Finding gratitude after a life-changing diagnosis Matthew, a head and neck cancer survivor

When Matthew first began feeling pain in his mouth in the spring of 2020, he assumed it was nothing serious. “I thought it was something simple, like a bad toothache,” he recalls. “But this was during the height of COVID-19, when everything was shut down. I couldn’t get in to see a dentist, so I tried to just deal with the pain.”

As the discomfort worsened, Matthew saw an online doctor who prescribed antibiotics, but nothing helped. Once dental offices reopened, he went in for an appointment. After routine X-rays, his dentist noticed something unusual and referred him to an oral surgeon. More appointments and more tests followed, each one bringing new concern. Eventually, an otolaryngologist performed a biopsy and delivered the news that Matthew had stage IV head and neck cancer.

“It was very advanced and aggressive,” Matthew says. “By the time I was referred to Winship, I was in major pain.”

In July 2020, Matthew had his first appointment at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, where he met Azeem S. Kaka, MD, who would go on to perform his surgery. Pandemic restrictions meant he had to attend that first visit alone. “That was tough,” he remembers. “My wife and mom waited nearby at a hotel and FaceTimed with Dr. Kaka, but being by myself that day was hard. Hearing that I had such an advanced cancer was overwhelming.”

Matthew’s thoughts immediately went to his two daughters, who were seven and three at the time. “That’s when it really hit me,” he says. “I remember breaking down one morning at home. I thought about what would happen to them if I didn’t make it. I even started preparing my wife—giving her all my passwords, all my logins, making sure she’d have access to everything. I wanted to make things as easy for her as possible if I wasn’t here.”

But amid the fear, Matthew found a sense of determination. “Dr. Kaka told me that staying positive was critical,” he says. “He said stress could be as harmful as the disease itself. That advice stuck with me. After that one breakdown, I made the choice to stay hopeful.”

Just two weeks later, Matthew underwent a major, eight-hour surgery at Winship. The procedure removed the tumor and rebuilt part of his jaw using bone from his leg. “Dr. Kaka even postponed a family vacation so he could do my surgery,” Matthew says. “That’s how much he cared. He took a chance on me when others might not have—and that’s why I’m here today.”

Matthew spent more than a week recovering in the hospital, supported by a team of doctors, nurses and residents who quickly became like family. “Because of COVID, no visitors were allowed, so the nurses became my support system and extended family,” he says. “They were incredible, helping me learn to use a feeding tube, checking in constantly, encouraging me when things were tough. I’ve never felt so cared for in my life.”

Over the next several months, Matthew continued his recovery and follow-up care at Winship. Despite lingering challenges, he made steady progress. “I still have my feeding tube, and I never quite got back to eating normally,” he says. “But I’m alive—and that’s what matters.”

Reflecting on Matthew’s progress, Kaka says, “Matthew's case was one of the most advanced presentations of head and neck cancer I've seen, but his optimism and ability to adapt was truly incredible. His ability to beat this cancer is a testament not only to the multidisciplinary team at Winship, but to Matthew's own positive attitude at every obstacle along the way. The way he has not only survived, but thrived, after such a life-changing treatment has been inspiring to our whole team, and I share his story with many of my patients who feel they have lost hope.”

In October 2025, five years after his diagnosis, Matthew received the news he had been waiting for—he was officially cancer-free. “Dr. Kaka once told me he presented my case at a national conference and some doctors said they might not have operated because my cancer was so advanced,” Matthew says. “But he did—and I’m here today because of that.”

The experience changed not just Matthew’s health, but his outlook on life. “I don’t take anything for granted anymore,” he says. “After 17 years with the same company, I decided to start over. I went back to college and earned my master’s degree in secondary education. I’ve now finished my student teaching and will soon be a teacher. I wanted to do something meaningful—something that helps others, the way so many people helped me.”

For Matthew, gratitude has become a way of life. “Winship gave me a second chance,” he says. “I tell people all the time that the doctors and nurses there saved my life. They became my family when my own family couldn’t be with me.”

When asked what advice he would give to others facing a cancer diagnosis, his answer is immediate:

“Don’t give up. Even though life will change, there’s still life after diagnosis. And don’t ignore the small things—what seems minor could be major. Get it checked out. If I had waited much longer, I might not be here. And if you’re looking for care, go to Winship. The doctors, nurses, everyone, they truly care. They take chances on people like me.”

Today, Matthew lives with gratitude for every day and for the team that refused to give up on him.

“I owe my life to Winship,” he says. “And I’ll never stop sharing that.”