In October 2012, at age 13, Matthew was diagnosed with stage 4, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FHC). The cancer was already spread throughout his liver, peritoneum, and lungs.  Matthew was on various treatments throughout his battle. While he held stable for a while, his disease and various side effects steadily became more advanced. On June 24, 2014, he passed away due to complications from his twenty-month battle against FHC, he had just completed his freshman year of high school. The genuine kindness and curiosity he brought into this world inspired those around him everyday. His various passions and interests included comics, gaming, magic, technology, physics, astronomy, birding, hiking, vinyl records, penny flute and guitar. Matthew fought his fight with grace and courage.