The morning after the crash, the world seemed unnaturally still.
The kind of stillness that follows unspeakable loss — when even the air feels too heavy to breathe.
In Louisville, Kentucky, hearts across the community were breaking.
Word had spread that one of their own — Matt Sweets, a beloved father, partner, son, and friend — had passed away from critical injuries sustained in the UPS plane crash.
He was only in his thirties, a proud 2011 graduate of the University of Louisville College of Business, known for his warmth, humility, and unwavering kindness.
Matt left behind his loving partner,
Brooke Murray, and their two young children — the center of his world.
He also left behind countless friends, colleagues, and family members who would never forget the quiet strength he carried through life.
💔 The Call No One Should Ever Receive
That night — November 4th — Carrie Ryan, Matt’s sister, had just tucked her daughter into bed.
The house was quiet, and she was ready to exhale after a long day.
Then she noticed a missed call and a message from her sister.
Something inside her tightened.
“If you know me,” Carrie later said, “you know I always assume the worst in those moments… but it’s almost never anything serious.”
Only this time, it was.
When her sister picked up and said, “It’s Matt. No one has been able to reach him, and his last location shows he was on Grade Lane,” Carrie dropped to her knees.
Her body shook, her mind raced, and a wave of dread she’d never known before washed over her.
“I have never in my life felt fear like that,” she recalled.
“Nothing could have prepared me for what came next.”
🔥 The Burn Unit — A Battle Beyond Words
For the next 48 hours, the family lived inside a nightmare.
At the University of Louisville Hospital’s burn unit, they watched Matt fight for his life — surrounded by machines, prayers, and love that filled the sterile white walls.
Every hour felt eternal.
Every breath of his was a fragile miracle.
“It was beyond anything you could imagine,” Carrie said.
“It was a miracle in itself that we even had him for that time — thanks to the brave man who pulled him from the wreckage.”
That unnamed rescuer — a stranger with the courage to run toward fire — gave the family those final hours.
And for that, they would be forever grateful.
Even as doctors worked tirelessly, the damage was too severe.
There was nothing anyone could have done to save him.
🌤️ The Kind of Man Matt Was
To know Matt was to know peace.
He lived with love — not the loud kind that demands attention, but the quiet kind that stays steady even when life grows hard.
“He was a devoted father, a loving partner, a caring son, and the best big brother anyone could ask for,” Carrie said through tears.
“He had a way of making everyone feel seen and cared for.”
In the family’s small circle, Matt was the calm in every storm.
He was the one who made you laugh when you didn’t want to.
The one who showed up without being asked.
The one who believed deeply in doing what was right — not because anyone was watching, but because that’s who he was.
Friends from college remembered him as the first to lend a hand, the last to judge, and always the one who listened.
He never bragged about his successes — though there were many — and he never sought recognition.
His joy came from seeing others thrive.
💞 A Partner’s Love
For Brooke Murray, Matt was more than a partner — he was home.
Together, they built a life full of laughter, bedtime stories, weekend adventures, and quiet nights on the porch after the kids had gone to sleep.
He adored his children.
He was the dad who danced in the living room, who stayed up late building LEGO towers, who made pancakes shaped like dinosaurs on Saturday mornings.
“Everything he did was for them,” Brooke once told a friend.
“Every choice, every plan — it all came back to love.”
Now, that love is what she clings to.
It’s in the way their children smile, in the bedtime stories she still reads aloud, hoping he’s listening somewhere beyond the stars.
🌙 Signs from Heaven
Carrie says she looks for signs every day.
“I’ll look for you often — and I already have,” she wrote in her tribute.
“I know you’ll send us signs in the days ahead to let us know you’re okay.”
Maybe it’s a song that suddenly plays on the radio.
Maybe it’s a ray of light through the clouds.
Or the small hands of his children clasped in prayer.
Grief never really ends — it simply changes shape.
And for those who loved Matt, that grief is the echo of a love too deep to fade.
🌿 Legacy of Love
Matt’s story is now a legacy — not of tragedy, but of compassion.
He reminded everyone that success isn’t measured by titles or trophies, but by how much you give of yourself to others.
He gave everything.
His time.
His laughter.
His heart.
In the coming days, the University of Louisville community will remember him not just as an alumnus, but as a brother whose kindness rippled through every life he touched.
The UPS family will grieve a colleague whose courage and warmth made every workday brighter.
And his children — though young — will one day grow up hearing stories about their dad’s goodness, his loyalty, and the love that will forever surround them.
🕊️ “We’ll Take It from Here”
Carrie’s final words were simple, but they carried the weight of everything that could not be said:
“I don’t know a world without you in it, my big brother.
I’ll keep trying to put one foot in front of the other, because I know it’s what you’d want me to do — just maybe not today.
Rest in peace, Matty.
We’ll take it from here.”
The world feels a little emptier without Matt Sweets.
But his story — of love, courage, and quiet grace — will continue to live in the hearts of everyone who was lucky enough to know him.
And perhaps, somewhere beyond the horizon, the sky he once looked up to is shining just a little brighter — because he’s there.
Kaston’s Journey: How a 7-Year-Old Battled Leukemia and Never Lost His Smile.1589
Kaston is 12 years old now, but his journey began when he was just seven.
It all started with a small, almost unnoticeable rash on his arm.
His parents thought it was nothing serious at first.
Within six hours, their world was turned upside down.
The doctors confirmed what no family ever wants to hear: Kaston had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
The words felt heavy, almost unbearable, but they had to accept them.
From that moment on, life changed completely.
Kaston’s treatment plan was daunting.
He faced 3.5 years of intense care that included oral and intravenous chemotherapy.
Steroids, blood transfusions, lumbar punctures, and countless other medications became part of his life.
A port was fitted to make the treatments more manageable, but every visit to the hospital brought fear and uncertainty.
There were days when he was exhausted, days when he cried, and days when he refused to eat.
Yet, through every challenge, Kaston’s courage shone brightly.
His parents often held his hand, whispering words of encouragement, reminding him that he was stronger than he felt.
Kaston’s sisters played a role that words cannot fully capture.
Lennox and the others became his constant support, sitting with him through treatments, reading stories, or simply holding his hand when he felt scared.
Their laughter, small jokes, and gentle teasing reminded Kaston that life could still have moments of joy, even in the hospital.
His smile, often quiet but full of determination, became a beacon for the whole family.
On the hardest days, it was Kaston’s resilience and his sister’s love that kept everyone moving forward.
There were nights filled with tears and prayers.
Nights when his parents questioned if they were strong enough to handle the uncertainty.
They learned to celebrate even the smallest victories: a day without nausea, a night of uninterrupted sleep, a single meal eaten with pleasure.
Every milestone became a symbol of hope.
Doctors, nurses, and the hospital staff were witnesses to Kaston’s bravery, often amazed by his patience and spirit.
Finally, on 28th October 2023, Kaston reached a milestone that once seemed impossible.
He proudly completed his treatment.
The relief and joy that filled the family home that day were indescribable.
Tears flowed freely, hugs were endless, and laughter returned to a place that had known so much worry.
Yet, even in this moment of triumph, the family remained vigilant, praying that the cancer would never return.
The side effects linger, a reminder of the long battle fought, but each day is now a chance to make up for lost time and cherish every moment.
Kaston’s journey is not just about surviving illness; it is about the power of family, love, and hope.
His sisters’ unwavering support, his parents’ steadfast dedication, and Kaston’s own bravery paint a story of resilience.
His parents often reflect, saying, “Without Lennox, the journey would have been so much harder.”
Indeed, every act of kindness, every encouraging word, and every shared smile played a role in carrying Kaston through the storm.
We are honored to share Kaston’s story as part of our Go Gold campaign for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
It reminds us that behind every statistic, there is a child, a family, a story of courage, and a fight for life.
Kaston’s journey inspires all who hear it to believe in hope, to cherish family, and to never underestimate the strength that lies within a child facing unimaginable challenges.
May his story bring awareness, compassion, and the reminder that every child deserves the chance to grow, to laugh, and to dream.
