Little Miami Lakes resident Jeremy Matthews is a young piano student with a deep love and appreciation for music and cars. In most regards, Matthews is like many 4-year-olds, with the exception of his eyes. He has been fighting Bilateral Retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer that affects the retina, since he was 15 months old.
Despite having a great pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby boy who met all developmental milestones, Matthews’ mother, Jackie, visited a ophthalmologist on the recommendation of his pediatrician. Matthews was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma affecting both eyes, one of which, his left eye, he would have removed by the time he was two years old. He has since been fitted with a prosthetic.
Retinoblastoma, despite being a congenital illness, was not found in either parent or Matthews’ younger brother. Also, strangely, despite being a rare form of eye cancer, Jackie has reached out to three other families within her same zip code with children fighting Retinoblastoma.
The loss of Matthews’ left eye has deemed him legally blind, a title that has had little affect on Matthews musical abilities. Matthews practices piano at Miami Lakes based studio, Generations Piano Studio, where he is taught by Jessica Comellas.
“I knew I would be taking on the greatest challenge I’ve ever faced as a piano teacher not only because of his age but because of his vision impairment,” said Comellas.
“But seeing that smile on Jeremy's face and his excitement when listening to different sounds has made it all worth it! He has learned and remembered some difficult concepts such as note names and values which is difficult even for some older students to grasp. When finding certain keys or groups of keys on the piano, he relies on his sense of touch to find them based on the groups of black keys. We like to call them ‘Oreo cookies’ because they’re like the two cookies and cream filling of an Oreo. Using this technique, he is right almost 100 percent of the time.”
Matthews has performed in two recitals, London Bridges and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. He is preparing for his third recital this winter.
“I am overwhelmed by his spirit and personality and I am truly grateful to have the privilege of not only teaching, but knowing such an inspirational young pianist,” said Comellas.
Despite several rounds of chemo treatments and frequent visits to the University of Miami’s Bascom Palmer Institute, the top eye hospital in the nation, Matthews has maintained an active and happy childhood thanks to the efforts of his parents Brad and Jackie.
“I had him start piano lessons because I want him to be involved in a hobby that he can call his own,” said Jackie. “ He has always been very musical, having learned the Star Spangled Banner after hearing it just once, and always singing. He looks forward to his piano lessons. He just got his own keyboard.”
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the Matthews’ family cautions parents to “Know the Glow,” a phrase used by the medical community to keep watch for children’s eyes in photographs that instead of glowing red, glow bright white.
The whiteness of the glow indicates issues with the retina. To check for the glow, parents should take multiple photos with flash with their children’s eyes looking in the direction of the camera, and check for a whitish glow. As most photos are taken with phone cameras or digital cameras that automatically remove the red-eye from photographs, parents are urged to change these features before taking their photos.
For more information on the Bascom Palmer Institute, including ways to donate, contact the hospital at 800-329-7000.