Auschwitz Adventures: Let's "Whip" cancer!- Mathew's story

First let me start off with this, its not eloquent or deep but I have to get it off my chest: cancer sucks! Every kind, every time in every person! It just does. Now that I’ve said that let me tell you about one of the special people in my life I am dedicating this fundraiser too. I don’t want this to be a sad story to bring down anyone’s day but I can’t do something like this without even mentioning why I am so driven to raise money for this cause. There have been quite a few people in my distant family who have been affected with cancer but they were all older and I was younger and I didn’t really know them well. But there have been two that hit really close and here’s one of their stories. Almost 7 years ago, it would strike someone very close to me. Lets go back just a little. I am from a family of three girls. We don’t have a brother but we do have a boy cousin that was five years younger than me. He was always the know it all, pesky little cousin, that loved to just pester the Hell out of you with a big grin that you couldn’t help but love! We loved him like a brother. Every time we would pull up to Nana’s house he would be up in the tree out front waiting for us in nothing but his underroos!! (Until he grew up and then he was too cool to act like he was excited to see us). We spent many summers riding around in the country on four wheelers. Falls playing in the trailers full of cotton. Almost 7 years ago, I was hanging out at my brother in laws house and I got a call from my Papa. I talk to Papa and Nina all the time, so this was nothing out of the ordinary except that when I answered he was crying. All he could choke out what we think Mathew has cancer. What!! Where in the world did that come from! What are you talking about! I just freaked out. He hasn’t been sick. His 18^th birthday is tomorrow! He’s Mr. Perfect! No way could this be happening. It didn’t seem real but I immediately just knew he’s going to be fine. The next day, on his 18^th birthday, he was officially diagnosed. He had lymphoblastic lymphoma. There was no doubt in my mind if anyone could beat it Mathew could. The next few months would be really hard but they would also be months I will cherish forever. Growing up Dianna and Mathew had always been the dynamic duo. They were one year apart. They traveled together and were really close. But this time was our time. I was in Shreveport teaching and Tyler was in med school. Mathew did his chemo and treatments at LSU in Shreveport. Every time he was in town doing another round of treatment, I was there, every day after school and on the weekends. Except the one day I missed because we had a late meeting at school and I had something that afternoon, so I didn’t go up to the hospital. I was reprimanded badly for not coming “You didn’t even call!!” Man he sounded like a needy boyfriend but it just validated the fact of how much he loved me stopping by. Daily deliveries of Jonny’s Pizza, chick fil a, DVDs or anything else his needy self demanded. Sitting on his bed reading lists of terrible names people named their babies, knitting hats, walking laps around the hospital floor, constant teasing me of anything and everything. He once asked me when I walked in the room. Man why is your hair so greasy! Excuse me sir but its wet because I just got out of the shower but didn’t have time to dry it because your highness was demanding a pizza pronto! These are some of the memories, despite the circumstances, I will remember forever. After months of treatment, we thought he had it beat. We all celebrated him being in remission and watched him give his valedictorian speech at graduation. We were thrilled to pack him up and send him to Tulane. He was working with the baseball trainers and was getting stronger by the day so he could make it on the team. He was loving the college life for the short time he was able to go. Because soon enough the cancer would be back and with a vengeance. He made it less than two months of college and then was back home and in the hospital fighting for his life. Days before he lost that fight, we celebrated Thanksgiving. Mathew and Tyler went hunting Thanksgiving morning and killed Tyler’s first deer! We all knew but weren’t accepting the fact that this was going to be his last. Dianna and I went over and spent the weekend with him. Laid up on the couch, laughing telling stories and making fun of all the medicine and herbs he was taking. One was made of flowers and we joked he was going to have petunias growing from his peach fuzz on his head! We rode around on four wheelers like we had done so many times growing up. This time was different. As we rode around, Dianna and I following behind him, watching his every move and soaking up every second. We knew but yet we didn’t know. We had no idea less than two days later he would be taken from us. I never doubted that he would beat it. I saw the ESPN stories during the college world series, as he took the mound to pitch. Reliving his battle and celebrating his victory. When Tyler walked in my room at school followed by our coordinator and said “Hurry we need to go right now to the hospital”, I finally accepted what was happening. I told him I loved him and how thankful I was for the last few months. I will never understand why God chose to take him. He should be in his third year of med school. I should have been able to watch him play many more baseball games (even though he said I was bad luck because they always lost when I was there). God has a greater plan and I don’t understand it and honestly I don’t really like it or agree with it. But I accept it partly because I have no choice. He was an amazing kid. Who knew everything and let you know! If he was wrong he would find a away to spin it and make it right! He loved the Lord and wasn’t afraid to say it. I miss him all the time. People ask me why Caleb’s middle name has one T (Mathew) instead of two. Because the person he was named after had one T. I see so much of Mathew in Caleb!! Its scary! Sometimes I swear Mathew is whispering things in Caleb’s ear to do to drive me crazy!! I know he’s watching over us. I know he’s in a much better place but I miss him anyway! So that is why when I saw this month Pampered Chef was doing fundraisers for the American Cancer society, I felt so drawn to raise money, raise awareness and tell Mathew’s story again. Thanks for letting me ramble.

Go to my website

www.pamperedchef.biz/monicaauschwitz

Under host enter Monica Auschwitz

There’s lots of awesome products to make cooking fun and easy. And know that this month up to 25% will go to help fight cancer. Get some Christmas shopping done early. Scratch some names off your list. Get some products to help you make and serve your holiday feasts. Help me reach my goal of $1000 in sales. Do it for Mathew and everyone else who fight this battle

Here are some pictures I had on my computer. I tried to narrow it down and just couldn't cut any out!