This Week

Cover Story

STAND BY ME from page 10

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According to Dr. Alberto Pappo, pediatric hematologist-oncologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in
Memphis, Ewing's sarcoma is the second most prevalent type of bone cancer.
"The most common symptoms are pain, fever, palpable , mass and, in some rare cases, depending on where, it can
present itself as a fracture, Dr. Pappo says.

It is frequently found in flat bones, like ribs, pelvis and long bones, like the femur. It can arise in the bone or soft
tissue around bone. Neurological symptoms, such as decreased movement in the extremities, may indicate the spinal
area is affected. Breathing may become difficult if the lungs are involved.
Treatment includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with surgical removal of the tumor an option for some
patients. The chemotherapy is administered to shrink and help control the primary tumor, but also to eliminate
cancer that is in stages too early to detect in other parts of the body — or that may occur later," Dr. Pappo says.
Of those who receive only radiation or amputation, 80 percent will develop lung metastasis.
Current research on Ewing's sarcoma includes the cloning of genes involved in the tumor in hopes of gaining earli-
er and more accurate diagnosis as well as development of new drugs. Intensified chemotherapy with the use ofbone
marrow and peripheral blood stem cell support is being investigated.

better chance of me living if I
do that," he says.
Dr. Main sees Matt's extreme-
ly positive attitude as beneficial
to his rehabilitation. "He will
go into surgery asking, 'When
am I going to walk?'

Into The Future

lege of public affairs. He has
reduced his class load this
semester to a four-day-a-week,
second-level Hebrew class.
"My teacher has been great.
Her daughter had leukemia,
and she understands what I
have, and will be going
through," Matt says of Ellen
Rothfeld, whose daughter
Liat is now a freshman at
MSU.
"Matt has always had a
good sense of humor and a
solid group of friends," says
Rothfeld, who has been
Matt's teacher for nearly two
years. "His friends are there
for him, as I'm sure he would
be if any of them were going
through rough times."

"I will eventually be able to run
and walk and be very mobile. I
may not be able to play basket-
ball as well, but this will not
slow me down," Matt says.
Already he's making plans.
He's thinking of taking a sum-
mer-semester class and is look-
ing into working part-time at
one of the two jobs he held last
summer, "just to get out of the
house."
Matt smiles at a photo of himself
One big shift in summer
with girlfrie net Suzy Sidote.
plans involved many of Matt's
friends. A group was planning
Family Sacrifice
to tour Europe after attending the University of
"My parents should win Parents of the Year," Mau says.
Cambridge in the United Kingdom through MSU's
In the midst of preparing for a move to Chicago, the
Study Abroad program.
Lashes were jolted with the news of their son's illness.
"When they realized Matt couldn't go, this won-
"My mom had a great opportunity there. My dad
derful, affectionate group came to our house," says
was set to stay in our house in Novi, where they
Matt's mom. "They brought him a book called
moved after I graduated from high school, until he
Europe for Dummies and said, 'Save this for next
could sell it," Matt says. "Boxes were packed and my
year, when we all go together.'"
mom was two days away from moving when we
They told him it wouldn't be the same without
found out what I had."
him and that they canceled the trip they were going
Matt's mom remembers: "It was the last day of
to take after the study program ends.
work from my old job. I came home and found out
Mart is a full-time student with a double major in
the doctor had called. I called to get my old job
international relations and social relations in the James
back, but Matt insisted I go to Chicago. We took
Madison College, MSU's undergraduate liberal arts col-
the 'For Sale' sign out of the window. My husband

2/23
2001

32

stayed here and I left for Chicago, crying for five
hours in the car." She is living with her mother in
Highland Park, Ill.
"I forced my mom to stay with the new job because it
was too good for her," Matt says.
Roberta Lash works as an account executive for
Wood Associates, a Northbrook, Ill., company that
sells promotional products and advertising specialties.
"What my parents decided to do was a sacrifice
that I am deeply appreciative for," Matt says. "My
mom calls every night to see how I am, and comes
home every time for the chemotherapy. My dad calls
daily to make sure I'm fine and also helps drive to
the hospital with me. They are still married and
made this sacrifice because it made me happy."
Matt's mom says, "Once Matt is cured, we will all
move to Chicago."
Although spread-out by distance, Matt says his
family is "really close."
"My whole family has been very light and positive
and energetic. My brother Jason, who's 24 and lives
in Grand Rapids, has been great. Before my first
chemo, he sent me a 'complete cancer care kit,' with
a purple wig and video games to keep me busy. It
was better than if he had sent a letter saying, 'I love
you so much and care for you.' I liked it better for
him to be himself."

Being There

Support for Matt has come in many forms, from the
photo his friend Justin Palletr of Farmington Hills
had framed of "all the guys together" to "phone calls
and e-mails from people I haven't talked to in a long
time, including a friend I haven't heard from in 3 1 /,
years," Mart says.
Although many of his friends are in schools other
STAND BY ME on page 16

