Matthew is a handsome, active 4-year-old boy who loves fishing, playing with play-doh, playing outside, hanging around with his siblings Hannah, Noah & Joshua, and just plain being a kid!  Matthew lives in Minnesota with his Mom & Dad, Natalie and David and his brothers and sister. He loves to play with his bird Curly, dog Cookie and his pet minnows.  Matthew has struggled with medical problems since the time he was born. He was born at 37 weeks and weighed 7pounds 12oz. Matthew has a unknown primary immune deficiency, arthritis, diabetes, and a variant of Cystic Fibrosis.  He receives IVIG, prophylactic antibiotics and breathing treatments as well as many medications and procedures to control his symptoms.  Matthew is presently being tested for Shwachman-Diamond syndrome which is a condition that involves pancreatic insufficiency, hematologic abnormalities, including increased risk of malignant transformation, and skeletal abnormalities. Recently, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (choroid pleuxes papilloma), which he had removed October 9th, and is still struggling with some complications from the surgery.

 "..there are families out there struggling with medical problems and the system. Not only does it effect Matthew's life it effects everyone around him. Our struggles are real and the more people are aware maybe something will change in our society. We are just your average hard working family with regular problems which is difficult enough. Then you add Matthew's medical struggles and worries and our plate is heaping over. But we have faith that God will guide us through all of this.  I think it will be great to have a place where families can go to where they are not judged but rather nurtured and supported. A place where they can be who they are no matter how different they are from other people. 'Connor's House' will be that place. It will be like a second home. It will be a place where the walls are built on love and understanding and the glue of compassion that holds it all together. 'Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall.''  

-Natalie, Matthew's Mom