A Life of Resilience,
Love, and Faith
Matheus was a fighter, a believer, a dreamer, and a relationship-builder. He lived each day with gratitude and courage, inspiring everyone around him with his kindness, strong faith, and unwavering determination.
He cherished his family deeply, valued his friendships, and found joy in the simple moments that made life meaningful. His legacy lives on in the love he gave so freely and the lives he touched so profoundly.
He lived fully, loved deeply, and held onto hope through every impossible moment.”
Journey of Matheus’ Heart Transplant & Fighting Spirit
2018 – A Second Chance at Life
After developing heart complications in his mid-to-late 50s, Matheus suffered a silent heart attack and was hospitalized in June 2018 in critical condition. He underwent open-heart surgery, received an LVAD, and five months later received the gift of a 20-year-old donor heart. On July 22, 2018, he successfully received his heart transplant at UCSF.
2024 – Surviving the Impossible
In June 2024, while visiting family and friends in Los Angeles, he suffered acute heart transplant rejection. In the ICU, his heart stopped for 26 minutes, yet he survived. Still unconscious, he was airlifted back to UCSF, underwent weeks of intensive treatment, and recovered enough to return home.
2026 – His Final Fight
Nearly eight years after his transplant, Matheus experienced severe kidney complications and was admitted to UC Davis Medical Center on June 11, 2026, then transferred to UCSF. After intensive treatment, he asked for one final wish: to return home, ride once more in his beloved white Jaguar XJ8, and spend his remaining days under the oak trees he loved, surrounded by family and close friends. On June 18, 2026, he made the journey home.
The Greatest Gift
Against all expectations, Matheus spent 18 more days at home surrounded by the people, places, and memories he cherished most. Those days were filled with love, laughter, visitors, favorite foods, and moments that became lifelong memories. In the end, perhaps his greatest miracle was being given the chance to spend his final days exactly where he wanted to be: at home, surrounded by love.