21-Year-Old Bucks Co. Man Fighting For His Life In Ireland

LEVITTOWN, PA —Thursday was Day 20.

It's been 20 days since Sandra Small and her husband Greg, a Falls Township police detective have dealt with their son Matthew suffering in Ireland, fighting for his life after a common cold turned into pneumonia and then Influenza-A.

Every day for the past week, Matthew's mother provides updates on his condition on a GoFundMe page that was created by the family's friend Michele Spadaccino.

Spadaccino said on the page that the Smalls went to Ireland to visit family and that Matthew got sick on Dec. 31 to the point that his condition became "critically ill." He was placed on a ventilator.

This past week Matthew spent his 21st birthday in a hospital.

"Happy 21st Birthday Matthew," his mother posted on the GoFundMe page on Monday. "Believe that the wishes are coming from far and wide, and when we get to celebrate it will be huge!!! He is still heavily sedated, but the nurse told me when she walked in this morning and wished him a happy birthday, he smiled."

For the past week, Sandra has provided daily posts on his status.

On Wednesday, her last update, Matthew's mother talked about the doctors saying he had a good night and there was talk about removing dialysis. She said it was removed but his temperature was running high.

Sandra posted that her son's heart is recovering and that doctors no longer fear that he will need to go on a transplant list.

Donations pledged to the page have topped $25,000 so far.

The funds will help cover medical bills, and daily living expenses for the family (housing, car rental, fuel, tolls, food, etc.)

Spadaccino said in her post on the page that Matthew might need to remain in Ireland for at least six months.

She said "the Smalls are a very active and generous family."

"Matt earned his Eagle Scout in 2019, and he helped build a BBQ pit for the Levittown Rescue Squad. Matt saved his money and purchased a motorcycle. When he comes home at night, he shuts his bike down because he doesn't want to disturb the neighbors. Matt and his family have been very active in BSA Troop 82 and various cat rescue groups. My cat went missing and the entire Smalls family came out in the rain to help me find her. Matthew is very big into his Irish heritage and designed and registered the family Tartan in Scotland. Matt is very selfless and only thinks of others in their time of need or just because," Spadaccino said.

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