Franson finds hope in game

About two years ago, Matthew Franson couldn’t hear the sirens coming.

But then, Arizona sheriffs raided his ranch in Mesa, seeking someone close to the boy’s heart. The sirens shrieked, that looping noise drawing closer.

Those sheriffs seized Matthew’s father, enclosing handcuffs on his wrists.

The boy witnessed it all.

Within a few weeks, his father returned, much to the excitement of Matthew. But six months later, the sirens came back, this time with police arresting both his mother and father.

He witnessed all of this. He was only 4 years old.

Matthew’s mother was released after several days, but his father was sent to prison for drug related conduct. Six months after that, Arizona Child Protective Services attempted to put Matthew, his younger sister Lexie, and his younger brother Jake, into foster care.

Matthew appeared to be without refuge. But then came salvation in the form of a grandmother and serenity from the game of baseball.

Matthew’s paternal grandmother drove from Corona del Mar to rescue her grandchildren.

She continues to struggle in raising the children who are 6, 4 and 3, respectively.

“Matt’s been through a heck of a lot,” said Cathy Franson, who has had her grandchildren since last year. “[He’s] been through stuff that these kind of children at that age, bless their heart, shouldn’t have to go through.”

A single grandparent, Cathy Franson is temporarily unemployed. She regularly visited her grandchildren in Arizona, commuting at least once a month. When she rescued them, her car fit the three kids and the dog, but not much else.

“When I brought the kids here I didn’t even have any clothes for them,” Cathy Franson said. “I didn’t have any beds, I had nothing. I just was not set up.”

When Cathy Franson’s parents died, she inherited a beach home in Corona del Mar, where the children now reside.

She took equity out of her home to help raise the children. Now, she must figure out how to pay it back.

LIFE IN CALIFORNIA

Matthew was just a boy on a ranch with horses. He had no avenue to play baseball. His caring grandmother lived miles away.

Lexie and Jake were too young, but Matthew remembers what happened. He often suffers from panic attacks at night.

Cathy Franson still speaks to her daughter, but is disappointed that her daughter rarely visits.

Christmas is a time to bond with family. This past Christmas, Matthew’s mother chose not to see hers.

She only visited for two days in January.

“It’s been the worst thing I could ever imagine my entire life going through,” Cathy Franson said. “Since I’ve had the children, my daughter has only visited twice.”

Matthew hasn’t seen his father in two years. He misses his parents, especially his father.

With the hope of making new friends, Matthew will usually say, “hi,” to strangers, sometimes while walking along the street. He’s the type who remembers names instantly, his grandmother described.

FRIENDSHIP AND BASEBALL

Matthew is active in sports, and plays more than one.

“Baseball, soccer, basketball, handball, football and golf,” Matthew said.

His best friend is Nolan Dunn, whom he met in kindergarten at Mariners Christian Elementary in Costa Mesa. They enjoy playing sports and going to the beach together.

Nolan’s father, Richard, managed the Senior T-Ball Newport Beach Cardinals this past season. He was also a volunteer dad in P.E. the day Matthew arrived at Nolan’s school.

“He came a little late,” Richard Dunn said. “Little Matthew showed up, nose running, big smile on his face and a great attitude. He was joyous; I had no idea who he was.”

That day played a prominent role in Matthew’s future. Nolan and Matthew grew closer. Cathy asked Richard Dunn if he could help place Matthew on the baseball team.

“You have to sign the kids up so much in advance for these things [baseball],” Cathy Franson said. “When I found out that Rich Dunn had some connections, I just begged him: ‘please help me get this child into something.’

“What a blessing that has been, [the Dunns] have just been a phenomenal support.”

Dunn pulled some strings, and Matthew ended up on his team. Matthew became teammates with his buddy Nolan.

As a first-year player, Matthew joined a team that featured more experienced second-year players. Dunn said Matthew learned a lot in a short period of time.

Matthew and baseball quickly formed a relationship. The noise from the sirens started to fade.

Cathy Franson noticed Matthew’s quick love for the game.

“He thrives on it, and wants it so badly,” Franson said.

After playing one season, Matthew has a favorite sport and a reason why he enjoys playing.

“Baseball,” Matthew said. “I like tagging the guys out; in my last game I tagged one guy out on third.”

Sometimes kids become disinterested with sports, but not Matthew. He displayed enthusiasm whenever he played.

He proved that enthusiasm at the team party following the end of the season.

While playing “pickle”, Matthew was struck in the mouth with a baseball.

Due to different dental issues, Matthew has a bridge in his mouth along with some false teeth. Blood appeared instantly.

Matthew never cried.

“I saw him, but I didn’t realize what happened [and] all of a sudden he ran to me, never cried, just ran and just buried his head in me,” Franson said. “I was the only one that knew he had false teeth, they were shoved up in his mouth.”

Luckily, Franson had her dentist’s card with her. The dentist saw Matthew right away. Matthew received three new false teeth.

In the only way he knew how, Matthew surprised his teammates.

“Before we gathered all our things to go to the dentist, he went out to play pickle again,” Franson said. “He was still bleeding; he’s just a little trooper.”

HELP ON THE WAY

An avid Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fan, Franson does the best she can, acting as a mother, father and grandparent.

It’s no wonder why Matthew loves baseball. Yet, the more he is involved in sports, the more he misses his father.

“I’m sure it must seem natural, how could he not [miss his father],” Franson said. “My heart breaks for him all the time.”

With hopes that the community would respond, Dunn established a college fund for the Franson children. It will assist Franson with the financial burdens that come with raising three children.

Dunn says the Franson College Fund is an effort of many local families.

“Anyone that has raised little kids knows how tough it is,” Dunn said. “She has done a wonderful job, an unbelievable job.”

For the time being, Matthew is making new friends and enjoying the life of a typical 6-year-old.

The future is uncertain and Franson could lose her grandchildren at any time.

She is constantly battling Matthew’s parents. Matthew’s parents once attempted to have Franson arrested for kidnapping.

But Franson continues to care for her grandchildren.

In baseball, a sacrifice is earned by giving yourself up to advance your teammates. In life, Franson knows plenty about sacrifice, doing her best to silence those dreaded sirens.

“We’re hanging in there,” Franson said. “It’s been a sacrifice and I got to go back to work to figure out how to pay it off, but it’s worth it. If I had a choice to do it again, I’d do it.”

Franson stepped up to the plate facing the toughest of pitchers: adversity. Down two strikes with Matthew, Lexie and Jake cheering her on, she knocked one out of the park.

And for now, the three grandchildren are safe at home.

JASON KORNFELD may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or at [email protected].