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The Power of One

Matthew Thornton

When Matthew Thornton was born on February 3, 1999, his parents, Brenda and Christopher Thornton of Rochester, NY, were filled with the excitement and joy that all expecting parents feel. Matthew, their third child, was delivered with no complications. His parents were thrilled and eagerly awaited the chance to hold their baby. But the moments after Matthew’s birth turned into what every parent fears. Matthew began to pale in color with respiratory distress. Aware that their other two children had been diagnosed with asthma conditions, the Thorntons immediately thought their baby boy would be treated for asthma. But during the next three weeks, the staff at Strong Memorial Hospital found Matthew’s condition to be far more severe. Before birth, he had developed a cystic tumor in his upper left lung that had burst during delivery, and the ruptured growth was now causing his left lung to collapse.

Matthew was immediately taken to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where he spent the next three weeks undergoing interventional care that required inserting air tubes into his tiny chest cavity to alleviate pressure. The tumor that developed in Matthew’s chest was a congenital malformation, meaning that as Matthew’s lungs were developing, so was the abnormal growth in his otherwise healthy body. The tumor had become part of his lungs, and removing the growth would require removing the upper left part of his lung as well. Hoping to monitor his progress and postpone surgery until he had more stamina, doctors sent Matthew home after his third week in the NICU.

At seven weeks old, Matthew returned to the hospital for a routine chest X-ray when doctors found that the tumor was growing in size and crowding his heart and lungs. Matthew’s surgery would have to come sooner than later. His parents were devastated. Furthermore, complications arose after surgery that put Matthew in a compromised condition. Fluid was surrounding his heart and his breathing was labored. Meanwhile, Matthew’s red cell count had also dropped significantly, and this was causing his already stressed heart to have to pump harder to move blood through his system. He was going to need a blood transfusion. Brenda and Christopher immediately volunteered their own blood, but time was limited and they would need to count on the community supply. "We wanted to help our son in the only way we could at that moment. We wanted to give him our blood, but we couldn’t," says Brenda. "In his greatest moment of need we had to depend on someone we would never meet to help save our son."

At slightly under 8 lbs., Matthew needed just one blood transfusion. "We were there when he received the blood," says Brenda. "It was an amazing experience. He immediately went from a pale color to a healthy pink. It was like he was brought back to life." The next day, the congestion around his heart had decreased and his breathing was back to normal. He was well enough to be transferred from the NICU to the regular care unit. The day after that he was well enough to go home again.

Today, Matthew is a healthy child. He only has 1˝ lungs, but that doesn’t stop him from playing soccer outside with his brother Alex and sister Carolyn. Like most other children his age, he loves playing, watching cartoons and most of all being with his family. "He is such a happy child; a lover of life although still so young," says Brenda, "And we owe that to the staff of Strong Memorial Hospital and the anonymous donors who give blood everyday." Brenda and Christopher Thornton say they would love nothing more than to thank the person who gave blood so that their son could have life. But they have settled on being thankful to all blood donors, because it was the selfless act of just one anonymous blood donor that had the power to bring life to someone in need. Matthew’s survival is a testament that volunteer blood donors truly do save lives.