5/1/25

Hi all,

It's been a minute since the last post from Alicia, so thought I would drop in a quick update.

I'm about 2.5 weeks post-surgery now and recovering well. As Alicia mentioned, the surgery went well with no surprises. There were the expected side effects of a major surgery, with mostly just pain as the thing to manage. But, for the most part, that has dissipated in the last 4-5 days.

I still have some discomfort, which is to be expected. And I get pretty fatigued a couple of times a day which has led to some pretty solid naps...as in one minute I'm watching a show with the family, and the next thing I know I'm snorting myself awake at the end of the show. The surgeon, in our follow-up, said that is very typical and could last for around a month or so.

I'm grateful to be at this point in recovering and just the overall treatment. And I continue to be thankful for the support to get here. It reminds me of the saying that I'm like a turtle on a fence post...I didn't get here on my own.

At one point in the hospital, Dad was pulling on my arm to help me get upright so Alicia could tuck a pillow and heating pad behind me. And the nurses at the hospital were so damn good at their jobs, doing it with a generosity and kindness that was remarkable. Definitely a team effort.

I recently read an interview by Dan Harris with Dr. Robert Waldinger who runs the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the more popular studies referenced because it has been running for so long (since 1938). They have found consistently that the quality of a person's relationships are what matters most for living a long, happy life. Not exercise. Not diet. Not genetics. Of course those things matter, but just not nearly as much as the relationships.

Dr. Waldinger said, "Friends diminish our perception of hardship, making us perceive adverse events as less stressful than we might otherwise see them.” Man, that rings so true for me. This whole adventure has always felt doable, and that's thanks to the support of and deep connection with others.

The other thing Dr. Waldinger said in the interview was "never worry alone." What a gem. The hardships are meant to be shared. And so are the celebrations. So maybe we all should set aside a little more time to invest in those relationships? I think we'd all be better for it.

Up next is resuming chemo on May 19th, with a plan to finish out the 4 remaining cycles. Then we will do all the imaging (PET, CT) to see how things look!

Feeling really good about the path we are on. Thanks for all you have each poured into the relationships with me and my family. And I look forward to the chance to connect with you soon...

Best,

Matt

Pic is of Dad and me when they gave us the go-ahead to check out of the hospital. We didn't waste any time getting out!