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Our little angel Mateo was called to be with his heavenly family.

In Loving Memory of

Mateo C. Rotger

May 12, 2000 - September 25, 2005

God looked around his garden and he

found an empty place. He then looked

down upon this earth, and saw your tired

face. He put his arms around you

and lifted you to rest. God's garden

must be beautiful, he always takes the

best. He knew that you were suffering,

he knew you were in pain, He knew that

you would never get well on earth again.

He saw that the road was getting rough,

and the hills are hard to climb. So He

closed your weary eye lids and whispered

"Peace be thine." It broke our hearts to

lose you but you did not go alone, for

part of us went with you the day

God called you home. 
Mateo Rotger & Family
"On March 17,
2005, my wife,
Ailene and I
received the most
devastating news
that any parent
can ever receive."
Our 5 year old son, Mateo Casimiro Rotger, was diagnosed with a rare, inoperable brain tumor. He was diagnosed at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago with a “bilateral thalamic tumor”. The tumor was about 5 cm. in diameter and shaped like a dumbbell. We have desperately consulted with all the top pediatric neurosurgeons throughout the country. Unfortunately, because the tumor is located in the midbrain area called the thalamus-which controls consciousness and motor senses- surgery was out of the question.

As a result of the tumor, Mateo suffers from thalamic pain syndrome. These seizure-like symptoms are so painful that he screams and shakes with such intensity, it is so unbearable for anyone to watch. Some days are good days and he only gets less than 10 episodes; some days he gets over a hundred.

On March 29, Mateo had a stereo tactic or closed biopsy of the tumor by Dr. Tadanori Tomita, Head Pediatric Neurosurgeon at Children’s. The result was promising: his tumor was only a Grade II benign tumor.

On April 26, Mateo started on chemotherapy once a week. Unfortunately, after only several weeks of treatment, the tumor actually grew 25%.

Now we are seeking new alternative cancer treatment in Houston at the world renowned Burzynski Institute. Dr. Burzynski and his team are wonderful. Ever since Mateo started treatment he has only had a few pain episodes.

We hope that this is the treatment that will answer our prayers. However, as with all things worthwhile, there comes a price and a rather expensive one. The cost of the doctors’ fees, treatments and medicine comes to about $150,000 for only one years worth of treatment.

Ailene and I both have medical insurance. Unfortunately, because the treatment is not considered “conventional medical treatment” the insurance companies are not paying for it. Insurance companies would rather pay for chemotherapy which did not help Mateo, and may in fact made matters worse, than treatment that is actually helping his painful symptoms.

The only thing that we are asking for is a monetary donation to help raise money for the surmounting medical bills and travel expenses. Together with our parish St. Isidore Church “We Care Fund”, we have founded the Mateo Rotger Relief Fund.

Your donations are so greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your constant support and prayer.


Desperate Parents of a Sick Child,

Mike and Ailene Rotger



Please Direct all Inquiries to:
mrotger@mateoskids.com
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God Bless You!

"Keeping Hope Alive!"