Primus frontman Les Claypool is sad to report that his nephew Matthew has passed away after struggling with Infant's leukemia for the past two years. The bassist-singer brought Matthew's struggle to light last year when auctioning off one of his basses to raise funds to help offset his brother's family's mounting medical costs.

Claypool auctioned one of his rare protype Pachyderm basses hoping that it would fetch a large sum and it did with the winning bidder raising the price to $50.6K. During the bidding process itself, Claypool posted online at how overwhelmed he was by how far people were willing to go to help out.

In his Facebook posting, Claypool reveals that young Matthew died Friday (Feb. 8) while staying at the St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis. His message reads as follow:

Hello everyone,
I am sad to report that my little nephew Matthew Pierce who has come to be known as Baby Matthew has passed on from complications related to his more than two year struggle with Infant’s leukemia. He passed this evening (Friday, February 8) just after 7pm pacific time at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis Tennessee.
My heart aches for my Brother Ron, his wife Aimee and his kids Isaiah, Noah and Lilly. It has been an extraordinarily tough road for my Bro and his family and I want to thank everyone who has reached out to help them over the past couple years. The amount of support they have received has been phenomenal and very touching.
Matthew was a tough little guy who beat the odds for much longer than anyone every thought. Because of him and his tenacious struggle, there has been more knowledge accumulated in the procedures of how to treat Infant’s Leukemia and the potential for survival is that much greater. Even though he was just a tot, he has done a great service to those future children who may be misfortunate enough to contract this mysterious and deadly disease.
Thank you all once again for your kind thoughts and generosity.
Les Claypool

Meanwhile, Matthew's parents posted their own update at the BabyMatthew.org website. It reads as follows:

The Lord has decided that this sweet boy has suffered enough and he took him home tonight.

We are so broken but I find much comfort in knowing that tonight...right now he's laughing...running...playing the drums to his heart content.

It was such an honor to love and cherish someone as special as Matthew Robert Pierce.

Momma loves you.

Our precious baby Matthew was born on July 14, 2010 at 2:59pm, Weighing a healthy 8lbs 13oz and 21 inches long to parents Ron Pierce and Aimee Grijalva and brother to Izahia and sister Noa. They were so happy and had the family they always dreamed of.

On September 22, 2010 after a follow up doctor’s appointment their dream became a nightmare, Baby Matthew was airlifted to Stanford and the family was told the worst news anyone could ever imagine. Baby Matthew was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and was now fighting for his life. At only 2 months old he is fighting the odds and doctors are calling him a “miracle”.

Baby Matthew and his family have a long road ahead of them. We ask that you please keep them in your prayers, and if you would like to donate to help with expenses, we would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

To read more about baby Matthew, additional information on leukemia or to make a donation, click here.

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