Two years after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, Matthew Wilson shows no signs of cancer. Inspired by the care her son received, Mathew's mom, Sophia Wilson, applied and was hired to work at Mayo Clinic in Florida. Matthew is determined to do the same.

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At 21 years old, Matthew Wilson wasn't doing what most of his peers were doing. Instead of enjoying the new freedoms of young adulthood, he was undergoing cancer treatment.

His plans changed after he discovered a knuckle-sized lump on his neck.

At first, he just thought he had pulled a muscle. "I tried to massage it to get it to go away," Matthew says. When the stubborn lump persisted, he decided to get it checked out.

The first doctor he saw suspected the lump was a swollen lymph node, possibly caused by an illness or infection. He prescribed antibiotics and told Matthew to follow up if they did not resolve the issue.

Matthew finished the medication, and the lump was unchanged.

When Matthew returned, his doctor referred him to an ear, nose and throat specialist for further investigation. The specialist recommended a biopsy of the lymph node.

A few weeks later, Matthew's phone rang.

"I was with my girlfriend at a park near her house when I got the call," Matthew says. "The doctor said, 'You tested positive for Hodgkin lymphoma.'"

Sharing heart-wrenching news with loved ones

Matthew's mom, Sophia Wilson, recalls the moment he told her the news.

"The thought of that still sends shudders down my spine," she says. "His father and I could not believe what we heard. We were very scared, and we started crying."

Matthew fought to keep his composure, assuring his parents he would be all right, but Sophia says she saw fear and confusion in his eyes.

"We turned to the one thing where we knew we could find solace: prayer," Sophia says. "A group of 13 of my closest friends started a prayer chain for Matthew. We prayed every Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m. Friends all over the world prayed for him."

They felt their prayers were answered when Matthew was accepted for treatment at Mayo Clinic and qualified for grant funding to cover the cost, a huge relief to the Wilson family.

"My husband was on administrative leave from work at that time, and we had no medical insurance or the means to pay for such a complicated disease," Sophia says, adding that she knew Matthew would be in the best hands at Mayo Clinic.

Matthew put his life on hold and started receiving treatment from oncologist Han Tun, M.D., and his team at Mayo Clinic in Florida in 2022.

Enduring treatment with support from near and far

Matthew began treatment with hope. He needed that to sustain him through chemotherapy.

"Chemotherapy really messed me up badly. I was throwing up a lot. I'm usually healthy and don't get sick often, so that was hard mentally," Matthew says.

Matthew says his support system got him through the most challenging days.

I've never seen another medical institution that esteems patients with such high priority. I pray for Mayo's continued success and the well-being of its employees.

- Sophia Wilson

"I had the most support I've ever had in my life. Friends I hadn't talked to in years were reaching out. My family was bending over backward to help me. My girlfriend was going to appointments with me, so I wasn't alone," Matthew says.

In addition to the support from his loved ones, Matthew recalls the incredible amount of support he received from his Mayo care team, especially from his nurse, Tammy McGarry. His mom, Sophia, noticed how Tammy prioritized Matthew's needs. It meant the world to her.

"Nurse Tammy took care of my son like her own," Sophia says. "She and the rest of the team always reassured him and made sure he was comfortable and had what he needed."

Sophia also recalls how McGarry gave her a shoulder to lean on through Matthew’s treatment.

"I talked to her about my challenges as a mom. She would always encourage me and told me to give Matthew space and trust the process," Sophia says.

Matthew's treatment consisted of six months of chemotherapy, followed by several months of radiation therapy and immunotherapy.

Whenever someone asks about my journey, I always say I'm grateful for it. I feel like it's helped me grow as a person and learn to control what I can control.

- Matthew Wilson

In October 2023 and March 2024, Matthew received clear scans. He will continue to have check-ups every six months but now considers himself in remission.

"I'm doing a lot better now, especially mentally," Matthew says. "Whenever someone asks about my journey, I always say I'm grateful for it. I feel like it's helped me grow as a person and learn to control what I can control. It's also strengthened my spiritual relationship with God and taught me to be patient with life and not rush things."

Changing career paths, inspiring others with Matthew's story

After completing cancer treatment, Matthew, now age 23, began training to become an EMT, or emergency medical technician. His dream is to become a firefighter one day, but before that, he hopes to give back to Mayo Clinic, where he received lifesaving care.

"I am hoping that once I finish EMT school, I can come work at Mayo Clinic," Matthew says. "Mayo Clinic means the world to me. Without Mayo, I wouldn't be where I am now."

If Matthew joins Mayo in the future, he'll be joining his mom, Sophia, who was so inspired by the care her son received that she decided to apply and was hired as a medical administrative assistant in Hospital Internal Medicine.

"Two years ago, Matthew and I walked into Mayo for a different reason. I would always admire the artwork, the ambiance, and the smiling faces and kind words of the staff," Sophia says. "I was inspired by the excellence and genuine care and concern of everyone we met there. They touched our lives.

"I wanted to give back what was given to our family: hope," Sophia says.  

Sophia says she feels honored to work with the remarkable physicians and staff at Mayo Clinic. She had always believed that Mayo was the best in the world, but now she knows why.

"Mayo is filled with special caregivers, and I mean every single person. Mayo is so advanced, ahead of its time," she says. "I've never seen another medical institution that esteems patients with such high priority. I pray for Mayo's continued success and the well-being of its employees."