Matthew's Parents Tell Their Story
Tune in to 1490 WESB at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to hear Tom & Susan tell their story. By SANDY RHODES There’s something about Matthew Whelan. The now 8-year-old sprite from Bradford was born with spina bifida and although he has been in a wheelchair, he commanded the attention of those in any room he entered. He reached out to people and could make them smile. “Matthew wanted people to see him for who he was inside despite his disability,” said his mother, Susan Whelan- Bruno. “Matthew understood what the most important thing in life is and that is people are here to spread love to one another and he knew that.” And that was just what Matthew did, whether it was a trip to Dairy Queen, attending church or his involvement in midget football or the Boys Youth Basketball League. “Matthew was full of so much energy. He absolutely loves people,” his father, Tom Whelan said. “He loved to play catch with a ball and had a really strong arm. “He had so many friends I had no idea wh...