7-year-old loses arm to cancer, doesn't put baseball dreams on hold

SOUTH PLAINFIELD (WABC) -- Like kids all over America, Matthew Hannon plays baseball with his brothers in the front yard. Sometimes he is serious, and other times he is goofy. However, just being out there - being anywhere for Matthew is a victory.

Matthew was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma as an infant. The cancer is in his lungs, liver and left arm.

"His chance of survival was 30%," says Matthew's Dad, Chris.

Matthew survived after aggressive chemotherapy and an operation to remove his left arm near the elbow. Now, Matthew has some stuff to do - like swimming and baseball.

This year, Matthew pitched on a local baseball team, perfecting the exchange of his mitt from his left arm to his right, just like former Yankees pitcher Jim Abbott did. Matthew admires Abbott, but his real hero is Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who had her arm bitten off by a shark.

Hamilton was not slowed down, and neither has Matthew.

"Stay strong and believe," he says.