Sickness can't stop skateboarder
And now Franklin's Matt Woodrum set to skate with MTV's Rob Dyrdek.
Friday, May 16, 2008
FRANKLIN — When her son broke his arm, and later fractured both ankles, Alicia Woodrum wasn't too concerned.
Bumps and bruises come with growing up, she realized.
Twelve-year-old Matthew Woodrum, who has Lymphoma, will have his 'Special Wish' granted on May 20 in Los Angeles, CA. when he gets to meet professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek.But blood tests, bone marrow examinations and a spinal tap revealed a much more serious illness. Matthew Woodrum, then 11, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
It's unfair for kids to face diseases they can't spell or pronounce.
"It came out of the blue," his mother said of the diagnosis. "That was the last thing we thought of."
Matthew added: "One day I was just a kid ..."
And the next day his skateboard was pulled out from under his feet.
That was April 2007, and Matthew, now 12, receives monthly chemotherapy treatments at Dayton Children's Medical Center. His hair has grown back, and when you're a sixth-grader, that's important. The holes in his brittle bones also have healed.
He looks healthy.
"I'm getting better," he said.
He's about to get a lot better. Thanks to the Special Wish Foundation, Matthew, his parents and sister, Kayla, 15, and brother, Nate, 7, will vacation next week in Los Angeles. The highlight is Tuesday, May 20, when Matthew's hero, skateboarder Rob Dyrdek, star of the MTV show, "Rob and Big Show" has reserved a private skateboard park in Hollywood.
Dyrdek, of Kettering, will demonstrate his skateboarding skills, and skate with Matthew. It'll be like a Reds fan taking batting practice with Ken Griffey Jr.
"He's really cool," said Matthew, who skateboards at the Baker Bowl in Smith Park and a Kettering facility that Dyrdek owns.
Alicia Woodrum called Dyrdek "down to earth and a real funny guy."
The Woodrum family also will visit Disneyland, the beach and skateboarding parks.
"It should be a lot of fun," Matthew said. "I can't wait."
How to go
What: Benefit Motorcycle Poker Run for Matthew Woodrum
When: 10 a.m. June 7
Where: Hillbilly Heaven, 2502 Atco Drive, Middletown
Cost: $15 single, $20 double
Call: (513) 594-4783
