A Father’s Gratitude

When Bradley Matthews’s young son Jeremy was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer last November, he didn’t have to travel far to get the world-class medical care his son needed. Not only was one of the nation’s top ocular oncologists nearby, he also worked at the No. 1-ranked eye hospital in the country.

"I feel very fortunate to be working for the University of Miami and want to give back in any way I can."

Bradley Matthews

For the past year, Jeremy, diagnosed with retinoblastoma in both eyes, has been receiving treatment from J. William Harbour, vice chairman for translational research and director of the Ocular Oncology Service at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

“My wife Jackie and I have been holding our breath,” says Matthews, a sales account executive in the University of Miami’s Department of Athletics. “Dr. Harbour is trying to preserve as much vision as possible using lasers and chemotherapy. It’s a much longer process than treating other types of cancer, but I believe the odds are in our favor.”

Jeremy, who just turned 2, is receiving care from an interdisciplinary UM Miller School of Medicine team that includes Cristina Fernandes, a pediatric oncologist at the UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Matthews grew up in Miami and earned a degree in sports administration at St. Thomas University. After working with the Miami Heat and the Miami Dolphins, he joined the UM athletics department in 2001. He enjoys helping Hurricane fans and spending time with his growing family, which now includes 3-month-old Aaron.

“I feel very fortunate to be working for the University of Miami and want to give back in any way I can,” says Matthews. “I’m now in the process of organizing a campus fundraiser like a 5K walk or a Dribble for the Cure event timed around one of the Hurricanes’ home basketball games. It will be a lot of fun and a great way to contribute to the great cancer research being done at our University.”