Amy Goebel’s life changed when her husband Matt, a devoted father to their blended family of four teens, was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer in May 2023.
The diagnosis came as a shock—Matt had no symptoms until the disease had already spread to his liver. He bravely underwent treatments and clinical trials for just over a year but passed away in late May 2024 at age 48.
While Amy has participated in American Cancer Society events like Relay for Life, this is her first Taste of Hope. Because Matt was a chef before his career in education, this event holds special meaning.
“Matt was the foundation of our family, friends, players he coached and the community he served as a school superintendent,” Amy said. “I’m dedicated to raising awareness about esophageal cancer and advocating for mandatory screenings, so other families don’t have to suffer such losses.”
Amy enjoys supporting her children in sports, reading, golfing and attending concerts. She recently launched a blog to honor Matt’s legacy, sharing reflections on life, love, parenting and grief: allpartoftheexperience.com.