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Oyster roast benefits 3-year-old battling cancer ANNUAL OYSTER ROAST BENEFIT

March 3, 2009 12:35 am

WHEN 2-year-old Matthew Rose slipped and banged his abdomen last Memorial Day on the steps to the trampoline in his Caroline County backyard, it may have saved his life.

When the youngster felt poorly the next day, well beyond what a minor bump should have caused, parents Laurie and Donald Rose hustled from their Lake Land'or home to Mary Washington Hospital.

Doctors there sent the youngster to the VCU Medical Center. Tests showed a Wilms tumor on Matthew's kidney.

He had an operation to remove his right kidney several days later. The fast-growing tumor had also spread to his liver. Doctors were able to remove the tumor, but said small parts of it may have broken off into his abdomen during the operation.

That's why Matthew, now 3, has undergone a round of radiation and 25 weeks of chemotherapy over the past year, finishing up just before Christmas.

"If he hadn't slipped and hit his stomach on those stairs, we wouldn't have found out about the tumor when we did," Donald said. The Rose family--Matthew, two brothers and a sister--counts their blessings for that and for their son's energy.

And even though they have health insurance, the 30 percent of costs the policy doesn't cover has the Roses facing bills well over $100,000.

That's why Matthew is the beneficiary of the 25th annual Oyster Roast sponsored by the Friendship Baptist Church and White Oak Equipment in Stafford County. The roast is Saturday at 3 p.m.

To date, the event has raised more than $550,000 for local folks facing serious medical and financial challenges.

Laurie and Donald Rose said they never thought they'd want or need to accept help paying the bills for their family.

"It's not the way we were raised, to look elsewhere for help," he said.

Matthew's treatments have included days and weeks in hospitals from Fredericksburg to Richmond, drugs and equipment that runs into the tens of thousands of dollars and have caused Laurie to be out of work for months at a stretch, so the couple is thankful for this help and other fund-raising events locally.

Mainly, their efforts have been to get their sweet, energetic son back to the boy they once knew.

"He was all boy, and loved everything about fishing, swimming and just being outside," Laurie said.

Because the radiation and chemo treatments have weakened his immune system, Matthew has had to stay inside, away from everyone.

With high fevers and low blood counts making him feel lousy, and a central line keeping him from getting wet, his world and activities were small and limited for much of the year.

"He's kept a pretty good attitude," Laurie said, "but at that age, it's hard to hear you can't do all the things you like doing."

Donald, who works as a supervisor for the Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, and Laurie, who drives a bus for Caroline County schools and does day care at her home, are upbeat about the youngster's improvement.

"He'll have to go back every three months for CAT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds and heart echoes," Laurie said. "But we're encouraged that the first round found no apparent signs of cancer."

The parents say it has been a terrifying year, but give credit to friends, family, and their church, Canaan's Faith Church of God in Stafford, for helping them to get through the hardest times.

"He was a pretty tough little guy," Donald said. "He never really complained, and kept track of his schedules and medications. If we weren't right on the dot, he'd come and say it was time for one medication or another."

The entire family has been thrilled to see the Matthew slowly get his energy back, and enjoy things as simple as a bubble bath last week, finally freed of the central line.

With a slowly recovering immune system, some care will still be needed to keep Matthew apart from those who might give him colds or other maladies.

"But I hope by this summer, he can be back outside some," said his mother. "He can't wait."

Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com