Mateo's Journey

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Mateo's Journey DX 9/23/13-12/23/16 w/Leukemia.Relapsed 9/6/17&7/25/18, Car T. 9/24/18 failed 11/19/18, BMT 1/24/19

11 days before celebrating Mateo's second birthday, on September 23rd 2013, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. Mateo has much love and support from his amazing family and friends, and appreciates everyone's prayers. Mateo is a fighter, he WILL knock the big C OUT and be the victor of this long journey. The families Faith is strong and appreciates all prayers for Mateo.

Happy 5-0 to my husband, and the man I’m so incredibly proud of. He’s not even on social media 😂, but I couldn’t let thi...
10/08/2026

Happy 5-0 to my husband, and the man I’m so incredibly proud of.
He’s not even on social media 😂, but I couldn’t let this milestone birthday pass without giving a BIG shout-out anyway! Because 50 deserves to be celebrated!
50 looks GOOD on you! And honestly, I don’t believe life is slowing down for you… I believe life is just beginning.
In almost 30 years together, we have been through so much. We’ve celebrated the highest highs, walked through some pretty heavy storms, and somehow, through it all, we’ve kept choosing each other. We’ve navigated seasons I never could have imagined, and I’m so grateful for the life, the family, and the story God has written for us.
I am so proud of the man you are. The godly man you continue to become. The father who loves his boys fiercely. The coach who pours into others. The friend who shows up. And the husband who has stood beside me through every season.
Watching you take a leap of faith and build your own business has made me especially proud. I’ve watched you work hard, take risks, figure things out, and keep going even when it wasn’t easy. I know God has big things ahead for you, and I can’t wait to watch it all unfold.
So here’s to 50!
To everything you’ve accomplished, everything we’ve survived, everything God has brought us through, and everything that is still to come.
I’m so proud to call you my husband. I’m so grateful God chose you for me, and I wouldn’t want to do this crazy, beautiful life with anyone else.

Happy 50th birthday, Eddie.
The best is yet to come.

10/07/2026

What a weekend celebrating our boy turning 15! 🥳

It started Friday with football, cheering on Mateo and his team, followed by the sweetest Saturday morning birthday surprise with some very special friends. We are so grateful for the thoughtfulness and love that went into making his morning so special.

Saturday night, we celebrated with our small but mighty family, and even Tia Jackie made the trip from Arizona to be here with us.

And then Sunday… We wrapped up the weekend by renting a pool through Swimply, and it was the perfect way to celebrate 15! The Central Coast weather was absolutely perfect at 85°, and the boys spent HOURS in the water swimming, laughing, playing and making memories together. We also got to enjoy the most delicious cupcakes from 𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓑𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 , which were the perfect sweet treat for the pool party!

Football, friends, family, sunshine and so much love, three days filled with memories we’ll treasure.

Happy 15th, Mateo! We love you more than words can say.

10/03/2026

Mateo is 15 today! Our hearts are so full of gratitude for this life and for the gift of watching Mateo grow into the young man he is becoming.

We are in awe of his high school experience, football, the friendships he’s made, and the things we hear from his coaches and teachers about his heart, character, humor, and leadership. He’s a protector, a friend, and truly one of a kind.

For his birthday, Mateo wants to give back! His challenge is simple: do an act of kindness for someone today, big or small and share it with us so we can celebrate with him!

He also chose a few nonprofits that have been meaningful to Mateo and our family. If you’d like to honor his 15th birthday, consider making a $15 donation for 15 years of Mateo to one of these organizations:

💛17Strong
17 STRONG

💛Bumble Bee Foundation
BumbleBee Foundation

💛Jack’s Helping Hand
Jack’s Helping Hand

💛Sam Jeffers Foundation
Cooking up a Cure for Childhood Cancer

💛Blood Cancer United Blood Cancer United

15 years. 15 years of prayers, miracles, laughter, challenges, growth, and more love than we could have ever imagined.

Mateo, you are our miracle. You are our joy. You are proof that life is meant to be celebrated and today, we celebrate YOU.

Here’s to 15, buddy. Keep being exactly who you are. We couldn’t be more proud to be your parents.

Happy 15th Birthday, Mateo!
🎥 credit: Coach Beau

13 years ago today, at 2:38 PM, our world changed forever with Mateo’s diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Howeve...
09/23/2026

13 years ago today, at 2:38 PM, our world changed forever with Mateo’s diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. However, today, we don’t sit in the fear of that day; we sit in gratitude. Gratitude for God’s grace, His faithfulness, and the incredible gift of watching Mateo not just survive, but thrive. 
Mateo, seeing you living your best life, navigating a new school, chasing dreams, making memories, playing football, and simply being YOU is something we will never take for granted.
13 years later, we are still in awe of your strength, your courage, your faith, and the life God has given you.
Our miracle. Our survivor. Our blessing.
Forever grateful. 
 

09/20/2026

What an incredible Homecoming weekend for Mateo.

Sometimes God gives you moments that are so much bigger than just a football game or a dance. Moments that remind you just how far He has brought your child and how faithful He has been through every chapter of the journey.

Friday night was one of those moments. Mateo’s team played my alma mater, Morro Bay, and the freshmen got to play against the Morro Bay freshmen. That meant lots of playing time for Mateo, and watching him step onto that field, play hard, have fun, and absolutely THRIVE was such an incredible blessing.

As a mom, there are moments when you look at your child and your heart just overflows because you know what it took to get them there. After everything Mateo has walked through, getting to watch him simply be a kid, play football, make memories, and enjoy the moment is something I will never take for granted. God is so good.

And then Saturday brought even more blessings. We are so incredibly grateful for the group of young men God has placed around Mateo at St. Joe’s. Friends who accept him, encourage him, include him, laugh with him, and make him feel like he belongs.

He got picked up in a limo with his buddies, headed to the Madonna Inn, and celebrated his first St. Joe’s Homecoming dance. He ended the night at a friend’s house and woke up this morning with some of his football buddies for breakfast.

And while the boys were off making their own Homecoming memories, the parents got to make a few memories of our own! We had the best time getting to know each other, hanging out, laughing, and enjoying the Madonna Inn, far enough away from the kids that we could actually relax and enjoy ourselves! It was such a fun way for the parents to connect and celebrate this new season together.

And honestly, my mama heart is just so full.

For so many years, our prayers were about getting Mateo through the next treatment, the next procedure, the next day. Today, our prayers are filled with gratitude for football games, friendships, dances, sleepovers, breakfast with buddies, and all the ordinary teenage experiences we once prayed he would get to have.

God has been faithful through it all.

We are so thankful for St. Joe’s, his coaches, his teammates, his new friends, and every person who has welcomed Mateo and made this new chapter so special.

Mateo’s first Homecoming was an absolute success, and one more beautiful reminder that God is still writing his story.

Here’s to Friday night lights, new friendships, unforgettable memories, and a heart full of gratitude.

New school. New chapter. Same incredible kid. Freshman year here we go!
08/31/2026

New school. New chapter. Same incredible kid. Freshman year here we go!

07/15/2026

It’s hard to believe we officially have a freshman! Since the end of May, Mateo has been on the go and making the most of every moment.

He wrapped up both his flag football season and his Babe Ruth baseball season, finished 8th grade, celebrated with an unforgettable end-of-year bonfire, and enjoyed his 8th grade promotion dance with friends.

This summer has already been full of new adventures. Mateo has attended both football camp and wrestling camp at Saint Joseph’s High School, getting a head start on what’s to come this fall. During his break from sports, he’s been loving the freedom of riding around on his electric bike with his buddies and making memories before school starts. He’s also looking forward to leaving this Sunday for a week at Hume Lake, and he couldn’t be more excited.

One of the highlights of his summer was getting to celebrate one of his favorite holidays—The Fourth of July! Anyone who knows Mateo knows how much he loves fireworks, and he enjoyed every minute of the celebration.

He also had the opportunity to spend a week in Utah fishing with a dear family friend and Big Ed, where he caught some fish and created memories that will last a lifetime.

Most importantly, we are just so proud of our Mateo. It takes courage to leave behind friends he’s gone to school with for so many years and step into a brand-new chapter at Saint Joseph’s High School. He has embraced this new adventure with excitement, confidence, and bravery.

God has been so faithful, and we are incredibly thankful for all the wonderful things happening in Mateo’s life. We can’t wait to see what this freshman year has in store. The future is bright, and we are cheering him on every step of the way.

Today’s Spirit Week theme was “Next Chapter… Wear Your Future High School Gear!”It’s hard to believe this is our last 8t...
05/30/2026

Today’s Spirit Week theme was “Next Chapter… Wear Your Future High School Gear!”

It’s hard to believe this is our last 8th-grade experience and that this boy will soon be a freshman.

The next chapter is coming fast, and we couldn’t be more proud of him. 💚🤍🖤

Little Eddie… where do we even begin?At exactly 8:42 a.m. on May 9, 1998, you made us Mom and Dad, and our lives have ne...
05/09/2026

Little Eddie… where do we even begin?

At exactly 8:42 a.m. on May 9, 1998, you made us Mom and Dad, and our lives have never been the same. It’s hard to believe that little boy we once held in our arms is now this incredible 28-year-old man standing before us.

We hope you truly know how proud we are of you. Your drive, your ambition, your creativity, your adventurous spirit, your independence, your work ethic, and the life you are building for yourself are beyond inspiring. Watching you run the family plumbing business with such determination and vision has been amazing to witness. You dream big, work hard, and never stop striving for more.

But what makes us admire you most isn’t just what you accomplish, it’s who you are at your core. Your kindness. Your thoughtfulness. Your empathetic heart. Your selflessness. The way you show up for the people you love. You literally saved Matteo’s life, and that alone speaks volumes about the incredible man you are.

You are strong, compassionate, loyal, and deeply loved. We could go on forever about all the reasons you make us proud, but more than anything, we hope you always know how much we admire you and how grateful we are to be your parents.

Happy 28th Birthday, Little Eddie.
We love you with all our hearts and always will.

04/30/2026

Once running through hospital halls… today running the bases.

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Oceano, CA
93445, 93475

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