While deployed on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the ship was famously sidelined in Guam due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Matt was part of the "skeleton crew" that stayed aboard after most sailors were evacuated. At the time  sailors had no access to SIM cards, leading to hefty phone bills as they struggled to contact their families. After receiving calls from frustrated family members, Matt told Jaclyn, who immediately contacted the CEO of AT&T. Her efforts led to all major U.S. carriers waiving the charges for the affected sailors. This experience showed them the power of individual action to make a difference.

After the deployment, Matt transitioned to shore duty, and in September 2022, they welcomed their second son, Hayden, who was later diagnosed with an eye muscle condition requiring frequent prescription glasses not covered by TRICARE. At the same time, they were undergoing home renovations and living in their garage. Amid these challenges, they taught their older son, Mason, to dress himself, nicknaming him "The Backwards Man" for putting his clothes on backward. This playful moment inspired Matt and Mason to co-create Benny Backwards, a whimsical tale. Proceeds from the book were donated to help Matt’s friend’s son, Cannon, who was and still is currently battling stage-four cancer, further solidifying their mission to help others.

The success of Benny Backwards encouraged Matt to continue writing, leading to his second book, My Daddy, My SWO (Surface Warfare Officer), inspired by his Navy career. This book sparked the creation of the My Mommy, My Daddy 12-book series, celebrating the sacrifices and pride of military families. One night, Matt had the idea to pair a plush toy with the book. Jaclyn suggested making a recordable book like the one they used with Mason during Matt’s deployment, but after discovering that recordable books were proprietary, Matt proposed placing the recorder inside the plush toy instead—giving birth to the My Hero doll.Eager to develop the idea, Matt reached out to his former skipper, Brett Crozier, who provided guidance and support. Matt and Jaclyn met with Brett regularly to refine their vision. Their goal wasn’t just to create another toy, but to build a tool that would bridge the gap for military families, enabling them to stay connected through storytelling, no matter the distance. This led to the founding of UMBO, named after Jaclyn’s expertise as an audiologist. The umbo is the small part of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) where the eardrum connects to the handle of the malleus, a tiny bone in the middle ear and helps in transmitting sound vibrations to the middle ear. The name symbolizes their commitment to fostering communication and connection. The red glasses in UMBO’s logo represent Hayden’s own journey with prescription glasses, symbolizing their dedication to helping military families like theirs. The My Hero doll became more than a product-it became a mission to support families and keep them connected, regardless of where duty called.