My first Honored Hero is Matt Cwiertny. Matt was the younger brother of my high school friends, Christine and Eric Cwiertny, and though I never personally met him, I often checked his blog throughout his courageous fight against lymphoma. His story touched me because it reminded me how quickly and aggressive blood cancers can be. Christine shares the story of her brother that she lost way too soon:
Matt Cwiertny was a 23 year old graphic designer for Marshall Advertising, who loved Galaxy soccer, the Flight of the Conchords, The Dandy Warhols, Jack’s Mannequin, and Supercross, when he started getting extraordinarily high fevers, his blood pressure dropped, and his blood counts cratered. It was only after he went into respiratory failure that his doctors learned he suffered from Epstein Barr induced Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH), a blood disorder affecting only 1 of every 1,000,000 persons. While EBV-HLH is not cancer, it acts and is treated like a cancer. The disorder destroys healthy blood cells, and is treated with chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant, if necessary. In addition, EBV-HLH often induces lymphoma, which it did in Matt. One month after his EBV-HLH diagnosis, Matt learned he was also battling NK T-Cell lymphoma, one of the most aggressive blood cancers there is.
During the course of his 17 months of treatment for his EBV-HLH and NK T-cell lymphoma, Matt spent 180 days in the hospital, underwent 12 rounds of chemo, 300 blood tests, 12 MRIs, 12 Cat Scans, 8 Pet Scans, 6 bone marrow biopsies, 4 spinal taps, and a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant. Throughout it all, Matt kept up a positive attitude, spent time with his family and friends, made many new friends (Zia and Fathead of The Dandy Warhols; Andrew McMahon of Jack’s Mannequin; Keith Slettedahl and Adam Merrin of The 88), and helped and counseled others seeking bone marrow transplants or wrestling with cancer diagnoses.
In December 2008, Matt received his bone marrow transplant. While it temporarily put him in remission, his lymphoma returned in February 2009, and in June 2009, Matt learned it had moved to his brain in the form of an inoperable brain tumor. After chemotherapy failed to put him in remission, Matt began radiation treatment. Before finishing that treatment, however, Matt was readmitted to the City of Hope in late September 2009. At that time, Matt was in a weakened state, with his EBV levels extraordinarily high and infiltrating and debilitating his liver and kidneys. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to administer any treatment that could reverse the affects of the EBV and its impact on Matt’s vital organs, and at midnight on October 3, 2009, Matt passed away with all of his family surrounding him.
During his illness, Matt was a huge supporter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the annual Light the Night walks. While undergoing chemotherapy, Matt walked in both the 2008 and 2009 Light the Night walks, raising over $6000 dollars. In all, his family and friends raised over $50,000 during those two walks to benefit LLS. In addition, Matt directly benefited from the good works of LLS by receiving Rituxin, a drug partly developed through LLS funds that was used to kill EBV in his B-cells, as well as a gas stipend to help fund what often became daily trips to the City of Hope for treatment.
During the course of his 17 months of treatment for his EBV-HLH and NK T-cell lymphoma, Matt spent 180 days in the hospital, underwent 12 rounds of chemo, 300 blood tests, 12 MRIs, 12 Cat Scans, 8 Pet Scans, 6 bone marrow biopsies, 4 spinal taps, and a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant. Throughout it all, Matt kept up a positive attitude, spent time with his family and friends, made many new friends (Zia and Fathead of The Dandy Warhols; Andrew McMahon of Jack’s Mannequin; Keith Slettedahl and Adam Merrin of The 88), and helped and counseled others seeking bone marrow transplants or wrestling with cancer diagnoses.
In December 2008, Matt received his bone marrow transplant. While it temporarily put him in remission, his lymphoma returned in February 2009, and in June 2009, Matt learned it had moved to his brain in the form of an inoperable brain tumor. After chemotherapy failed to put him in remission, Matt began radiation treatment. Before finishing that treatment, however, Matt was readmitted to the City of Hope in late September 2009. At that time, Matt was in a weakened state, with his EBV levels extraordinarily high and infiltrating and debilitating his liver and kidneys. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to administer any treatment that could reverse the affects of the EBV and its impact on Matt’s vital organs, and at midnight on October 3, 2009, Matt passed away with all of his family surrounding him.
During his illness, Matt was a huge supporter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the annual Light the Night walks. While undergoing chemotherapy, Matt walked in both the 2008 and 2009 Light the Night walks, raising over $6000 dollars. In all, his family and friends raised over $50,000 during those two walks to benefit LLS. In addition, Matt directly benefited from the good works of LLS by receiving Rituxin, a drug partly developed through LLS funds that was used to kill EBV in his B-cells, as well as a gas stipend to help fund what often became daily trips to the City of Hope for treatment.
Matt would be honored to know that he is one of Lisa’s honored heroes for her Paris Marathon run. The Cwiertny family is grateful for Lisa’s support, and for keeping Matt, his story, and memory alive. Merci Beaucoup and Bonne Chance, Lisa!
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