Prayer Requests

This is an update to the original post dated Sept. 6, 2024 - Updates at the bottom

Here is the original post:

I'm asking for prayers for Matthew and Samantha Wallace. This is their story:

Matthew Wallace was living as any 26-year-old husband and father of two should be.  2 months earlier, his wife Samantha had given birth to their second child. They were a happy Christian family, finally finding some normalcy in their family of four. We are seeking prayers and financial support to help Matt with his medical and living expenses. My name is Wendy Wallace and Matthew is my son. This is a picture of him and his family.

On April 30th,  their lives turned completely upside down.  Sam got a call from Matt's work, that he had been sent to the ER. His employer thought he was having a seizure. Doctors struggled to find a cause for what was happening but diagnosed him with a rare neurological disorder called Cervical Dystonia. 

Dystonia makes his nerves misfire, causing the whole left side of his body to spasm, twist, and tighten, leaving his left eye closed, his speech slurred, unable to speak, a leg drag, and sometimes too weak to hold himself up. These violent spasms are similar to a Charlie horse, and jolt his head from side to side or front to back. This disorder is progressing rapidly and essentially came out of nowhere. 

In the beginning, the dystonia was centralized in his neck. Within 30 days, it had spread and is currently affecting his whole left side.  Spasms occur in his neck, both eyes, chest,  arms, and legs, and often cause him to pass out.  This disorder is so uncommon that relief, albeit temporary, can only come through trial and error. As of August 30th, they still do not have a doctor who knows the disorder enough to properly treat him.  He's gone through numerous CAT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds. 

Matt is currently on short-term disability, and Samantha is a full-time stay-at-home mom and Matt's full-time caregiver. Disability only pays 60% of his regular salary, excluding overtime which was an instrumental part of Matt's salary.

Since dystonia is not common, he needs to find a neurologist who specializes in its treatment.  They're making progress, and have an appointment with a movement specialist, but not until October and February.

Then sadly on September 4th, their lives were turned upside down once again, we found out that Matt's wife Samantha was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  They are still in the early stages and don't have any answers as she's waiting for an appointment to see an oncologist to find out what happens next.  The hospital they're going through has been negligent in getting referrals and setting the appointments they need. On top of their medical conditions, the stress that they're under fighting with their healthcare providers isn’t healthy.

This is going to be a very difficult road for this family. Sam is the sole caregiver for her two children and her husband. They have limited family and support for things they will need like someone to take them to their appointments or watch the children during treatments. It's an uphill battle. But we serve a great God and we know that He has a plan and a purpose in all of it.

We’re seeking prayers that they can find caring doctors and treatment plans that will enable Matthew to go back to work and live a normal life. We’re also seeking prayers for Samantha to be able to get the treatments she needs and care for her family. There is no cure for Matt.  But we know that with a proper treatment plan, he can find some normalcy in his life. 

We're also seeking to raise funds for medical expenses, food, and living expenses for the family.  Thank you so much! God bless.

UPDATE: Sept. 14, 2024

I wanted to send out an update to let you know what is going on with Matthew. Sadly, at this point, he's not making progress. He met with a new neurologist this week, who was for starters, not all that aware of dystonia. But also because of an upcoming appointment on October 3rd, decided that another Dr would be better suited to treat him.

We are truly putting all our eggs in the October 3rd appointment basket. It is with a neurologist, a movement specialist specializing in dystonia. This is highly encouraging to us.

Since his diagnosis, which was discovered by his wife, Samantha, they haven't been able to find a Dr who can truly treat him. The healthcare system in Missouri has been so very disappointing. Between not sending referrals to not really taking the time to care for their patient, and writing him off as not worthy of their time, it's been very discouraging.

We covet your prayers. Our prayer is that Matt can finally have a treatment plan that can help him manage his spasms in a manner that can truly get him back to a normal quality of life so that he can eventually go back to work and continue to provide for his family.

We are so appreciative of your thoughts and prayers, your kind words, and your financial help. Please continue to spread the word as this is a long-term uphill battle.

I will post a new update once he sees the movement specialist in October. May God bless you.

UPDATE: October 8, 2024

Hi friends! I wanted to update you on the lack of success that Matthew has been having with the doctors. I had mentioned in my last update that we were all putting all our eggs in an appointment he had waited 5 months for that was held last week, on October 3rd. We were under the impression that this doctor was a neurologist and a movement specialist specializing in dystonia. But he wasn't a neurologist, and he only specializes in cervical dystonia, which focuses on just the neck. Matt’s dystonia has moved beyond his neck, is throughout his entire body now, and is considered to be "generalized dystonia," which a doctor of cervical dystonia is not qualified to treat.

He has an appointment in February with Kansas University Medical Center with an actual neurologist, and we are confirming that he is qualified to treat this particular kind of dystonia. As you can imagine, with each doctor visit that results in no treatment plan, Matt, Sam, and our entire family are becoming more discouraged.

We know that bigger hospitals like the Mayo Clinic (Minnesota,) Mass General (Boston,) and a few other hospitals can treat generalized dystonia. They are an option, however, traveling with his physical problems and under his circumstances and the expenses involved make it difficult, but not impossible. We will do everything we can to help him get the treatment he needs. We are investigating those hospitals to be certain that he can be treated before we make any plans to get him there.

We are ever so thankful for the prayers, and the financial support that he has received thus far, and we ask that you please continue in your support. This is a long journey for him and his family. Although it seems like they keep running into walls and getting very few answers, we know that when God closes the door, He opens a window. We also strongly believe in the power of prayer and God's healing. The Lord has a plan, and through this journey, He will receive honor, glory, and praise. Thank you so very much! In Christian love, Wendy Wallace, (Matt's mom.)

Financial support can be sent through his parent's home church, The First Missionary Baptist Church of Moultonborough, NH. PO Box 4, Moultonborough, NH 03254. If you have any questions or would like to send a card & need their private address, contact Wendy Wallace at wmwallace0616@gmail.com or call my cell at 603-630-4518. Thank you so very much for your prayers.