‘All hands on board’: Fire department steps up to help firefighter with brain cancer
By Pete Cuddihy
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OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — Matthew McDonnell, 39, has served the metro with the Omaha Fire Department for 17 years. Now he’s facing a bigger fight, an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.
Everything changed for the McDonnell family when they found out Matthew had brain cancer. But as their world shifted, the Omaha Fire Department stepped into action. They say being there for each other during hard times is the expectation.
“I could not survive what he is going through without them,” said Matthew’s wife, Staci McDonnell.
In his greatest time of need, Matthew McDonnell’s coworkers came to his family’s side.
“Situation like this, it’s all hands-on board and everybody comes to help out no matter what it is,” said OFD firefighter Jeff Driscoll.
The 39-year-old Omaha firefighter was diagnosed with brain cancer back in June.
“They found the mass on his brain. It was five centimeters big on the back of his brain,” said Staci McDonnell.
McDonnell went through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
He began to recover, but a cavity from where the tumor was removed filled with fluid and shifted his brain.
“The brain had shifted so much that now is where he’s having problems with the right side of his body and with his speech and with his hearing,” said Staci McDonnell.
As things have become more difficult for the McDonnell family, his buddies from the Omaha Fire Department have stepped up to help carry the load.
“Every single day, they’re asking what they can do. They mow my lawn. They come to the hospital, they hang out with him, they take him to appointments,” said Staci McDonnell.
“He’d be the first one to show up if it was somebody else,” said Driscoll.
Now the fire department looks to raise money for the McDonnells’ medical expenses by holding a spaghetti and meatball feed with auctions and raffles.
And with time, family and friends hope he’ll make a full recovery.
“Who knows, he might get back on the job. So we’re hoping,” said Matthew’s uncle, Bob McDonnell.
The Omaha Fire Department will be hosting that spaghetti feed on November 23rd at the Omaha Firefighters Hall.
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