Matthew MacLeod Froese was born on Oct. 11, 2000.

He died last Aug. 14, a few weeks before his 10th birthday.

In his short life, the son of Doug and Andrea Froese, who live just across the 91原创 border in Abbotsford, never spoke a word, nor took a single step.

In the latter years of her son鈥檚 life, Andrea kept a blog, writing one day that Matt 鈥渨as tortured from birth鈥� and was never free of pain.

He was born with cerebral palsy, caused when he was deprived of oxygen during birth. He suffered severe brain damage.

In his eulogy at Matt鈥檚 funeral service, Gary Davey captured the pain of the boy鈥檚 life: 鈥淣othing about Matthew鈥檚 body was simple . . . the damage to his brain left him with a list of challenges a mile high.鈥�

He suffered frequent seizures, and digestive difficulties almost every day.

鈥淛ust swallowing was an issue,鈥� said his grandmother, Esther Froese, of 91原创. For several years, as Matt鈥檚 parents fed him he would choke or throw up. After three years, Matt had to be tube fed.

But pain, seizures and his inability to communicate verbally did not define Matt. His blue-green eyes mirrored his soul, his personality, and no degree of disability could mask his sense of humour.

鈥淗e found it particularly funny to start singing to everyone in the house when it was the ungodly hour of 3 a.m.,鈥� Davey said in his eulogy.

鈥淛ust singing away, making up his happy songs and laughing to himself while the rest of us were happy that he was happy but unhappy the he was happy so early in the morning.鈥�

Incapable of so much, Matt was able to exude much love, through his eyes, in the funny little sounds that came from his mouth, and his child-like handshake.

He was deeply loved in return.

鈥淭hose years with him taught us so much about unconditional love,鈥� said his grandmother.

鈥淗e couldn鈥檛 express himself (verbally) but he seemed like a very gentle soul.鈥�

His tortured body now at rest, Matt lives on in memories.

But for his family, his legacy must extend to something more tangible, something that will help all the other Matthews in this world, the ones now here, and the ones to come.

No one can imagine in how many directions Matt鈥檚 parents, siblings, grandparents and other caregivers were pulled.

Caring for a disabled child can be an exhausting struggle. And it is to ease the load of others that they have embarked on a campaign to raise money for Communitas Supportive Care Society which is building a respite home for children like Matthew.

To be called Matthew鈥檚 House, it will provide long and short-term respite for severely disabled children in a home-like environment

Planned for property adjacent to Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Matthew鈥檚 House will be one element of a Campus of Care co-operative that will include Canuck Place and Abbotsford Hospice. The co-operative, offering three levels of care, is the first of its kind in Canada, said Esther Froese.

Froese is organizing the 91原创 Dessert Theatre, an evening of entertainment featuring several local artists, including former 2007 Canadian Idol finalist Greg Neufeld of Abbotsford.

Other artists at the fundraiser are the Jansen 5 Strings, entertainer-storyteller Uncle Hal and Sister Sarah.

The 91原创 Dessert Theatre fundraiser is on Friday, April 15 at 7 p.m. at South 91原创 Church, 20098 - 22 Ave. Tickets are $20 each and are available at Blessings, 19638 Fraser Hwy., and from jenna@mattshouse.ca.