Volume 19, Shirt 16: "Built for Battle" Spiral Notebook

Meet Matthew Battleson.

Matthew was a healthy, active teenager who played hockey and baseball. In July 2025, after developing what seemed like a simple fever, he suddenly began having uncontrollable seizures. To give Matthew the best chance of recovery he was airlifted to Boston Children’s Hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma for 3 months and diagnosed with the rare neurological condition NORSE/FIRES.

Matthew's parents stayed in Boston, where he spent five months in the ICU at Boston Children’s Hospital, followed by three and a half months at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Today, Matthew is home and making incredible progress, but his recovery is far from over.

His mom will now be his full-time caregiver as Matthew continues therapy, relies on medications and a feeding tube, and travels back to Boston for ongoing specialized care. The family also faces the cost of making their home more accessible to meet Matthew’s changing needs.

Your support will help ease these ongoing expenses and allow Matthew and his family to focus on what matters most: his continued recovery. Please consider a purchase or donation to the family's Venmo fundraiser.

Crosby’s stores operate more than 85 locations throughout New York and Pennsylvania…Your hometown choice for fresh signature pizzas, subs, breakfast, convenience shopping, and fuel.