BAYTOWN, Texas – Houstonians are in mourning after a sweet little boy — remembered for his love of monster trucks — lost his life to cancer Friday night, according to an announcement Saturday on a support group Facebook page.
Stevie Wayne Matthews, 2, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in October 2015. Doctors had recently told his family there was no cure for him, so they brought the little boy home to live out the rest of his life in peace.
Recommended Videos
"Stevie was made whole again in the eyes of the Lord last night," a loved one said. "He is free of his earthly pain and loved beyond words."
The family said it is grateful for the community's continued support during this time.
Hundreds gathered at the Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown Thursday to honor Stevie.
Despite his illness, Stevie's passion for monster trucks remains strong, so Thursday afternoon hundreds of monster truck owners packed their vehicles into the raceway parking lot.
"I just think it's crazy that this many people care and most of the people here don't even know Stevie," Derek Matthews, Stevie's cousin, said.
Unfortunately, Stevie wasn't feeling well enough to make it out to the raceway, but family friends tell KPRC 2 he was able to watch a live stream of all the action from home.
"It's just one of those things. You see it come across the internet and you really feel compelled that maybe this is what we want to do today," David Smith, who brought his monster truck to the event, said.
Stevie's sister accepted a plaque from the League City Fire Department on his behalf. The plaque reads: "Never Give Up, Fight like Stevie."