The Forever Dad – Matt Taylor, IV

Black Facts.com

By Taroue Brooks

How did you handle the initial news of having prostrate cancer?

When the doctor came back with the results and told me they found cancer, my heart dropped in my stomach, I immediately saw my daughters faces flash in front of my eyes and I started to tear up. I remember asking how bad was it and what was the next step, after being told by the first doctor that I needed surgery to remove my prostate, the evasive procedure had me very nervous and I knew I had to get a second opinion. Prior to going into the doctors office I had spoken to a friend, who had prophesied that they were going to find something and that I needed to put forgiveness in my heart towards things I was upset about and bitter.

I remember that conversation and knew exactly what my friend was talking about. I was recently divorced and was very angry and stressed and bitter that my wife at the time divorced me and didn’t want to fight for the marriage and took me away from my daughters. So I was honestly kind of prepared for the news but was hoping and believing that it wasn’t going to be true.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted you?

The Covid-19 pandemic impacted I’m sure no different than most people. I would say with my issues of just being divorced for 2 years, then after the first year being diagnosed with prostate cancer and then Covid shutting everything down was a bit alarming. I started to wonder about my health, my bills, child support and praying that it wouldn’t hit me or my children, but it also gave me an opportunity to spend more time with my daughters as we found out how long it would take to get back to some what of new way of life for everyone. I used to get my daughters every weekend and FaceTime them every night, now I had this free time to get them every Friday through Tuesday, which blessed my heart so much and gave me strength and encouragement and fulfilled a space of missing them so much and wanting more time with them. My last day at work was March 16th and got my girls right after until Aug 20th, once my ex and I decided to home school the girls and then it went back to just weekends. 

What method of treatment are you seeking?

In the beginning there was no treatment, I had changed my diet and did my own due diligence about healing, praying, reading scriptures, and talking with several woman and men I knew who had dealt with cancer and there methods. I took out eating red meat, fried foods, lowered my sugar and carbs. I switched to gluten free when eating pasta and most other nutrients that cancer would feed off the sugar intake. I also started eating more vegetables, which was not the case for me prior my diagnosis. I  started taking sour soup, turkey tail mushroom, black seed oil, hydrogen peroxide 12 percent food grade, AHCC Rx.

How have you shared this information with your children?

I have not shared the information with my 5 year old or 2 year old daughter but I have shared it with my 32 year old daughter.

What does legacy mean to you?

Legacy for me means to impact not just the lives of my children or family but to hopefully impact something with the people I’ve come in contact with over my lifetime.

I would like to leave more of just tangible and monetary things for my girls but insight on life and the wisdom of finding your purpose. To have touched a life that you may only encounter for a season but to embrace every reason of that time, to be consistent and intentional about your words and action and most of to Love.

I want my legacy to be that of one who never divided or allowed the unfortunate mishaps of the world to make me angry or bitter or hostile towards another man or woman, that the love of God calls us all his own, how as proud I am to be a black man and pour into my younger black brothers and Hispanic brothers as well, I would love to see a time when all black men will get along and we are not each other’s enemies. Legacy would be that young black men believed they are Kings and they’re black Brother is not your ally, and for my daughters to know there worth and not just who they are but who’s they are.

What can be done to get other African American men to get tested?


I believe when more men become ambassadors for issues with prostate or colon cancer speak up, we can get African American men comfortable to get tested. I think if we had forums about how it’s good to hold on to some traditions some of them harm the very core of our day to day living

I believe that if men would see how getting checked is not just for you, and even if you don’t have children to live for or feel like I’m grown and it’s my life, your parents, siblings are all wanting to see you strive and alive, but think of a bigger picture when we take out being selfish and prideful, that there is someone that we are all connected to relying on your growth and becoming blessed through you. 

Black Facts.com