lucky and in fact I am I am lucky 13 in a family of 14 children see that’s that
a family of 14 children see that’s that
a family of 14 children see that’s that 14 that you’re talking about yeah yeah
14 that you’re talking about yeah yeah
14 that you’re talking about yeah yeah that wasn’t our family but but yeah a
that wasn’t our family but but yeah a
that wasn’t our family but but yeah a family of 14 but my luck didn’t stop
family of 14 but my luck didn’t stop
family of 14 but my luck didn’t stop there I’ve had some great opportunities
there I’ve had some great opportunities
there I’ve had some great opportunities in my life I had opportunities to
in my life I had opportunities to
in my life I had opportunities to perform with a couple of my brothers we
perform with a couple of my brothers we
perform with a couple of my brothers we even made a few CDs and we did it
even made a few CDs and we did it
even made a few CDs and we did it professionally I was able to be on a
professionally I was able to be on a
professionally I was able to be on a national television show called this old
national television show called this old
national television show called this old house when I was listen Liz living in
house when I was listen Liz living in
house when I was listen Liz living in Massachusetts selling and installing
Massachusetts selling and installing
Massachusetts selling and installing high ended shedders I was able to have
high ended shedders I was able to have
high ended shedders I was able to have my own wood floor business and I could
my own wood floor business and I could
my own wood floor business and I could do just about anything that I put my
do just about anything that I put my
do just about anything that I put my mind to in 2006 I was 35 years old I had
mind to in 2006 I was 35 years old I had
mind to in 2006 I was 35 years old I had I was married had three small boys and
I was married had three small boys and
I was married had three small boys and and I was finishing up my bachelor’s
and I was finishing up my bachelor’s
and I was finishing up my bachelor’s degree at the local university when a
degree at the local university when a
degree at the local university when a weekend visit to the emergency room
weekend visit to the emergency room
weekend visit to the emergency room because I was having some weird spells
because I was having some weird spells
because I was having some weird spells and talking gibberish changed everything
and talking gibberish changed everything
and talking gibberish changed everything I had an exploratory surgery the next
I had an exploratory surgery the next
I had an exploratory surgery the next morning I had brain cancer it was a
morning I had brain cancer it was a
morning I had brain cancer it was a weird kind of weird kind of cancer it
weird kind of weird kind of cancer it
weird kind of weird kind of cancer it was called an olio astrocytoma Glenda
was called an olio astrocytoma Glenda
was called an olio astrocytoma Glenda Aloma mix in my left temporal lobe the
Aloma mix in my left temporal lobe the
Aloma mix in my left temporal lobe the survival rate is less than 1% after one
survival rate is less than 1% after one
survival rate is less than 1% after one year
year
year I went in for the second surgery about a
I went in for the second surgery about a
I went in for the second surgery about a month later to get as much of the tumor
month later to get as much of the tumor
month later to get as much of the tumor as they could out when I woke up from my
as they could out when I woke up from my
as they could out when I woke up from my second surgery there was a nurse in my
second surgery there was a nurse in my
second surgery there was a nurse in my room and she was holding up a letter and
room and she was holding up a letter and
room and she was holding up a letter and she says Matt do you know what this
she says Matt do you know what this
she says Matt do you know what this letter is
letter is
letter is I did not she said Matt this is an M
I did not she said Matt this is an M
I did not she said Matt this is an M your name is Matt it starts with an M at
your name is Matt it starts with an M at
your name is Matt it starts with an M at that point I was thinking it would be be
that point I was thinking it would be be
that point I was thinking it would be be a great time to learn another language
a great time to learn another language
a great time to learn another language because I did not know English my whole
because I did not know English my whole
because I did not know English my whole world changed at that point I could no
world changed at that point I could no
world changed at that point I could no longer read I couldn’t read a road sign
longer read I couldn’t read a road sign
longer read I couldn’t read a road sign to see where I was going I couldn’t read
to see where I was going I couldn’t read
to see where I was going I couldn’t read a menu at a restaurant I couldn’t read a
a menu at a restaurant I couldn’t read a
a menu at a restaurant I couldn’t read a baby book for my kids to put them to
baby book for my kids to put them to
baby book for my kids to put them to sleep it was like I was living in a
sleep it was like I was living in a
sleep it was like I was living in a different world I couldn’t write and I
different world I couldn’t write and I
different world I couldn’t write and I had a tough time expressing myself about
had a tough time expressing myself about
had a tough time expressing myself about seven months into treatment I was
seven months into treatment I was
seven months into treatment I was dealing with the beginnings of a divorce
dealing with the beginnings of a divorce
dealing with the beginnings of a divorce and a custody battle for me to even see
and a custody battle for me to even see
and a custody battle for me to even see my boys I went to my doctor and he says
my boys I went to my doctor and he says
my boys I went to my doctor and he says Matt you probably have a couple months
Matt you probably have a couple months
Matt you probably have a couple months to live I had heard those words before
to live I had heard those words before
to live I had heard those words before my oldest brother Ron 14 years earlier
my oldest brother Ron 14 years earlier
my oldest brother Ron 14 years earlier died of cancer by the time that he found
died of cancer by the time that he found
died of cancer by the time that he found it to the time that he cut died was two
it to the time that he cut died was two
it to the time that he cut died was two months they didn’t even know that the
months they didn’t even know that the
months they didn’t even know that the origin of the cancer because when and
origin of the cancer because when and
origin of the cancer because when and they found it it was everywhere my
they found it it was everywhere my
they found it it was everywhere my family didn’t want to lose another
family didn’t want to lose another
family didn’t want to lose another brother to cancer I fought I went to
brother to cancer I fought I went to
brother to cancer I fought I went to another doctor and as he was having a
another doctor and as he was having a
another doctor and as he was having a sandwich he said sorry there’s nothing I
sandwich he said sorry there’s nothing I
sandwich he said sorry there’s nothing I could do my siblings asked doctor
could do my siblings asked doctor
could do my siblings asked doctor friends to see to look at my scans and
friends to see to look at my scans and
friends to see to look at my scans and they also were like we’re sorry I was
they also were like we’re sorry I was
they also were like we’re sorry I was going downhill fast and I was felt like
going downhill fast and I was felt like
going downhill fast and I was felt like I was losing at everything
I was losing at everything
I was losing at everything in fact one night I felt like that if I
in fact one night I felt like that if I
in fact one night I felt like that if I would have died that night or if I would
would have died that night or if I would
would have died that night or if I would have slept that night
have slept that night
have slept that night I would have died no I went to a high
I would have died no I went to a high
I would have died no I went to a high school track and walked all night long
school track and walked all night long
school track and walked all night long it was like my body was was stopping it
it was like my body was was stopping it
it was like my body was was stopping it was not working right I called my mom in
was not working right I called my mom in
was not working right I called my mom in the middle of the night and said mom I
the middle of the night and said mom I
the middle of the night and said mom I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be
don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be
don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be around about 5:00 in the morning I
around about 5:00 in the morning I
around about 5:00 in the morning I called my sister and said can you pick
called my sister and said can you pick
called my sister and said can you pick me up and take me to the emergency room
me up and take me to the emergency room
me up and take me to the emergency room just so I can get some relief three days
just so I can get some relief three days
just so I can get some relief three days later I get a call from one of my
later I get a call from one of my
later I get a call from one of my brothers it says Matt I’ve got a
brothers it says Matt I’ve got a
brothers it says Matt I’ve got a airplane ticket to Salt Lake City Utah
airplane ticket to Salt Lake City Utah
airplane ticket to Salt Lake City Utah there’s a doctor there that wants to
there’s a doctor there that wants to
there’s a doctor there that wants to meet me to be in a clinical trial option
meet me to be in a clinical trial option
meet me to be in a clinical trial option my family has been we’re looking for
my family has been we’re looking for
my family has been we’re looking for anything to save my life I was on the
anything to save my life I was on the
anything to save my life I was on the airplane that morning and that afternoon
airplane that morning and that afternoon
airplane that morning and that afternoon I was at the doctors in his office and
I was at the doctors in his office and
I was at the doctors in his office and that’s like three days after I thought
that’s like three days after I thought
that’s like three days after I thought that my life was done he said Matt he
that my life was done he said Matt he
that my life was done he said Matt he said all right if we have one more
said all right if we have one more
said all right if we have one more surgery and then could you come and see
surgery and then could you come and see
surgery and then could you come and see me every once in a while for the next 30
me every once in a while for the next 30
me every once in a while for the next 30 years I started to cry and then I said
years I started to cry and then I said
years I started to cry and then I said can we make it 50 years
can we make it 50 years
can we make it 50 years yeah well while we’re doing that I came
yeah well while we’re doing that I came
yeah well while we’re doing that I came out of my third surgery now I still had
out of my third surgery now I still had
out of my third surgery now I still had cancer but they were able to take away
cancer but they were able to take away
cancer but they were able to take away some some cysts there were I’ve been
some some cysts there were I’ve been
some some cysts there were I’ve been putting pressure on the brain
putting pressure on the brain
putting pressure on the brain I was also paralyzed on my entire right
I was also paralyzed on my entire right
I was also paralyzed on my entire right side I had a little pity party for
side I had a little pity party for
side I had a little pity party for myself for about a half hour I was I was
myself for about a half hour I was I was
myself for about a half hour I was I was upset I was thinking why is this
upset I was thinking why is this
upset I was thinking why is this happening to me and then I thought Matt
happening to me and then I thought Matt
happening to me and then I thought Matt I’m alive and I can figure this out so I
I’m alive and I can figure this out so I
I’m alive and I can figure this out so I thought what can I do with what I have
thought what can I do with what I have
thought what can I do with what I have what is my new normal going to look like
what is my new normal going to look like
what is my new normal going to look like one of the first things that I tried to
one of the first things that I tried to
one of the first things that I tried to do was to play my guitar now I had been
do was to play my guitar now I had been
do was to play my guitar now I had been playing my guitar for almost 20 years
playing my guitar for almost 20 years
playing my guitar for almost 20 years before the cancer I tried like crazy to
before the cancer I tried like crazy to
before the cancer I tried like crazy to get my right hand to even strum on the
get my right hand to even strum on the
get my right hand to even strum on the guitar but every time my thumb would
guitar but every time my thumb would
guitar but every time my thumb would fall into the strings like this my yeah
fall into the strings like this my yeah
fall into the strings like this my yeah and and then so it didn’t have any sound
and and then so it didn’t have any sound
and and then so it didn’t have any sound and so I thought what can I do with what
and so I thought what can I do with what
and so I thought what can I do with what I have and so I took my whole right side
I have and so I took my whole right side
I have and so I took my whole right side out of the equation I would practice
out of the equation I would practice
out of the equation I would practice with a captive audience of other people
with a captive audience of other people
with a captive audience of other people who were having chemo with me and I I
who were having chemo with me and I I
who were having chemo with me and I I look I learn a way to to do some things
look I learn a way to to do some things
look I learn a way to to do some things this this is my new normal
this this is my new normal
this this is my new normal this is a song that I wrote several
this is a song that I wrote several
this is a song that I wrote several years ago but even before the cancer and
years ago but even before the cancer and
years ago but even before the cancer and it’s called go fly a kite it’s helped me
it’s called go fly a kite it’s helped me
it’s called go fly a kite it’s helped me tremendously
tremendously
tremendously [Music]
like it did and if the troubles of my
like it did and if the troubles of my life
life
life I couldn’t you see the things that cared
I couldn’t you see the things that cared
I couldn’t you see the things that cared of pack up all that I was scared of and
of pack up all that I was scared of and
of pack up all that I was scared of and then with my kite I’d head out to our
then with my kite I’d head out to our
then with my kite I’d head out to our old I found the field I didn’t care
old I found the field I didn’t care
old I found the field I didn’t care about the time I needed some place to
about the time I needed some place to
about the time I needed some place to unwind where I could think about my
unwind where I could think about my
unwind where I could think about my future if I needed to I’d pray then I’d
future if I needed to I’d pray then I’d
future if I needed to I’d pray then I’d sit and watch my cares float away up in
sit and watch my cares float away up in
sit and watch my cares float away up in the air with my kites and all the hours
the air with my kites and all the hours
the air with my kites and all the hours of the day and it’s not worth it to me
of the day and it’s not worth it to me
of the day and it’s not worth it to me fighting all humanity where I’d have to
fighting all humanity where I’d have to
fighting all humanity where I’d have to plead and beg to make so if the world
plead and beg to make so if the world
plead and beg to make so if the world seems too unreal and I need some time to
seems too unreal and I need some time to
seems too unreal and I need some time to hear you you can find me with my
hear you you can find me with my
hear you you can find me with my troubles in my cut out in the field once
troubles in my cut out in the field once
troubles in my cut out in the field once I learned that I could play my guitar I
I learned that I could play my guitar I
I learned that I could play my guitar I knew that I could do just about anything
knew that I could do just about anything
knew that I could do just about anything when I am I thought I started going on
when I am I thought I started going on
when I am I thought I started going on and in doing learning how to read and
and in doing learning how to read and
and in doing learning how to read and write again and people said Matt you
write again and people said Matt you
write again and people said Matt you don’t have to do that you don’t have to
don’t have to do that you don’t have to
don’t have to do that you don’t have to read to be able to have a great life but
read to be able to have a great life but
read to be able to have a great life but to me reading was a huge benefit and a
to me reading was a huge benefit and a
to me reading was a huge benefit and a challenge for me and I was able to do it
challenge for me and I was able to do it
challenge for me and I was able to do it in fact I was even able to be able to
in fact I was even able to be able to
in fact I was even able to be able to finish my college degree I was able to
finish my college degree I was able to
finish my college degree I was able to get remarried and the odds of having
get remarried and the odds of having
get remarried and the odds of having children were also very slim I had a lot
children were also very slim I had a lot
children were also very slim I had a lot of chemo but we’ve been able to have two
of chemo but we’ve been able to have two
of chemo but we’ve been able to have two other children to add to us great family
other children to add to us great family
other children to add to us great family I was learning all kinds of things that
I was learning all kinds of things that
I was learning all kinds of things that I didn’t know that I could do like in
I didn’t know that I could do like in
I didn’t know that I could do like in making beds all right try doing that one
making beds all right try doing that one
making beds all right try doing that one time with your non-dominant hand all
time with your non-dominant hand all
time with your non-dominant hand all right
right
right I couldn’t even get out of doing the
I couldn’t even get out of doing the
I couldn’t even get out of doing the laundry all right well one of the great
laundry all right well one of the great
laundry all right well one of the great things about my wife is that she has
things about my wife is that she has
things about my wife is that she has never once thought of me as being
never once thought of me as being
never once thought of me as being disabled she believes in me and she
disabled she believes in me and she
disabled she believes in me and she doesn’t rescue me
doesn’t rescue me
doesn’t rescue me from doing hard things so when I see a
from doing hard things so when I see a
from doing hard things so when I see a chat task that needs to be done I just
chat task that needs to be done I just
chat task that needs to be done I just figure out ways that I can do it what
figure out ways that I can do it what
figure out ways that I can do it what can I do with what I have this is just a
can I do with what I have this is just a
can I do with what I have this is just a few a little clip of some other things
few a little clip of some other things
few a little clip of some other things that I’ve learned how to do this is a
that I’ve learned how to do this is a
that I’ve learned how to do this is a daily life in my new normal this is what
daily life in my new normal this is what
daily life in my new normal this is what helps me get my lawnmower started in the
helps me get my lawnmower started in the
helps me get my lawnmower started in the summertime so I just put this thing in
summertime so I just put this thing in
summertime so I just put this thing in and push it there that way I don’t have
and push it there that way I don’t have
and push it there that way I don’t have to use this other hand to pull
so I still take chant challenge I still
so I still take chant challenge I still take a challenge at things I know that I
take a challenge at things I know that I
take a challenge at things I know that I can do anything that I want but I have a
can do anything that I want but I have a
can do anything that I want but I have a question for each of you what is your
question for each of you what is your
question for each of you what is your new normal
new normal
new normal everyone here is struggling with
everyone here is struggling with
everyone here is struggling with something in their life to get it a
something in their life to get it a
something in their life to get it a little better what can you do with what
little better what can you do with what
little better what can you do with what you have with the winds of life for
you have with the winds of life for
you have with the winds of life for blowing and you don’t like where you’re
blowing and you don’t like where you’re
blowing and you don’t like where you’re going and you want to turn around and
going and you want to turn around and
going and you want to turn around and make things right
go fly kite whoa go fly a kite
go fly kite whoa go fly a kite [Music]
[Music]
[Music] thank you
”
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