Long-Term Survivor Stories – Matt Reidy

Hello. I’m Matt Reidy. I live in Richmond, VA. I’m a retired IT executive. I’m also married with four children, now age 12 through 25. I enjoy woodworking, sailing, and water sports.

MY STORY

I was diagnosed in December 2013 with stage II perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. I was devastated at diagnosis when I learned there is only a 5-year survival rate. I pinned all my hope on receiving a transplant.

Melinda Bachini with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation was also my hope and hero with her trial success at the time. Family and friends were a huge support but those were very dark times emotionally for me. I fully expected not to survive more than 1-2 years.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE

Hope was honestly difficult to hold onto at times. After successful resection in January 2014, I had a sliver of real hope, but it was dashed with recurrence at my one-year check-up.

My physicians did not make me more, or less, hopeful. Knowing that survival beyond five years was a source of hope for me, such as Melinda’s life shows. I would encourage other patients to connect with long-term survivors or read our stories as a source of hope.