Saratoga News

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No football for Brading--he had a brain tumor

By Shannon Burkey

When Matt Brading decided to go out for the Saratoga High School football team in August, the sophomore was fully committed to his teammates, his coaches and to being the best player he could be.

Matt never missed a practice, a game or any other event related to the team--but he never played a single down.

In August, shortly after starting football practice for his first season on the team, the young athlete was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

"It was pretty scary. I didn't know what to think or how to react," Matt said. "I just knew I had to stay positive and think about the end result."

Matt, also a rising star on the school's baseball team, hadn't been feeling right all summer. During baseball warm-ups in June, he took a hard fall that resulted in a concussion, and he spent all summer with headaches and feeling a bit off.

"He tried to be active in the summer, but he never really felt good," said Matt's mother, Michele Brading. "We just assumed it was because of the concussion."

When Matt still wasn't feeling better in August, Michele Brading knew it was time to take him back for a second look.

"The doctor said it was probably concussion-related," she said. "His coordination, balance and memory were all intact; it was only the headaches."

Wanting to doublecheck everything, the Bradings' doctor scheduled Matt for an MRI, telling the family not to worry because 99 percent of the time the results come back with no problems.

Not this time.

Matt had a tumor in the pineal gland, which is in the center of the brain where all the nerves end. While that was difficult news for the family to take, the good news was that the tumor was benign.

"It's hard; a week ago I had a healthy son, and this week he's not so healthy," Michele Brading said.

The Bradings sought four different opinions on the best course of action for Matt, and each one came out the same--the tumor needed to be removed because it would continue to grow.

"Matt is one of the last people you would expect this to happen to," said teammate and friend Michael Guercio, "but he handled it really well and didn't let it get him down."

Even though Matt was about to begin the fight of his life, friends and family say he stayed positive and humorous throughout.

"He had a relaxed attitude about it, like he knew it would be OK," said Daniel Shepard, who has been a friend of Matt's since kindergarten and played on the football team with him.

Matt also remembered the commitment he had made to the football team and was determined to honor it.

With his brain surgery coming up soon, Matt knew he couldn't play football. He wasn't deterred from going to practices and games, though.

"It was truly heartbreaking when the realization came that he couldn't play, but he was determined he was going to be a part of the team. Matt has a good sense of team, and he's one of those kids that if he commits to something he loves, he will stick with it. He really wanted to play football," Michele Brading said. "He's looking ahead, wanting to play next season, so he wanted to watch and learn and support his team."

In Matt's eyes, continuing to support his team was just the right thing to do.

"It was a good bonding experience," said Matt. "It bothered me that I couldn't play, but I didn't mind being around the team, and I wanted to support them."

His dedication and his ability to deal with the curve ball he had just been thrown didn't surprise those who knew him.

"I would expect him to be there for the team because that's the kind of person he is," Michael said, "but the amount of participation he had was amazing."

Matt's coach was also impressed with his dedication.

"This kid had every reason in the world to take care of himself, but he never missed a practice. He's just that type of kid," said Saratoga frosh-soph football coach Shelley Smith, who coached Matt's team. "He really wanted to play, and when he sets his mind to something, he's very determined. It's a true testament of his character and his desire to fulfill his commitments."

Although Matt couldn't play, Smith said he tried to keep him as involved as he could, sometimes charting plays or helping the coaches in other ways.

"He didn't want special treatment; he just wanted to be Matt and continue to fight," Smith said. "His attitude was unbelievable."

Smith said he was devastated when he heard the news about Matt's tumor, but he also felt that the concussion was a blessing in disguise--a sort of warning system to the larger issue. Michele Brading couldn't agree more.

"If he hadn't fallen and gotten the concussion, we wouldn't have known about the tumor until he got really sick," she said.

It has been a hard road for the family, but Michele Brading said she is amazed by all of the support they have received for her son with the "heart of gold."

"This community has been pretty amazing. They have rallied around us and given us so much support. It's a testimony to all the wonderful people we are surrounded by," she said. "We feel very indebted and very loved."

Matt underwent surgery on Nov. 8 that doctors considered successful, said his mother. A week and a half later he was home continuing his recovery.

Today he is feeling much better, although he said he is tired all the time. But he is on the road to recovery and said his next goal is to be fully recovered and ready for baseball season in the spring.

"Not only did Matt make an impact on the team, he taught us all a lot and brought a lot of people together," Smith said. "We all felt lucky to have him on this team."

No doubt when baseball season starts his new team will feel the same way.