“Then Princess Leah gets captured, and they’re, like, we have to save her, and then, it’s like, um. …” Like many 9-year-old boys, Matthew Mason knows the Star Wars movies inside and out and enjoys recounting his favorite scenes.
Unlike other 9 year olds, though, Matthew has had to overcome odds stacked against him. His heart is on the right instead of left side of his body, causing lung collapses. He has no spleen, problems with his liver and stints in arteries that help prevent congestive heart failure. Matthew and his family are waiting for the results of recent tests for Williams syndrome, an incurable genetic defect that would explain a lot.
Matthew’s mother, Sarah, and father, Russell, want Matthew to live a full life without his medical issues getting in his way. Matthew is very active but tires quickly. The Masons realize their son will have to deal with many situations on his own. They encourage him to take responsibility for signing in at doctors’ offices, carrying his charts and test requests and knowing his medicines and the times he should take them.
As a special treat after they finish studying, Sarah takes all the children to Freeman Lake to feed the ducks. As she watches, Matthew runs around the park with his siblings and shouts in delight when the ducks swim toward the chunks of bread he tosses in the water.
Sarah smiles. “I just hope that we find an answer.”
