Matt Patterson

Today was significant because it marked my second-to-last chemotherapy treatment. I have certainly come a long way on this journey: medically, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I don’t want to say too much, because I haven’t had any final scans yet, but both my doctor and I are very optimistic that my cancer will be gone for good. I consider myself a survivor, and I know that as a survivor, I have a responsibility to reach out and support those who are fighting the same darkness that I am fighting. Hopefully, that won’t have to happen, but reality is what it is.

As I continue to write this chapter of my life, moving from bi-weekly chemotherapy treatments to daily radiation treatments, I am beginning a new chapter in my career at Walt Disney World. I’m now a trainer with Magic Kingdom Outdoor Foods. I’m excited to be in this new role; I really feel that my personality makes me an ideal person to teach others about the workings of Food and Beverage at Disney.  I’m also looking ahead to a possible future working in Guest Relations, but the casting call for that isn’t even until the end of July, so I have plenty of time to think about it.  I could, in theory, always work in Guest Relations but continue to train in Outdoor Foods, since training is a separate entity from food and beverage operations.  It’s all something to think about.