Matthew's Story

Matthew McMillen
Age 8
Children’s Hospital and VCU Children’s Medical Center
Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Heart Defect

From the minute he was born, life has handed 8-year-old Matthew McMillen one challenge after another. Shortly after birth doctors knew something was terribly wrong with his heart. He was born with a heart defect known as heart obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous return, or TAPVR. Only in the world for nine hours, Matthew underwent open heart surgery.

As time progressed, Matthew’s family questioned whether his birth was the end of his health troubles. He showed signs of sensory disorders and developmental delay, and it was determined that Matthew had autism and a mild case of cerebral palsy. But “when doctors and therapists have painted gloomy pictures,” said grandma Karen, “he rallied to prove them all wrong.”

Matthew knows his treatments will make him stronger and works hard each day. He’s grown to be quite a thinker: “His little mind is always at work,” said Karen, “from writing stories to making up commercials to doing research on clover that a rabbit was eating in his yard.” He also has a passion for the Randolph-Macon College Dance Marathon - a Children's Miracle Network fundraising program - and has attended every year since birth. The marathoners celebrate Matthew’s birthday at the event and he wouldn’t miss it for anything.