Marshfield, Mo – About eight months ago, 14 year old Cole Matney’s life turned upside down. He found out about the Chiari Malformation that he had been living with. He is the average teenager. He loves to play basketball and video games: he even has his own YouTube channel. He has always been a kind boy. It is said that he would never even hurt a fly. Yet, he got stuck with so much pain. The way Matney has handled everything that has happened in the last few months it truly inspiring.

Matney is a fun loving kid that everyone can enjoy being around. Treyton Summers said he can be described as “strong, faithful and a really good friend.” He has the biggest heart that anyone could ever have. When he was diagnosed you would have never seen him so scared. He was living a simple life, until it turned upside down. Being a teenage boy is awkward enough, being a teenage boy having brain surgery really makes things difficult. He had been experiencing headaches and passing out for months. Yet, you never saw him be negative.

When you watch a child go through such trauma as this boy has went through it makes you have a large respect for them and makes you look up to them. When Matney was diagnosed he was forced to completely change his life. His love for basketball was put on hold, and everything became much harder for him.

Question: What was the hardest part of the entire thing?

Answer: The headaches.

Question: What got you through everything?

Answer: Christian music.

There were times when Matney had thought about giving up, but his faith made him remain hopeful. When he quit the basketball team many people wondered why. When the reason came about many were surprised. Matney has persevered and made it through. He had a lot of people supporting him and Summers said that he believes that was also a very large part in Matney getting through such a terrifying journey.

Matney is the type of kid that isn’t going to ask for attention, or even want it when it is given. Though his whole journey he was very private. The only people that knew what was going on were very few close friends and family. He had a small support system and he did not even want the people he had to be worrying about him. Things got hard, but he did not let it show.

It’s been hard for him to recover, but he has done it. Summers says that he believes Matney is “happier and doing a lot better.” now that the surgery is over and he is recovering pretty well. Matney hopes to be able to play his favorite sport again. Whether or not he will be is still at question after the intricate surgery he had, but he hopes to, and that’s all a person truly can do after going through this much. Matney is an inspiration to all that he is around and makes people want to be better.