ATTICA - Matt Short, 10, loves to play sports and was excited to play tackle-football this year, but on the second day of school he learned he has cancer.
Matt was playing baseball in June, said Chris Short, Matt's mother.
"He has always been a high-energy kid and in a matter of a few weeks, he was beginning to move like a slow-moving turtle," she said.
Matt and his mom went to several doctor appointments to figure out what was plaguing his body.
It wouldn't be until Aug. 21 at Akron Children's Hospital, after a lot of blood work and tests, that Chris and Matt would find out he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
"We were bummed out," Chris said. "I thought, oh my God, are you serious!"
Matt will have to go through intensive chemo-therapy treatments weekly for 6-8 months and will be followed by treatments monthly for three years.
Matt also is to have bone marrow evaluations on a monthly basis. He has also developed hyperglycemia and hyperkalemia and has to take insulin.
Matt is dealing with a great amount of pain in his joints and back, Chris said.
"He has always been able to run around, and now it is taking a lot out of him and he gets worn out easily," she said.
A team of individuals have come together with a committee to sponsor a benefit for Matt. Dana Walliser, Janet Clark and Erin Robinson are the main contacts for this event.
Dana and Janet work together with Matt's aunt and uncle.
Nov. 3 at the Attica Fairgrounds, there is to be a spaghetti dinner along with an auction and a 50/50 raffle. Dinner is to be served at 5 p.m. and the auction is to take place at 7 p.m.
Items to be auctioned off are an Ohio State University cooler filled with goodies, a cedar picnic table with benches, a rustic bench, and two tickets to a Cleveland Cavaliers-Miami Heat game.
"The list is growing," Walliser said.
"There have been a few other fundraisers for Matt," Walliser said. "One was a huge success, Team Matt gear was sold all throughout Seneca East Schools."
These funds are being raised to help Chris and Matt with medical and transportation expenses.
"When we found out about the diagnosis, we were worried about the bills," Chris said.
Chris is a single mother of Matt and Colton, a second-grader at Seneca East. She makes her living working third shift at MTD in Willard.
Chris said she and Matt have been surprised by the support coming from a small community.
A Facebook page is dedicated to the Matt Short benefit and a bank account has been established in Matt's name; monetary donations can be made at any Sutton Bank branch.
To mail a donation, make checks out to Matthew Short Benefit to Sutton Bank, P.O. Box 505, Attica, OH 44807.
