A grieving mothers outcry to encourage others fight to get their children the medical attention they need when they feel something is physically wrong with their child...
Even at a very young age, Matthew had strange pains and bowel problems. The doctors always gave vague "possible" reasons for them and moved on. Matthew was very outgoing and active during his short life, though after sports like football the pains and severe bowl problems would always seem to increase. Again, the doctors were vague and left him undiagnosed as far as a "specific cause". After years of struggling to follow his doctor's advice and watching her child suffer and grow worse, Matthew's mother demanded a specialist and in time finally got the official diagnosis of Crones disease. Matthew's family moved over 800 miles from their lifetime home in Mooresville NC to be near Boston's Children's Hospital so Matt could get the medical care he desperately needed. Sadly, it was too late to save him and on May 2, 2012 Matthew's brief life of 12 years was over. At the Mooresville NC services to say goodbye to Matthew, his mother was moved to encourage other parents to fight to get their children the medical treatment and proper care that they may need. "If your child hurts and your doctor doesn't listen, go to a specialist... if your doctor doesn't want to refer you to a specialist you find a new doctor. If you can save your baby, by God save your baby!" were some of the words passionately spoken by Donna Jones before a balloon release to celebrate and remember Matthew.
