It is with great sadness and heavy heart that I have to inform you that Matthew Ciarlone has lost his battle with Leukemia. Matthew was one of the recipients of this year’s efforts from the Sportsmen Portal to send on his dream hunt to Colorado to pursue a bull elk.

Although I only got to know the Ciarlone’s for a brief period of time, it was a privilege to be touched by Matthew and the entire Ciarlone family. Unfortunately this is an example of why Hunt of A Lifetime needs your donations more than ever. They have a waiting list of kids and many times don’t have the funds to get them on their hunt quickly enough.

Alex is the new child who we will be sponsoring, but we will never forget Matthew and how he touched us all. So I ask you to go hug your kids and the ones you love, because you just never know how long you will have with them, and PLEASE consider donating to our Hunt of A Lifetime fundraiser. Help us get these kids on their dream hunt.

Letter From Matt’s Parents

Matthew had just turned 19 years old on November 22, 2007. His first year out of high school, he had already been the first and youngest person ever to be made a Supervisor with Brickman Landscaping, Co. He was well on his way to an exciting career with a well established nation-wide company doing what he liked doing best. He was always a “hands-on” kind of guy.

The October before his birthday, Matthew started getting sick. He was throwing up every day. By December he had lost 45 pounds. We had been to several differant specialists trying to pinpoint what was wrong. Some of the doctors had a suspicion of what it was but they needed to be sure.

On December 17, 2007, Matthew was diagnosed with leukemia. The following day, we were in the city of Philadelphia at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His doctor told him he had to give them a year of his life in order to treat his cancer. In return they would give him a lifetime and a future. The following day, two ports were surgically placed in Matthew. One in his chest, the other in his brain. This was how the chemotherapy was to be given. Chemo started the very next day and was given for four days. He was able to come home on Christmas Eve Day.

Treatments ran every two to three weeks, each lasting at least four days. By april, his cancer was in remission and the hunt for a bone marrow donor was on. A perfect match was found for Matthew and transplant was to be performed the second week of June. Transplant was on June 12th. Matthew’s stay in the hospital lasted for 26 days. Doctors say due to his age and previous good health, they were able to release him a week early.