Matthew Robertson - who died June 6 of an epithelioid angiosarcoma - will be remembered by his wife Gracie as an "amazing" man who was "so excited to be the father of a girl."

When New York City couple Matthew and Graziela "Gracie" Robertson found out they were pregnant with their first child, a girl, shortly after their marriage in September 2021, they were ecstatic.

"When I got the test Matthew was there looking at the baby shoes and clothes," Gracie told the news. "He's very, very excited to be a father."

But as the baby's due date drew near, Matthew began to sense something was amiss. In May, she started complaining that she was always tired and her back hurt, but Gracie said, "everything is easy to explain."

"We went on a trip, and she made something for the baby," she said. "Of course, you will be tired, and your back will hurt."

Little did the couple know that Matthew was doing epithelioid angiosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting blood vessels. Just three weeks after her first visit to the emergency room and five weeks before the baby was born.

"I'm sad he doesn't want his dad as much as he deserves," said Gracie, 29. "I'm sad that he can't be the father of such a passionate girl." But I knew it would happen. 

By telling Matthew's story, Gracie hopes to raise awareness about opioid angiosarcoma and encourage people to attend their annual medical check-up, which Matthew safely released in May shortly after he felt better. After a physical examination, his blood tests came back and showed elevated liver enzymes and an elevated white blood cell count.

Although the numbers are higher than usual, "we haven't really thought about it, nor have the doctors," said Gracie, who works in University Support Services at St. George. Finally, the doctor told him, "Maybe it's nothing, but let's redraw the blood."