"Matt's always been healthy. It's just a virus. Antibiotics can cure anything. He's always been active; he had us take his training wheels off before he was even three." Turning three years old in February 2001, Audrey's son Matt was a healthy, active little boy who was always trying to keep up with his big brother. It was October 2001 when he got sick.

Matt started throwing-up and began to have headaches; he started holding his head a little crooked. The pediatrician could not definitively diagnose anything-only treat symptoms. A sinus CAT scan was performed, but it was negative. "My sister-in-law is a doctor," said Audrey, "so I took Matt to her."

More blood work was done, but nothing showed up. Matt's aunt noticed he had a lazy eye, so she scheduled an appointment with an ophthalmologist for December. During Thanksgiving, Matt was not feeling well-just lying around and still throwing-up. "My sister-in-law and I were discussing Matt and trying to figure out what was wrong with him," says Audrey. "That's when she (sister-in-law) said, 'I don't think it's a brain tumor.' I had never even considered something like that."

Audrey recalls December 5 when Matt had the appointment with the ophthalmologist. "My mother had come to help me get him to the doctor. I said there's no way we can go; he is just too sick. I went upstairs and then something just told me to go; we had to take him to see that doctor that day. I know it was God talking to me." The appointment was scheduled for 12:35 and Audrey realized it was already 12:20. They scooped him up. Matt was still in his pajamas-no shoes, his hair matted. When the doctor checked Matt's eyes, he wheeled his chair around and stated, "You've got to get this baby to Le Bonheur."

The pressure behind Matt's eyes was so high the doctor thought he might have a stroke. "It was the quickest trip to Memphis I've ever made," said Audrey. At Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center the CAT scan revealed a mass; an MRI found the brain tumor to be the size of an orange intertwined with blood vessels and arteries. Two days later Matt was in surgery and the tumor was removed. "They got it all," said Audrey, "but then there were six weeks of radiation and four months of high dose chemotherapy."

This was Audrey's first introduction to Ronald McDonald House. Audrey stayed in the Ronald House that serves St. Jude Hospital. She found that just talking to the other families gave her such comfort. "They understood. They were going through the exact same things," she said. "Even my best friends at home who were caring and concerned still could not imagine what we were going through."

Matt's last round of chemo was in July 2002 and he was having problems with his balance. He had another MRI and the doctor found massive swelling of the brain stem and spinal chord. Matt was admitted to the hospital. He was put on a ventilator; then he had a tracheotomy; and then he was given a feeding tube. "We didn't know if he was going to make it," said Audrey.

Matt was in an intensive care unit for 45 days. When Matt was released, he couldn't walk, but he could lift his head. The family was sent to Atlanta for five weeks of specialized therapy. While in Atlanta, they stayed at Ronald McDonald House.

When Matt came home to Mississippi, he was off of the ventilator, but he didn't feel well and seemed lethargic. Tests revealed his CO2 was sky high so he was sent to Memphis and put on the ventilator for five weeks. Audrey was trained to monitor and administer Matt's ventilator so they could return home. Matt currently is on the vent only at night.

Since that first hurried trip to Memphis, Audrey was gone from home for almost 18 months caring for Matt. She left her husband and older son Tyler, who is now 14, in Starkville.

"My husband, Pat," according to Audrey, "did an incredible job keeping things going at home and caring for Tyler. Tyler really bonded with his dad; they are the best of friends."

In December 2007, Matt developed pneumonia and needed medical treatment immediately. He was loaded in a helicopter and flown to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. By 5:00 a.m. the next day, Matt was stable and Audrey was asking about a room at Ronald McDonald House. Because she was so familiar with Ronald Houses, she knew that's where she wanted to be.

Audrey knew there was a Ronald McDonald House in Jackson, because earlier in the year Tyler (her older son) had participated in the Kids Triathlon benefiting Mississippi's House. Tyler heard about the Triathlon and said, "I'm going to do this."

The Hutchinson's had no idea they would be staying in the Ronald House in Jackson a few months later. Tyler was the overall male winner of the 2007 Kids Triathlon. "He won it for Matt," Audrey said.

"It was so nice to have a place to stay so near the hospital. The children came and visited on the weekends," Audrey explained. Both Tyler and Jamie, their daughter who is now four, wanted to be near Matt.

Jamie loved the Ronald McDonald House playroom. "She loved playing with the other children there," said Audrey. "I would be so tired-just exhausted-and would be sitting nearby and could hear her talking and playing and it was so reassuring." The Hutchinson's were in the Ronald McDonald House at Christmas and were able to be together as a family. "All the children got presents and there were wonderful Christmas meals," Audrey remembered. "Tyler visited Matt in the hospital and Matt's eyes would just light up when he came in."

Jamie was too young to visit Matt, but Audrey took her to McDonald's in the hospital and she saw the fountain people use as a wishing well. Jamie asked for money to make a wish. "I wish Matt could come home," she said. Jamie got her wish when Matt was released on December 31.

With determination; a power chair; and his mom by his side, Matt went back to school in March 2008. His 3rrd grade writing is improving, but for a child who was at one time paralyzed from the neck down, he has made great strides.

Matt goes to physical therapy and speech therapy twice a week. It's not certain if he will walk again, but according to Audrey, "He is a determined, stubborn and strong young man, so anything is possible. That's why he is still here,"

"You can't change what's happened. You deal with what you get. God has a plan and we don't know what it is," said Audrey. Whatever is in the plan, this family will face it head on and together.♥