Matthew Morrell's journey has come to a peaceful end.


After battling cancer for the last three years, the 28-year-old Neenah native died Thursday afternoon at his Oshkosh home in the company of his family and his girlfriend, Amy Glasheen.


Matthew's courageous decision to let nature run its course, which was chronicled in The Post-Crescent Feb. 19 and online at www.caringbridge.org, was an inspiration to the lives he touched.


"Matthew has shown the strongest that they are weak and the weakest that they can be strong," said his twin brother, Mark Morrell of Madison.


In 2001, Matthew began a two-year battle with diabetes and advanced liver cirrhosis brought on by autoimmune disease. Two years later, doctors told him he had leukemia. The leukemia went into remission in 2004 but returned in April.


In August, Matthew was the recipient of living bone marrow from Mark Morrell. But in early November, the cancer returned.


"All said and done," he wrote Nov. 18. "My options are to buy time which isn't guaranteed, or let nature take its course. This leads to a discussion on how much is enough? Will a month mean anything if only to be crushed the next month? Do I use my time left to live or be stuck sick and compromised? How is it conceivable that a 28-year-old kid with dreams as big as the sky is having to make this choice?"


In early February, Matthew documented his increasing pain, fatigue and nausea as well as his and Amy's decision to seek home hospice care.


"If that is too much or not working out, I have the option of a hospice center or an in-patient hospice center in Madison," he wrote online. "We've decided to cross that bridge when we run into it."


Matthew was dealt a devastating and unexpected blow to his immune system Feb. 24.


At 12:39 a.m. March 1 Matthew thanked all those who had read his journal entries and offered their unconditional support on his guest book. "I am very honored and very touched," he said.
OBITUARY--Matthew M. W. Morrell, 28, Oshkosh, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2006, after a courageous battle with leukemia. Matt was born April 14, 1977, in Neenah, Wisconsin son of Kevin and Helen (Kiedrowski) Morrell. Matt attended St. Margaret Mary grade school, graduated with honors from Neenah High in 1995 and Eastern Michigan University in 1999. In 2001 Matt unexpectedly was unable to continue his Graduate studies at George Washington University in Washington D.C. due to the beginning of his medical challenges. Matt was employed by Thrivent Financial.

Matt is survived by his parents, Kevin and Helen Morrell, his brother, Todd (Sara) and their children, Peyton and Ramsey; his twin brother, Mark (Michelle) and their daughter, Madison; his girlfriend, Amy Glasheen; grandmothers, Joyce L. Morrell and Irene L. Rengstorff. He is further survived by his aunts, uncles, cousins and many close friends.

Matt was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Edward I. Morrell and Edmund A. Kiedrowski, along with his special pet dogs, Marshmellow and MaKenzie.

Matt was an athlete and an avid sports enthusiast. He was also a gifted writer and has touched the hearts of many through his courage and inspiration. He will be sadly missed, yet never forgotten!