FOR MATT
This Saturday as I was preparing to leave for Denver and the beginning of the solo tour, I received a phone call that I had hoped I never would. Matt Cwiertney, a dear friend, and an unrelenting symbol of hope, had lost his long and hard fought battle with cancer. It is not common for me to tread such heavy ground on this page, but Matt was not just a close friend of mine, he was a champion for the causes I fight for and an inspiration to so many of my friends, family and fans. Over the course of the past year or so that we've come to know each other, Matt and his family have taught me more about perseverance, positivity and strength than I can ever put into words. In the midst of his battle, Matt's family rallied around him and the idea that something so difficult could be turned into something beautiful and positive. For two years in a row the Cwiertney family has raised 10s of thousands of dollars for the Light the Night walks in honor of Matt. As he fought for his own life, he and his family selflessly fought for so many others that were suffering. I was honored to get to spend a couple of great days with Matt over this past summer. Even as his condition became more unpredictable, he was unbelievably focused and exceedingly positive. He shot pictures in the barricade at our Orange County show with the Fray and weeks later, despite having received news that he had developed a brain tumor, our families walked side-by-side together at Light the Night. Towards the end of the walk, Matt and I got separated and were unable to say goodbye in person, a reality that leaves me with great sadness. Still, in the midst of this sadness it is impossible not to celebrate the spirit of this incredible Man. The skinny, sweet kid with a huge heart who loved music and taking pictures and just wanted to be well. As I embark on this month of shows, raising money for the Dear Jack Foundation, Matt's story gives me great pause. It is for him and for the countless others who have not been as fortunate as I have that we started the foundation. I would like to dedicate this next month of my travels to Matt and his memory as well as the incredible love and strength embodied by his family. Thank you all for taking a moment to read these words.
- Andrew's blog
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sorry to hear about your
sorry to hear about your friend. (i know this is kind of late) ive been there before with my friend and it was so hard. but just know hes in a better place still rocking out to music :) thoughts and prayers are with his family.
that's very thoughtful and
that's very thoughtful and touching. it's always great when someone who's fighting has family and friends to encourage and support him.
this actually reminded me of my best friend's mom who has multiple myeloma...it's kind of like leukemia...and her family is one of the strongest i've ever met. her husband, son, and daughter are always there to help her, to talk to her, and to be with her when times are rough. i just want to thank you for your music, especially the songs on The Glass Passenger. believe it or not, many of the songs - Caves specifically - have really helped me get through this tough struggle for her life. I showed her family your album and they all love it as well, so your songs really are doing a lot more help than you may think.
Your story really inspires me, and clearly many others. it's always comforting for me to think about your win with battling cancer, because I know my friend's mom can do it too, and she's getting better every day since her marrow transplant.
once again, just know that your music has really helped me and my friend's family keep holding on during the past year.
my thoughts are with you and Matt's family.
Keep instilling hope in all your listeners' hearts with your music.
Although I have never
Although I have never experienced the pain of a loss, your paragraph, above, has touched me greatly and caused me to shed a few tears as I sat here reading it. I'm sure that losing someone so dear to you is extremely painful, and I feel that I am grateful and lucky to not have gone through such a thing. But, when I do, I hope I'll have as much support as you do. And if I ever get cancer, or anything similar, I would want to try to "change the world," well, not exactly. But, I'd want to make a difference in people's lives. Anyway, I'm extremely sorry for your loss, and also that you were never able to goodbye to him, I have a slight knowledge of how that feels, although I've never lost someone due to a death. I just picture how I feel about my loss, then multiply it by an awful lot. I'm hoping that I don't lose anyone anyone anytime soon. But, my grandmother's getting really old, turning 87 this July and I'm not too sure how long she's going to last with all her problems and illnesses. I just wish there was a cure for everything, maybe when I get older I'll find a cure for somethings. But, I'm young still and don't know very much about how to find a cure. Again, I'm sorry for your loss.
i am such a big fan. I am
i am such a big fan. I am real sorry to hear about your friend. Stay strong.
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old blogs
i have been a fan sense 2006ish. I used to read your old blogs that were attached to your old myspace page. were can i find those. I was going threw a very difficult time in my life and i would like to read your old blogs that helped me get threw my trials and tribulations.
Why can't it stop?
It just seems so unfair to me... Such a great person of capabilities so high has to lose something like this. I might just have to write a lullaby for this great person I never had a fortune well enough to meet. I'm so sorry for Matt's family, for you, Andrew, and for anyone with cancer. This next song I write will for all of you.
Hoping to see you someday Matt.
Cancer claims another young life...
This past weekend on Halloween a close coworker passed away from a rare form of cervical cancer. Jessica was 29. We should never forget to be there for anyone in need, and never forget what it means to have family.
For Matt and for Jessica, and all those who lose their battles.
I'm so sorry for the loss of
I'm so sorry for the loss of someone so incredible. Take small consolation in the fact that you have some amazing memories to remember him by, and there's no doubt he'll live on forever in the thoughts of many.
He lived an admirable life, my prayers are with you, his family and friends, and all of those also suffering with cancer.
oh you poor thing :( this
oh you poor thing :( this world is so cruel. up until the age of 15 i'd never known anyone die..now they seem to be falling all around me.
one of my old friends mum died of cancer recently and she doesn't really know her father so she only has her brother left now :(.
you are so strong and so inspiring.
and you are always in my thoughts!
So sorry
I'm really sorry for your loss -- that's such a difficult thing to cope with. However, his journey and yours will continue to inspire people for a long time into the future; you clearly know that, so we know you'll survive, as if you haven't proven that a thousand times over already. You're going to turn this into something beautiful.
Empathy and support.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Andrew. If there were something that could be said to help ease the pain, I wish I knew the words--but unfortunately we have to hold the memories close and our friends closer, because no words can replace someone close to you. Please know that I'm sending positive energy your way and to Matt's family, and wish you all well.
By the grace of luck I managed to acquire two tickets for your sold out bowery ballroom show on Monday, and will be there to support you through this difficult time by bringing my enthusiasm and love for your music. I've heard you really love the way your music connects with your fans, and your fans to your music. So we will be there supporting you no matter the weather, because you've sure as hell helped me through mine.
a really close friend of mine
a really close friend of mine passed away of lymphoma on september 28th of this year. it's been terribly hard to get through. i'm so sorry for your loss, but remember, you're such an inspiration .
From a Light the Night volunteer
Andrew,
I am so sorry for your loss. I will be keeping the Cwiertney family in my thoughts and prayers. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a volunteer at that Light the Night walk at the Angels Stadium, putting the lights in the balloons and supervising the field. I am also thankful to have spoken with you as you were exiting the field. It was through your passion for music that inspired me to start playing piano several years ago. I noticed that you mentioned being separated from Matt towards the end of the walk. I send my deepest regrets if I in any way contributed to you not being able to say goodbye to him in person.
Love,
Jennifer
thanks Andrew
This blog entry hit me especially hard as I've been dealing with a brain tumor since I found out in the middle of 2007. This last year I did full surgery/radiation/chemo and in the depths of it I remember watching a video piece on Andrew... they asked him about his battle and "how bad did things get?" -- and he said "things got about as bad as they could." I'm not sure anyone who hasn't battled cancer can really fully comprehend what it means for things to get as bad as they can... it felt good hearing someone sum up the experience so accurately and succinctly. I'm afraid to talk about it and jinx it but I'm finally feeling WELL for the first time in years and things look great going forward. Thanks Andrew for your music and your insight and condolences for your friend.
prayers for matt
I pray for matt and his family! and again i am very very sorry
im soooo sorry
i am so soeey for your loss and i understand how you feel. my grandmother died last summer .she had bone cancer .i know how unbeareable the pain is when someone daerly loved is there one day and then gone. i am terribley sorry.
R.I.P. matt
-Nina
i'm sorry for ur loss andy
i'm sad andrew...
RIP matt
my thoughts n prayers r with u
stay strong!
So sorry...
Andy, I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll be keeping you and Matt's family in my thoughts. Hang in there, and keep fighting.
I'm so sorry for your
I'm so sorry for your loss,
my thoughts are with you, your family, and Matt's family.
Thank you for taking the time to share his story, he sounded like a truly inspirational person.
RIP, to Matt and to my
RIP, to Matt and to my Grandpa, who also lost his fight against cancer this passed week. It is amazing what you do. You give families like mine hope, that no one else will have to suffer what we've gone through. As hard as it is to stay positive and uplifting, that is what it's all about isn't it?
Thank you for posting this story. It was beautiful and I will be thinking of Matt and my Grandpa as I watch your show in Philly. And thanks for the music that saved me during my hard time.
Andrew,
I'm so sorry about Matt, he sounds like a great boy.
I hope you are well.
RIP
Andrew, I am very sorry for your loss, and will keep matt in my thoughts and prayers. He sounds very inspirational, and will be thinking of him when you play at Rutgers. from jersey.
I'm so sorry for your loss :(
I'm so sorry for your loss :( Matt seemed like an incredible person and I'm sure he will continue to be an inspiration to many.
Andrew, Im so humbled by this
Andrew,
Im so humbled by this story.
I got the honor and chance to talk with you in person before the Denver show and tell you my own friend's story, and about his battle with cancer thus far. I don't know if I could continue with such grace and poise like you did Sunday night in light of something like this.
My thoughts and prayers are with both your family and his. I know that he's gone from this world, but I know that his story will touch the hearts of millions to come.
Hopefully his memory inspires others to come together in his memory at next years LTN in bigger numbers than ever before, so that one day we all stop getting calls like this. He truly sounds like an incredible person.
Thoughts and prayers.
xoxo
I'm sorry about your loss,
I'm sorry about your loss, Andrew. I really wish there was more I could say. Thank you for writing this, you should start blogging again more often, I'm sure there are more people than just me who miss it.
Rest In Peace, Matt.
Matt sounds like he was a
Matt sounds like he was a wonderful person who influenced many people. Thank you for sharing your loss and your thoughts with us, your fans. So many of us have experienced similar losses that I know countless thoughts and prayers will be with you and Matt's family.
As you said, amazing spirit, positivity and life is something to be celebrated. There's no better way for you to do that than with this special solo tour, the release of your movie and your continued efforts to raise money for your foundation. I'm sure your friendship and support meant more to him and his family than you know.
I wish you all the best and much success this month...for Matt.
Dear Andrew...from your "man"
Andrew,
First of all so sorry to hear about your friend. I'm sure he looked up to you and he is in a peaceful place now. I was that "old guy" in the front row at the Ashland concert that after the show when I met you with my 13 year old daughter and wife, you called me your man!
I just wanted to let you know that as a 44 year old that has been to my share of concerts, you are one of the best performers I have EVER seen. My daughter got my wife and I hooked on your incredible music and it is obvious what a talent you are. Your inspirational story, your songs that YOU write, your performance and energy just blows me away. Then your commitment to your fans by meeting all of us after the show is unheard of these days. Good for you Andrew. Best of luck with your Dear Jack shows and your solo tours.
God Bless,
One of your oldest fans, "your man"
P.S. Cudos and thanks to Bobby as well for making himself available to the fans after the concert, another class act!
RIP Matt
This is awful. I've been following Matt's story for nearly a year, and he seemed like such a great kid. My thoughts and prayers are with Matt's family, who seem like amazing people as well.
I will definitely be walking in LTN this year for Matt. Hang in there, Andy.
xoxo
RIP
I am so sorry for you loss :(
Andrew, Thank you for taking
Andrew,
Thank you for taking the time to write this. It's so important for you to take the Cwiertny's family's perspective (turning something horrible into something beautiful) and relay it on your page because so many people will see it. For the past few days, I've been expecting this post from you. I knew that Matt and his family effected this community and the LTN team more than I could express. I only talked to Matt once, but he seemed like he was such a hopeful and powerful person and when I heard that he passed away, I was in complete shock.
I'm just hoping that everyone is able to turn this into something positive. Remember Matt and keep fighting! Keep raising money for LTN and working hard. I gave blood today and Matt was definitely one of the people on my mind. Thank you, Andrew, for continuing to fight despite being healthy yourself.
RIP Matt and thank you Cwiertny family for everything you've done.
RIP
So sorry for your loss, Andy. My grandma and uncle both died of cancer, and I know how difficult it is to deal with. I take comfort in knowing they are part of a better existence now where there is no sickness. I know you will take your emotions and channel them into passionate performances that will raise money for the cause, and that is why you are such an amazing, inspiring person.
Rest in Peace, Matt.
It takes a special kind of person to turn something so horrible into anything positive, I know myself as well as others will be inspired and touched by Matt's story.
Andy, I am so sorry for your
Andy, I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like an incredible man. My thoughts and prayers are with Matt's family, you, your family, and anyone else who knew him. Thank you for sharing.
Love,
Kathy
My deepest sympathy
Andy
I'm sorry for your loss, and my prayers are with you. Reading your words made me cry, I really see that he was an amazing human and it is a great loss. I'm so glad you fought and won your battle of cancer because YOUR music save my life. I would not be here if it wasn't for you Andy XOXO
Sleep easy Matt
Andy, I am very sad to hear of your lose. My thoughts and prayers are not only with you and his family, but with every family touched by cancer. I will be thinking about him when I see you in Philly next week
For Matt.... Rest in peace, you fought the hard fight.
RIP Matt from here in
RIP Matt
from here in England,my thoughts are with your family and friends x