It began five years ago, back when Azurah Bertrand was just 10 years old, and Matthew Hartling, then age 15, was given only six months to live by his doctors.
"We knew somebody who worked at the hospital where [Matt] is," Kelly
Bertrand, Azurah's mother, said. "And this person knew that our son
liked to play Xbox or PlayStation games, and that's all Matt could do.
So we got hooked up that way, and Azurah just started going."
Every Saturday for the past five years, Azurah and members of his family make the 45 minute drive from Saratoga Springs to the Northwoods facility of the Niskayuna Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center to visit Matt, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that progressively weakens the muscles, limits movement, prevents walking and can cause scoliosis (or a curving of the spine). There is currently no cure for muscular dystrophy, and many patients in Matt's condition aren't expected to live much past the age of 14.
But Matt defied the odds, and at age 20 he and Azurah still visit with each other every Saturday, playing video games, watching movies or simply talking the time away.
"I enjoy visiting Matt. It's fun," Azurah Bertrand said. "He likes to watch TV and to watch Adam Sandler movies. The comical ones," he added.
What began as an act of charitable kindness has grown into a veritable friendship between the two boys, both of whom look forward to the time they spend together.
"I think it's had a really visible effect on [Matt]," Kelly Bertrand said of Azurah's weekly visits. "I think it's part of the reason why he's stayed alive much longer than they expected."
In a sense, Azurah is more than just a friend to Matt. The two are more like family. Matt's parents live far away from the facility in Niskayuna, his mother on the west coast in California and his father two hours away by car. The two of them, Azurah said, don't make it out to see Matt all that often, and when they do it's never for very long. Which makes the regular Saturday visits between Matt and Azurah all the more important.
"We became better friends over the years, so we're pretty close friends now. We talk about everything," Azurah said.
Every Saturday, the Bertrand family follows a similar routine.
"What happens is we call [Matt] up in the morning on Saturday and find out what junk food lunch he wants," Kelly Bertrand said. "We bring him whatever food he wants and I feed him."
Because of Matt's condition, even eating is a slow and difficult process, but one that Bertrand seems happy to help him with. "Then my husband and I leave the room so [Matt and Azurah] can spend some time together playing PlayStation or Xbox or talking."
Like most friendships that last as long, Azurah said he and Matt have both changed in subtle but noticeable ways since they first met.
"He's definitely matured," Azurah said. In 2006 Matt was awarded his high school diploma, three years after he and Azurah met.
When it comes to himself, however, Azurah is a little more unsure. "I guess I've gotten more mature too, but I don't really know."
What Azurah does know is how much he enjoys his visits and how important the time spent together is, not only for Matt, but for himself as well.
"I think [the visits have] helped him. It gave him somebody to talk to, to hang out with. To not be lonely," Azurah said. "I like helping him with his life and making him feel better. That makes me feel good. I just give him someone to talk to, to have as a friend."
In the past few days, Matt's health has begun to wan. And so, like many times before, Azurah and his family are doing what they've always done, what they've continued to do for the last five years. Together they pile into the family car and take the 45 minute drive south towards Niskayuna. They walk the hospital hallways, past the nurses and the doctors, and make their way up to Matt's room.
And they are there for him.
Every Saturday for the past five years, Azurah and members of his family make the 45 minute drive from Saratoga Springs to the Northwoods facility of the Niskayuna Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center to visit Matt, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, a genetic disease that progressively weakens the muscles, limits movement, prevents walking and can cause scoliosis (or a curving of the spine). There is currently no cure for muscular dystrophy, and many patients in Matt's condition aren't expected to live much past the age of 14.
But Matt defied the odds, and at age 20 he and Azurah still visit with each other every Saturday, playing video games, watching movies or simply talking the time away.
"I enjoy visiting Matt. It's fun," Azurah Bertrand said. "He likes to watch TV and to watch Adam Sandler movies. The comical ones," he added.
What began as an act of charitable kindness has grown into a veritable friendship between the two boys, both of whom look forward to the time they spend together.
"I think it's had a really visible effect on [Matt]," Kelly Bertrand said of Azurah's weekly visits. "I think it's part of the reason why he's stayed alive much longer than they expected."
In a sense, Azurah is more than just a friend to Matt. The two are more like family. Matt's parents live far away from the facility in Niskayuna, his mother on the west coast in California and his father two hours away by car. The two of them, Azurah said, don't make it out to see Matt all that often, and when they do it's never for very long. Which makes the regular Saturday visits between Matt and Azurah all the more important.
"We became better friends over the years, so we're pretty close friends now. We talk about everything," Azurah said.
Every Saturday, the Bertrand family follows a similar routine.
"What happens is we call [Matt] up in the morning on Saturday and find out what junk food lunch he wants," Kelly Bertrand said. "We bring him whatever food he wants and I feed him."
Because of Matt's condition, even eating is a slow and difficult process, but one that Bertrand seems happy to help him with. "Then my husband and I leave the room so [Matt and Azurah] can spend some time together playing PlayStation or Xbox or talking."
Like most friendships that last as long, Azurah said he and Matt have both changed in subtle but noticeable ways since they first met.
"He's definitely matured," Azurah said. In 2006 Matt was awarded his high school diploma, three years after he and Azurah met.
When it comes to himself, however, Azurah is a little more unsure. "I guess I've gotten more mature too, but I don't really know."
What Azurah does know is how much he enjoys his visits and how important the time spent together is, not only for Matt, but for himself as well.
"I think [the visits have] helped him. It gave him somebody to talk to, to hang out with. To not be lonely," Azurah said. "I like helping him with his life and making him feel better. That makes me feel good. I just give him someone to talk to, to have as a friend."
In the past few days, Matt's health has begun to wan. And so, like many times before, Azurah and his family are doing what they've always done, what they've continued to do for the last five years. Together they pile into the family car and take the 45 minute drive south towards Niskayuna. They walk the hospital hallways, past the nurses and the doctors, and make their way up to Matt's room.
And they are there for him.
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