OMAHA, Neb. —

Matthew McDonnell, 39, has served the metro with the Omaha Fire Department for 17 years. Now he's facing a bigger fight, an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.

Everything changed for the McDonnell family when they found out Matthew had brain cancer. But as their world shifted, the Omaha Fire Department stepped into action. They say being there for each other during hard times is the expectation.

"I could not survive what he is going through without them," said Matthew's wife, Staci McDonnell.

In his greatest time of need, Matthew McDonnell's coworkers came to his family's side.

"Situation like this, it's all hands-on board and everybody comes to help out no matter what it is," said OFD firefighter Jeff Driscoll.

The 39-year-old Omaha firefighter was dia

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