Mathew Michael Stanwood, 7

WHY NOMINATED

“Mathew is a strong kid with a big heart,” wrote Jessica Stanwood, Mathew’s mom.

“Mathew has cerebral palsy and a neurological condition called cavernous hemangiomas, which are spiderlike bleeds all over his brain."

“Mathew says he loves helping others and is a wonderful helper to his siblings at home, as well as others at sporting events and at school. Mathew loves to interact with others; he is very social. Mathew says he would like to make sure everyone receives an education, as that is so important.”

Stanwood said her son “has a great imagination and passion for firefighting.” His father, Mark Stanwood, is a firefighter and investigator, among other duties at the Fountain Fire Department.

But Mathew’s biggest dream, his mom said, is to meet his idol, Dog the Bounty Hunter, who stars in a reality show on A&E Television.

“Mathew would like to become a bounty hunter just like Dog the Bounty Hunter and Bobby Brown (the local bail bondsman who often teams up with Dog). Mathew has wanted to meet Dog for a very long time.”

Stanwood said their family has visited Brown’s office “a few times, and they know of Mathew and his interest but say there are so many kids — many of them terminal — who want to meet Dog, he does not have time to meet them all.”

Mathew walks with crutches most of the time. “Mathew’s mobility is an issue sometimes, but not always,” Stanwood wrote. “In our home, Mathew has very little room to walk, but when out in public you may see Mathew walking so fast with his crutches it would truly make anyone proud."

“Mathew hopes one day to inspire all those with challenges and make them understand there is nothing you cannot do in life.”

ACHIEVEMENTS

Plays soccer with the TOPS Panthers, a Pride Soccer Club program for athletes with special needs; helps his mom with his 2-year-old brother, Owen — who has the same neurological condition that Mathew and his mom have — and his sisters, Anna, 4, and April, 5 months; has improved greatly in academics, and scored 100 percent on a spelling test last week; recently showed an interest in photography, and tried to win a camera by selling the most items in a Venetucci Elementary fundraiser last month. (He was a few items shy of winning the camera.)

Editor’s note: Most Great Kids interviews are done over the phone, but Jessica Stanwood brought Mathew into The Gazette so he could look around the newsroom, and also because he can be “goofy” on the phone, she said.

Q&A WITH MATHEW

It looks like you’ve lost a few teeth. Did the tooth fairy come?

“I got $5. My new teeth are going to come in soon. And my dad is going to take me to the dentist.”

What’s your favorite thing about school?

“Eating lunch.”

Why do you like Dog the Bounty Hunter so much?

“Because I love that show. … Catching the bad guys. They’re really wild.”

If you had a camera, what would you take pictures of?

“My dad. … Nature stuff.”

(His mom added that Mathew has said he’d like to take photos of flowers and birds.)

What are some things you do in therapy (at the Child Development Center)?

“I do pretty good stuff. Cards, stories, F-sounds and S-sounds.”

What do you do for fun?

“We do Memory and Candyland.”

What do you want to be when you grow up?

“A fireman. And a Dog the Bounty Hunter. I want to be Dog the Bounty Hunter, and run out there and catch some guys.”

Family pets

Smokey and Garfield the cats; Zoe the dog; Dorothy the fish

Favorite food

Chicken nuggets

Q&A WITH JESSICA STANWOOD

What are some challenges of raising Mathew?

“A lot of times people criticize him when we’re out in public. … The limitations of our tiny house. … His last school basically said he was incapable of learning. … He’s really making progress (through a summer school called A Rainbow of Friends and his life skills class at Venetucci). So, not too many challenges except mobility — getting in and out of the car.”
(Mathew interjected here: “We try. We try. We’re a really good team.”)

What are the rewards of being Mathew’s mom?

(Before his mom could answer, Mathew pointed out: “She makes dinner. She makes chicken.” He turned to his mom and said, “You are the best chickenmaker!”)

“He is so motivating to all the kids he knows. He’s normally very mature for his age, and when we’re out someplace, if someone drops something, he’ll get down to help them. He loves that everybody has different abilities, and everyone can do anything.”