Matthew's Story

Matthew, the face of Gold Week 2007, was diagnosed at nine months with a rare form of nephrotic syndrome, a life-threatening kidney disease where symptoms include an excessive loss of protein and kidney failure.

The specialists had never seen such a rare and aggressive form of nephrotic syndrome in a child so young.

“We were starting to panic. We felt overwhelmed and frightened by how serious the situation was,” said Matthew’s mum Angela.

Over the next ten months under specialist care at Sydney Children's Hospital, Matthew remained on dialysis and prepared for his life saving kidney transplant. Luckily, Angela was a compatible match and was able to donate one of her kidneys to her son.

In October 2007, Matthew successfully received Angela’s kidney and they both returned home to Goulburn. He is now free of the dialysis machine that had kept him in his cot for up to 20 hours a day, is eating solid foods and is able to play in the local park.

However, Matthew remains under close observation and visits the specialist team at the Hospital regularly. To ensure that his body does not reject the kidney, Angela and Matthew’s dad Alan make sure that he takes his medication daily.

“This is the best gift I could ever give Matthew, his quality of life has improved so dramatically” said Angela. “All you need to do is spend a day at the Hospital to know what life is really all about.”

Gold Week will be helping many children like Matthew who come from all corners of NSW and beyond to be treated at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.