Matthew Kocher

 "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" ... Hebrews 11:1

Dear Friends:  More than two years have passed since Matthew’s Miracles began following our son’s diagnosis with acute myelogenous leukemia on March 1, 2005.  Much has happened since then to transform our lives from an overwhelming sense of helplessness in the early days of diagnosis to an abundant sense of hopefulness in Matthew’s prognosis as he has battled and beaten his cancer.  Each day we are filled with the hope of a better tomorrow, not just for Matthew, but for all of the children and their families who so courageously meet the challenges of childhood cancer and bone marrow transplantation.

We are firm believers that much is expected of those to whom much has been given.  And we have been given much in our son’s brave and courageous battle to become a childhood cancer survivor.  Today, thanks in no small part to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, we have a healthy teenage son whose infectious spirit and wisdom nurture us daily and bring us the continued hope of brighter days ahead.  As we reflect on the blessings of our journey, we certainly count among them the compassionate doctors, nurses and hospital staff at Children’s who dedicate their lives to making the lives of our children better—and in many cases even saving them.  Their work is challenging, trying and hard.  Yet, they give unselfishly of themselves each day so that our sons and daughters have the chance for a better tomorrow.

It is in this spirit of unselfish giving that we have established the Matthew’s Miracles Fund at Children’s Hospital as a lasting tribute to Matthew’s tenacious spirit and miraculous recovery.  This charitable fund will primarily be used to sponsor a new bone marrow transplant playroom in the pediatric oncology ward at the new Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh that is scheduled to open in 2009.  As we know firsthand from Matthew’s experience, kids who undergo a bone marrow transplant are confined to a sterile environment for weeks (and sometimes months) following their transplant, often leaving them trapped within the four walls of their hospital room.  The new bone marrow transplant playroom will change that for many pediatric patients.  It will offer a safe haven for kids of all ages whose new immune systems are struggling to recover, giving them a place where they can try to once again be kids under the most trying of circumstances.

We hope that you will join us in pledging your support for the Matthew’s Miracles Fund.  Our sponsorship commitment for the playroom is $150,000 over the next five years, but our goals and expectations reach much higher.  With your help, we hope to raise significantly more than our sponsorship pledge so that Matthew’s Miracles can continue giving back to help meet the needs of the Oncology Division and other families who face their own battles with pediatric cancer.  No amount is too small, and every dollar we raise will go directly to giving hope to some of the most courageous and deserving kids you could ever meet.  If you can help in any way, you can make your tax deductible donation online here or you can send your tax deductible gift made payable to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation directly to the Foundation as follows:

 Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation

1251 Waterfront Place, FL 5

Pittsburgh, PA 15222<

Attn:  Rachel Petrucelli 

Please be sure to indicate in the memo line of your check that your contribution is for the Matthew’s Miracles Fund I.  If you are interested in making a specific pledge commitment to the Fund, you can also contact Rachel Petrucelli directly at (412) 586-6330 or 1-877-CHP-GIVE to make the necessary arrangements to do so.

                                         Sincerely, 

Bryan and Lori Kocher

"There is no place like home."