From the right: Suzy Matter, Colton Matter and Sandy Schultz, Colton’s grandmother. The three attended the regional meeting of the Seattle Guild Association in Sequim in October 2010, where Colton was an honored guest.   Submitted photo


by AMANDA WINTERS
Sequim Gazette

On the one year anniversary of his successful bone marrow transplant, a 10-year-old Port Angeles boy will begin chemotherapy treatment for leukemia, again.

Colton Matter was the guest of honor at a Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild Association luncheon in Sequim last fall where his story of cancer survival was shared and celebrated. This week he will begin another round of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Colton was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2009, began chemotherapy almost immediately and received a successful bone marrow transplant from a European man on Jan. 4, 2010. He was cancer-free and planning to return to school this month until doctors found small signs of leukemia in his bone marrow just before Christmas.

Sandy Schultz, Colton’s grandmother, said Colton is back at Seattle Children’s Hospital to receive chemotherapy. A second bone marrow transplant may be needed, she said.

Schultz said Colton is brave, caring, athletic and has the support of an army of prayer warriors.

“For soccer, he scored the most goals for his team and it was amazing to see him run and hustle — even the doctors were very impressed,” she said. “That’s why we were so devastated to have the cancer back as he looks and feels so well.”

Colton’s mother created a Facebook group called Colton’s Army and a blog on Caring Bridge at www.caringbridge.org/visit/coltonmatterarmy to keep people updated on Colton’s condition.

“When I think about where we were a year ago on the 4th, it brings mixed emotions,” Suzy Matter wrote on the blog Jan. 2. “Happiness to be celebrating his one-year bone marrow birthday and sadness to know that he is doing it again.”