THE BLAZE STORY

YOUNG ATHLETE & ENTREPRENEUR BLAZE MATSOFF USING NEW CLOTHING BRAND 

TO GIVE BACK TO JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

To donate to JDCH Click Here

It was in March of 2021 that Blaze Matsoff, 14 at the time, and his family knew something was wrong. He was working hard both on and off the court, but he found himself getting fatigued faster and faster each day. He didn’t stop. He didn’t complain. He just kept on pushing his body. He would go to school and when he got home he was motivated. He would lift weights, run, practice with a private coach and play with his travel basketball team, The South Florida Heat. He was growing quickly and was preparing himself to start his high school basketball career. With a history of heart issues in his family, and showing some of the same genetic traits early on for a potential issue, his mother, Angie, had insisted on getting yearly full cardio check-ups for Blaze and his brothers. He endured having to wear bulky and uncomfortable heart rate monitors for days and sometimes weeks each year since he was very young. Had it not been for these yearly checks, Blaze likely would’ve worked himself so hard that he would’ve died on the court last spring. Nobody would’ve known just how much the virus affected him and how weak his heart had become, because he just kept working.  

After contracting Covid in January, and with only mild symptoms, Blaze seemed to be getting along fine. It had been a few months, but it was after a workout with his mom when they realized that he wasn’t getting better. His body was struggling to keep up.  

Blaze was scheduled for a cardiac MRI in the middle of April. It happened to be on a Monday, the day after Blaze would be getting home from a basketball tournament in Daytona Beach. His team had some good games, but they were eliminated after the first game on Sunday morning, so he headed back to Fort Lauderdale. That may have saved his life. The next day was the Cardiac MRI. It was a long process but he got through it. First thing Tuesday morning his parents got a call from one of the Pediatric Cardiologists they had met at JDCH. They explained that his heart function had gone down significantly from his last check and was now dangerously low. 

“It could quit on him at anytime,” the doctor said. Blaze was told to immediately stop doing any physical activity at all. NOTHING. 

He needed to wear the heart monitor stuck to his chest 24 hours a day for at least a month. He was even prohibited from walking with his mom to go get lunch, as they were concerned it could overload his heart. The doctors were amazed that he still wanted to work out at all, as most people in his cardiac condition would have struggled to simply get out of bed. 

“All I could think about was what if his team had just one more game to play on Sunday morning? Everything could’ve - and likely would’ve- ended for Blaze right there on the court,” said his father, Chuck, after receiving the call from the doctors.  

While he was forced to take time off from physical activity, Blaze worked with his dad to create a clothing brand that combined his entrepreneurial spirit with the fun of t-shirts. Blaze has decided that a great way to say thank you for the care he received, and to make a difference for others kids, would be to use his new brand for good by creating a fundraising page to benefit JDCH. 

”I want to help the people that helped me, and make it so they can continue to do the amazing work for other kids that are facing tough situations,” said Blaze. 

Blaze understands just how lucky he is to have gone to JDCH, and grateful to be able to start exercising again. While he hasn’t been cleared to play competitively yet, at least there is hope he will get back on the court again soon.  

In order to help raise awareness and funds for the JDCH Foundation, there will be a link on the website for people to contribute to Blaze’s initial fundraising goal of $10,000! In addition to the link, Blaze will be donating special Blaze/JDCH t-shirts to the patients, families and the amazing staff at JDCH. BlazeOG.com will also donate $2 from each shirt sold on the website now through the end of March.

Click here to donate and shop: Blazeog.com

For more information: info@blazeog.com 

To donate to JDCH Click Here