14th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser

for Matthew

Sunday, October 15, 2023 - Timacuan Golf Club, Lake Mary, Florida

 407-321-0010

Matthew's Story

Matthew Walker is the son of Jonathan & Cynthia Walker of Heathrow, Florida.  Matthew will be 18 years old in September.  He is one of three children, Morgan 20 and Adam 15 years old.  On behalf of the Walker Family, it is their hopes that you, your family, loved ones and friends are all doing well. 

Matthew is one of approximately 40 known males in the world born with a rare neuronal migration disorder of the brain called Subcortical Band Heterotopia.  This disorder is one in which the white and grey matter of the brain are disorganized causing the communication pathways of the brain to be challenged, therefore causing significant impairment in his physical and cognitive abilities.  Secondary to Matthew’s neurological disorder in recent years, he was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy known as Lennox Gastaut Syndrome causing life threatening seizures.  Matthew is unable to walk or talk and is dependent upon his family and professionals to complete his activities of daily living.  The ketogenic diet and medications are administered to Matthew through a feeding tube continuously throughout the day for nutrition and for the control of several different types of seizures.  The corpus callosotomy brain surgery Matthew had several years ago continues to show successful results.

Matthew continues make great progress in overcoming many hurdles.   At the beginning of the new year Matthew’s neurologist had prescribed a new medication for seizure control. Shortly after he visited the hospital for a routine interventional radiology procedure.  Days later he was diagnosed with a bacterial infection and Covid again.  As a result he experienced an increase in seizure activity and fatigue.  Despite many evaluations and tests, it was next to impossible to identify the root cause and treat it accordingly.  Matthew eventually overcame these adversities and is doing much better.  He has done well with the new seizure medicine and has reduced his medication regimen.  Matthew will soon be replacing his tube feed ketogenic diet for nutrition and seizure control with an alternative.  It has been known that the long term us of the ketogenic diet has serious side effects.  These transitions have the potential to be additional hurdles for Matthew but promise healthy outcomes.  Once he is able physical and speech therapy are ready to resume to help Matthew reach his ultimate potential.  In September Matthew will celebrate his 18th Birthday and officially will become an adult.  Guardianship proceedings are underway.

Over the past few years Matthew has grown into an amazing young man, despite his many challenges.  This fall Matthew will be entering into the 11th grade at Seminole High School supported by the Exceptional Student Services of Seminole County, Florida.  Seminole County School's Hospital Home Bound Services will continue to be available for home visits two days per week one hour per visit.  The past couple of years these sessions have been conducted via Zoom video conferencing with his teach.  Plans are to transition to face to face instruction at Matthew’s home.  

The Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser was created to assist financially for the care, special facilities, and medical attention that Matthew’s ongoing disabilities require. The event format this year will be similar to the last couple of years.  A boxed lunch will be provided for all attending golfers. Raffle and auction item activities will be ongoing before and during the tournament.  Matthew’s big day will conclude with a brief award ceremony and a big congratulations to the 14th Annual Miracle for Matthew Golf Tournament winning foursome.   ​​

Last year's Golf Tournament Fundraiser was a great success!  Special thank you to the following and all who participated for giving their hearts out to Matthew:

​Raymond James Financial Services, Arnold Palmer Invitational by MasterCard, Walk on Water Boutique, Fast Signs Sanford FL, Lake Mary Pediatric Dentistry, Russie Weidl - Watson Realty, Mom's Club of Heathrow, James Ho, DMD PA, Intercontinental Hotels, Miami FL, Trademark Press Solutions, Pierce Jewelers, R.A.R.E Project, Timacuan Golf Club, Erica Karlinsky PhD, Heathrow Country Club, Zero Latitude Custom Home Design, Kids Docs/Florida Children's Physicians & Surgeons Inc., Steve Strassman Insurance/Allstate, Debby Taboh Photography, Park Jewelers, Heathrow Country Club, Orlando Magic, AmStar Cinemas, Vineyard Wine Company, Trianon Hotel Naples, Florida, Jackson Family Fine Wines, Rizzieri Salon, Friendly Confines Restaurant, Papa Joe's Pizza, Duffy's Sports Grill, Giovanni's Italian Restaurant, Miguel & Brittany de Arcos, Dr. Robert Hoover / Foot & Ankel Associates of Florida, sophie & trey, Digital Check Corp, Florida Pediatric Associates / Eye Physicians of Central Florida, Sherwin Williams, H&F Construction, Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes, Seminole Harley-Davidson, Wiewiora & Dunn Orthodontics, Cato Environmental Services, Liam Fitzpatrick's, Dexters Restaurant, Spice World, Residence Inn by Marriott Lake Mary, Another Broken Egg Cafe, Tomasino's Pizzeria, Jeff Jones Jr. Golf Instruction, Central Florida Therapy, Center for Health, Learning & Achievement, Transitions Physical Therapy, Cara Grebler / Premier Realty Partners, Pristine Nails & Spa, Kennedy's All-American Barber, Nothing bundt Cakes, Collaborative Wealth, Orlando Solar Bears, Horne, Holmes, Crenshaw, Blake & Rathbun CPA's, Marshall Insurance Group, Homebridge Financial, Advanced Dermatology of Heathrow, Austin & Samantha Buddendorff, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Company, Crews Ink, Sanford Carpet & Flooring, RH Plumbing

For more details on Matthew's Golf Tournament Fundraiser please click on the Golf Tournament Registration Form button.  

Matthew Sloan Walker Golf Tournament Fundraiser

For more information please contact:

Jonathan Walker

407-970-1975

jwalker1445@cfl.rr.com

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