Matt Never Gives Up!

Progress - Money - The 300

2011-12-14T20:34:00.000-08:00

Matt Thomas is making HUGE gains in his recovery at Project Walk at superhuman speeds (read: Spartan style training). He is transferring himself to a car seat and has moved from using a power wheelchair to using a manual one. These are unbelievable feats for someone with his level of injury, frankly, unheard of. What he is doing is more incredible than 300 Spartans altering the course of history by holding off the Persian Horde at the mountain pass of Thermopylae.

While Matt's battle is truly epic, it is a costly one. He is running out of money and needs us to make an ongoing pledge to support him. If 300 of us brave souls will pledge $20 a month for the next year to Help Hope Live in Honor of Matt Thomas we will help jettison Matt to recovery. So come with me and join the 300! FOR MATT! FOR WALKING! FOR SPARTA! FOR SWAG TO DONORS! (details coming)

If you would like to set up a recurring, tax deductible, donation through Help Hope Live in honor of Matt please click here:

CLICK HERE TO DONATE!!!

If you would like to learn more about Matt's story and make a tax deductible donation click this link:

ABOUT MATT

If you would like more information or if you have any questions please feel free to email mattnevergivesup@gmail.com.

Help Hope Live is a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for more than 28 years and the catastrophically injured community for more than 13 years. Help Hope Live provides fiscal accountability and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Please consider making a contribution today. All proceeds go to help Matt’s recovery.

Thank you,

Friends of Matty T

Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. This campaign is administered by the Help Hope Live Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing fundraising assistance to transplant and catastrophic injury patients. Information: 800-642-8399.

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I was working on a write up I did a while back about that dreadful first day and was thinking it would be good to take a little glimpse at my progress over the last couple years. Click HERE if you would like to read about that first day. I think its good to look back once in a while to see how far I've come and thankfully I've come a long way! Thanks for your support and encouragement it would be impossible without you!! Here's a quick review of the last couple years.

3-1/2 years ago - I hiked 11 miles with 100 lbs on my back to go kayaking in the high sierra's.

2-1/2 years ago - I dislocated C6 in a mountain biking accident, which left me paralyzed from the chest down with very limited use of my arms. In fact, in this picture I still couldn't move my left arm at all.

Through the amazing support of my friends and family I kept a smile on my face. Here my friends broke me out of the hospital for a pizza and beer party in the hospital's parking garage.

June 2010 first day at Project Walk. Let the pain and hope begin.

December 2010 - return to Project Walk. That's 16 pounds.

April 2011 - Made the move to a manual chair. I now have power assisted wheels that help me out a bit, but its still a work out!!

November 2011 - Putting up 60 lbs, which is a 275% increase!!

2012?? Anything is possible.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

2011-10-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

This is so long overdue that I'm actually embarrassed by it. So right off the bat I need to thank a few people. Joe Jackson and Shaggy McLaughlin were instrumental in making The 3rd Annual Klamath River Benefit Bash happen and to be an amazing event!! Joe and Shaggy this would not have happened without you!!! I'd also like to thank the Allred's for providing the location, the AWW guides for working the kitchen, and Beth for bringing the salad. I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting.

Furthermore, I'd like to thank all the businesses for their generous support! Below is a list of everyone who donated to this event. Support these local businesses! It's the combination of these awesome businesses and the amazing people that make the State of Jefferson a magical place. Let's keep it that way...support your local business!!

Caldera Brewing Company

Shop-n-Kart

Erik Larsen

Papaya Clothing

St Clair Productions

Shasta Boyz Productions

Noble Coffee Roasting

Melissa Candy Massage

Downtowne Coffee House

Precision Hair Design

Indigo Creek Outfitters

Dr Mark Machala, DC

Momentum River Expeditions

Ashland Outdoor Store

Ashland Mountain Adventures

Alex's Restaurant and Bar

Ashland Envy

Bear Creek Bicycle

Jelly Belly

Therapeutics In Motion Massage

Poison Womb

Words can't express how thankful I am for your support. A little over 2 years ago I could barely move my right arm and could not even move my left. Through your support and a lot of hard work I can now support half my weight on both arms without falling on my face. Each day at Project Walk helps me get a little closer to recovery and independence!!! Without you and Project Walk I don't where I'd be now! Thank you Thank you!!!!!!

Some business items: I'm working on launching a new fundraiser to help me stay at Project Walk for another year. I currently have the funds to stay here through the end of December. In the meantime if you would like to support me its as easy as clicking HERE! All donations are administered through HelpHOPELive, which is a non-profit organization helping people who have experienced traumatic live changing injuries.

With the love and support of my friends and family I have the strength to Never Give Up and suddenly the impossible becomes not only possible, but probable! Keep the Faith!

3rd Annual Klamath River Benefit Bash

2011-08-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again for the Klamath River Benefit Bash! It's a festive day of WHITEWATER RAFTING followed by a BBQ followed by LIVE MUSIC by a 70's-80's cover band!! Don't miss it this year! Come join us in the heart of State of Jefferson on 20 acres of beautiful water front property for a celebration you won't soon forget and support a great cause by giving Matt a fighting chance to move his legs again.

All proceeds go to benefit the NTAF northwest spinal cord injury fund in honor of MATT THOMAS.

Event Details:

When: August 20th - Meet at Paradise Point at noon to go rafting. Dinner is at 6ish.

Where: Paradise Point - 18 miles west of Happy Camp, CA on Highway 96.

RSVP: Email mattnevergivesup@gmail.com and indicate if you're rafting or not or if you have any questions.

Camping: There's plenty of camping space available so come for the day or for the whole weekend.

Donation: Suggested $75 for the weekend or $25 for dinner/music

Directions to Paradise Point:

1. From the North or South on I-5, go West on Hwy 96. (Near Yreka)

2. Go 60 miles on Hwy 96 to the town of Happy Camp. This is the last remnant of civilization before Paradise Point (Gas, Food, ect.)

3. Continue on Hwy 96 past Happy Camp for about 18 more miles to Paradise Point. There will be a small sign on the left and an open yellow gate. Follow the dirt road to the right until you reach the parking area.

4. The turn for Paradise Point is exactly 0.9 miles past 'Coon Creek' River Access. If you get to Dillon Creek Campground you have gone 3 miles to far.

5. If you want to use a google map, Paradise Point usually shows up as Cottage Grove. (Paradise Point sits on the old town of Cottage Grove)

Big Gains and Upcoming Benefit!

2011-05-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to Paul Gillingham for organizing and everyone who attended or helped out with the 2011 Cal Salmon Race. It looked like it was a great time and I'm honored that it was a benefit to help me on my road to recovery. Every little bit helps!!!

Project Walk has been going great. I continue to get stronger and stronger with each day. One of the biggest improvements has been increased core strength, which is soooooo important!!!!! Just recently I've been able to lean back about 5 degrees from sitting straight up and then sit back up straight. I know it doesn't sound like much, but its HUGE!!!!!!! Mostly, because according to modern medicine that should be impossible. I've been taking video and hope to have a short video posted in the coming weeks.

One thing I've been doing for fun is learning how to sale, which has been a lot of fun. Skimming across the water powered only by the wind and knowing I'm solely responsible for the control of the boat is highly liberating!! I absolutley the feeling of independence.

I've been making great progress at Project Walk. Everyday I'm inspired by my progress and the progress of those around me, which is fuel for the fire to never give up! Even though I dearly miss my friends and the Great State of Jefferson I've decided to try stay here longer. It just seems to be the best thing for me to do right now. You gotta make hay while the sun is shining and for me the sun is shining at Project Walk. This is where you come in. To make this happen I need to raise a significant amount of funding by the end of August. The cost for a year of attending Project Walk is about $48,000 and none of it is covered by insurance. Recovering from a spinal cord injury is a slow costly process and I'm very fortunate to have the amazing support that allows me the opportunity to be here.

Ways to help:

1. In the top right corner of this blog is a link to donate to my cause.

2. The 3rd Annual Klamath River Benefit Bash is scheduled for August 20th, 2011. Festivities will kick off with whitewater rafting starting at noon followed by dinner and then music. Come for the day or stay and camp out for the night. More details will follow soon.

3. My good friends Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic will be showing the premiere of their new film "Kadoma" and all proceeds will go to help me on my way to recovery and I'll be there for the event!!!!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I'm honored and humbled to have the amazing support from all of you. The amount of support that I've received is truly not the norm and its completely due to the fact that you are an exceptional group of people that I've had the good fortune of knowing!!!

The Journey Goes On

2011-03-23T22:46:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. I know there are (or were ha ha) a lot of people following my progress and supporting me. Thank you for your support because without it the progress I’ve gained in the last few months would not be possible. My recovery is going to take a long time and your support is dearly appreciated and needed.

Speaking of support…wait for it…yes, that's right, I have needs…aside from professional psychiatric needs of course. The most urgent need I have right now is for a caregiver starting May 1 and going through at least the middle of June, but I could also extend it to August if that would be more desirable. It pays $10/hr and there’s about 50 hrs/ week and a room (free rent) is provided. There’s only about 2 hours of hard work per day and the rest is just hanging out and driving me around. If you’re interested email at mattnevergivesup@gmail.com soon! Oh, and its in San Diego…so if you’re unemployed and want a change of scenery lets talk!!

The other ongoing need is resources to attend Project Walk. It cost about $4000 per month just for the therapy not including living expenses in an expensive area. I've looked into a lot of different things and I'm convinced that PW is best thing for me right now. The progress is undeniable.

I’ve been doing the Project Walk thing now for 3 months and its going great. The hard work of the last three months is starting to pay off. This last week I saw significant improvement in my core strength, which has translated into better posture, balance, and being able to start working on transfers. I’m close, but need some more practice. I took a header into the couch practicing the other night, but don’t worry it was a soft landing and Joe was spotting me. I’ll get it pretty soon. I’ve also been using my manual chair as much as possible. My short-term goals are to get self sufficient in my manual chair and be able to transfer myself, which I’m working very hard to attain.

It’s hard to put the work I’m doing into tangible terms even for myself. I’ve been working out 3 hours a day, 3 days week and now I can sit up straight without falling over, I can slide my butt over a couple inches, and I can bench press 40 lbs 15 times. That kind of progress seems so small and almost indiscernible. I remind myself that just over a year ago those things seemed completely impossible. I didn’t learn how to kayak class V the first year I got in a kayak or ski steep remote slopes in the backcountry. No, it took several years of stubborn determination, countless hours of mundane practicing, and most importantly, constantly pushing my limits. The rewards of those many years are being able to enjoy the wonders of the South Branch, Upper Cherry Creek, and the Trinity Alps backcountry. The rewards of the sweat tears at Project Walk are a MUCH needed independence MOBILITY!!!

Per the request of many I added a link to the side of this blog...over there on the right...to my Facebook album that is accessible by ANYONE you don't need to have Facebook!!!!!!

Back at Project Walk!

2011-01-13T20:56:00.000-08:00

I'm back at Project Walk getting my butt kicked and loving every minute of it. It's going awesome and I'm filled with hope and optimism!! The drive down was exciting, but without mishap. We sneaked out of Oregon between two major snow storms and then headed to Southern California where they were getting pummeled with rain storm after rain storm. We arrived just before Christmas and got moved into an apartment in Encinitas, CA. After spending Christmas with family I started my session at Project Walk on Dec 27. I'm planning on staying here for 8 months or as long as the money lasts. Speaking of money you can now donate to my cause and its tax deductible. Check it out by clicking here. All donations go directly to medical expenses.

To give you an idea of what Project Walk is like I put together a short video from my last stay there. Check it out!

Matty T at PW

One of the things that is hard to show in a short video is the camaraderie with the other people at PW. I've met people from all over the world that have humbled me with their amazing attitudes and perspectives! PW is more than a place of physical recovery it is a place filled with hope and amazing people who embody that hope!! I love my pdub family!!

This past fall has been really tough with several catastrophic events with loved ones. Please continue to keep Hendri's family and friends, the Nolan family and Grantland family in your thoughts and prayers has they deal with these tough times. This community is a powerful source of love and support!

Thank you for your love and support. I'm only able to be here because you chose to support me!!

Keep the faith!

Much love,

Matt

PS: If you feel the need for encouragement come visit me and spend some time at PW and I promise you that you'll leave with a different perspective!

A Friend In Need!

2010-11-30T11:34:00.000-08:00

I was saddened by some recent news that my good friend Beth found out that her mom, Barb, was diagnosed with cancer. I'm posting this message here to spread the word and recruit people to pray and support this wonderful woman. Barb and the rest of Nolan family in Cincinnati have been and continue to be a huge support to me even though I have never actually met them. The following picture is from a Happy Hour fundraiser for me where over a hundred people attended where I only knew 3 who were there.

Beth, Joe, Bill, and Barb (from left to right)

From Beth:

"My mom, Barb, has been diagnosed with an advanced, rare form of Melanoma. Her prognosis is not good, but we are hopeful that with treatment and the prayers and positive thoughts of family and friends, she will be well again. She will begin her first round of immunotherapy this coming week at Good Samaritan Hospital, in Cincinnati OH."

Barb started treatment this week in Cincinnati and so far so good. Here's a message from her husband Bill:
"

Good Sam - Day 1

posted by Bill Nolan, Monday, November 29, 2010, 10:45 AM

Barb was admitted at 6:00 am this morning and had a port inserted into her chest for the interferon treatments. After recovery, she was taken to the ICU floor (7th floor) around 10:30 AM. Her oncologist. Dr. Maher arrived shortly after and went over the game plan. The first interferon treatment will be at 2:00 PM this afternoon followed by treatments at 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM tomorrow morning. Fourteen doses of interferon will be infused over the next five days. She will probably be released on Saturday.

Next week, Barb has an appointment with Dr. Maher on Thursday.. The following Monday, December 13, the 2nd round of interferon will begin again at Good Sam. The doctor expects Barb to gain 15% body weight from the interferon treatments and may be very fatigued for a couple of days following the treatments. She may also get a little testy at times (ya think!). The good news from Dr. Maher is that the bone scan was negative.

Barb is resting comfortably and we will try to have a schedule for visitors up shortly on the calendar. They want to hold visitors to no more than three at a time as long as we're quiet.

The first infusion of interferon at 2:00 PM lasted about 15 minutes. The only reaction since that time was Barb began to have chills about two hours following the procedure. This is a textbook reaction and medication was given to eliminate this symptom. Since that time, Barb has been catching a few winks of sleep as it has been a long day. The next infusion is at 10:00 PM. Beth is spending the night.

The outpouring of love and support, the offerings of prayer,and the inspirational messages left on this site continue to sustain us. Thank you doesn't begin to express our gratitude."

Please pray for Barb, Bill, Beth, Susan, Annie, and Pat and keep them in your thoughts has they go through this difficult time. I'll continue to post updates here. If you have an encouraging word to share let me know and I'll be sure to pass it on (mattrehab@gmail.com).

Barb - Keep fighting!! Love ya!!

-Matt

PS: As for me: I'm still in the process of getting things together to head to Project Walk, which I'm heading there in about 3 weeks! Getting excited!!

PW Here We Go Again!

2010-11-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

November 19, 2010

This is my second Thanksgiving since my injury and I’m reminded that I have a lot to be thankful for. I’m thankful to have the loving support of my parents who have sacrificed so much for my well being and who continue to do so. I’m thankful for the friends who frequently come by to get me out of the house and who have donated generously to my cause. I’m thankful for the support of the people in my hometown, Etna, CA, who have donated so much time and resources. I’m thankful for the support of the kayaking community, which has been a brotherhood to me for many years – love you guys!! I’m thankful for the support of the amazing people in the outdoor community at large. I’m thankful for the support of the tight knit Nolan family and the community in Cincinnati, OH. I’m thankful for the many people that I’ve never met who have given generously to a perfect stranger. I’m thankful for the support of the amazing people and businesses in the great State of Jefferson. Thank you for your love and support you will never know how much I truly need and appreciate it!!!!

What have I been up to? I’ve been busy getting things sorted out to head back down to Project Walk. I’m officially moving down there around the middle of December even if I have to live in a van down by the river. My plan is to start attending Project Walk shortly after moving down there and stay there through August. I’m excited to see what 8 months of PW will do for me physically and mentally! Come and see for yourself and visit me in sunny San Diego.

I’ve also been working with my good friends Aaron Lewis and Eric Danson to submit a documentary about yours truly to the Ashland Film Festival. Check out the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhPaWJ4tumI&feature=related

I’m still in need of a place to rent down there. We’re looking for 3-bedroom house and have a few options that will work, but we’re still looking. The other need is a caregiver from the middle of April through the middle of June. So if you’re in need of a job and want to live in San Diego for a couple months let me know!! Oh, thanks to my good friend Hungry Joe who is going to be my caregiver from Dec to April!!

Attending Project Walk for 8 months will exhaust my resources, but I feel that it is the best option for my recovery at this point. Not sure what I will do after that, but one thing is for certain is that I will still have a financial need. By next spring I hope to have an account set up where people can donate specifically for medical expenses and then receive a tax deduction. I’ll have more information on that in the coming months. In the meantime, you can donate through the link on the blog or through snail mail.

And now to leave you with a quote I have found to be an inspiration:

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome” – Booker T Washington

-Matt

Project Walk

2010-10-19T09:47:00.001-07:00

October 18, 2010

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

You may recognize the last 2 lines of the above poem from the movie “Invictus” or the fact that Nelson Mandela would often quote it. This poem really spoke to me and has been a source of encouragement lately. To me the essence of this poem is that no matter what life throws in your direction there is ALWAYS a choice. The choice is to either rise above the challenge or cower before it in defeat. I certainly don’t make that choice everyday, but it is something I definitely strive for. The beautiful thing is that every victory builds upon the last giving me the strength to make the right choice for the next challenge.

As many of you know, I spent two months at Project Walk over the summer, which was an amazing experience. 4 days a week 3 hours a day of pushing myself as hard as I ever have both physically and mentally. Physically I gained a lot of strength in my upper body, added muscle mass to my legs, and increased strength in my core. Mentally I gained the understanding that I’m not made out of glass and I can handle more than I thought. On the first day I was there two guys hoisted me out of my chair and propped me up on a spin bike. At first I was a little freaked out, but then I realized I was fine and told them ‘Let’s do this!!’ The camaraderie that I built with the other folks at PW was encouraging. It was therapeutic to be able to talk to people that are in the same situation with the same attitude as me. I met some amazing people that have amazing attitudes about what they’re going through and I learned a lot from these people. Going to PW also gave me a renewed hope and motivation. It’s good to know that you’re not alone sometimes.

What does the future hold?? I’m planning on returning to Project Walk for a longer stint. I’d like to go for at least 6 months. In order to do this there are a few things that need to come together. The main thing I need to sort out is some care giving while I’m down there. So, if you’re unemployed and want to get paid to hang out in San Diego with me and do some care giving let me know...seriously!!

I want to thank you for all of your support. There is no possible way that I would have been able to go to Project Walk in the first place without all your generosity!! I am truly blessed to have this support!!

Amazed and Humbled By All the Support!!

2010-08-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

I would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who attended, donated and helped out to make the Klamath River Benefit Bash a huge success. We raised about $5500, but more importantly it was a great time of hanging out with amazing people.

As many of you know I was in San Diego all summer attending Project Walk. I will post a more detailed post about my experience there in the near future, but for now I just want to say that it was a positive experience and I want to go back. So the money we raised will go towards that effort.

The following list are all the businesses and people that donated! Thank you because without your continued support my recovery would have stopped a while ago!!!!

New Belgium Brewing Company

Caldera Brewing Company

Adventure Whitewater

Momentum River Expeditions

Sawyer

Darin McQuoid - Best whitewater calendar ever! Plus its me on the cover!

Traci, RT, Jodi, and Erik (Seattle crew)

Judd Lehman and Sherri Kies

Robyn Jansen and Beth Nolan

Ashland Outdoor Store

Jerry Cousins

Rush Sturges

Gene and Peggy Allred

Dayton Dean and The River King

Vitamin DC

Duggan

Rising Sun Farms

Bullet Watercraft

Noble Coffee Roasting

Cave Springs Resort

Siskiyou Distributing

Thank you for your amazing support! This kind of support is not typical! Gotta love the State of Jefferson!!

-Matt

River Rafting Fundraiser and Silent Auction - Help needed!

2010-08-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

My stint at Project Walk is coming to an end. It's been a great experience and I have really benefited from it. My upper body has gotten a lot stronger, muscles in my core are starting to react, and I'm gaining some muscle mass back in my legs. I'm looking into trying to come back down here in the near future, but there are some logistics to work out.

Don't forget about my fundraiser coming up on the Klamath! It's going to be fun!!

Right now the following things have been donated:

Silent auction items:
-A day whitewater rafting for 2 on the Upper Klamath
-12' whitewater raft

Food for dinner:
-Appetizer
-A keg of beer

We could really use some more donations for drinks(beer, wine or whatever), dinner, breakfast, and the silent auction. So if you can help let me know!! Also, spread the word!

Thanks again for all your support. I wouldn't be here at Project Walk without it!!

-Matt

July 27, 2010

2010-07-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about?

Whether or not you know Matt Thomas, come join us on 20 acres for a riverfront celebration in the State of Jefferson! Live music, dinner, camping, sand volleyball, horseshoes, a great beach, swimming hole, whitewater rafting, and a silent auction. All proceeds will be donated to Matt to help him get additional therapy at Project Walk, equipment to continue therapy at home, and other devices to improve his quality of life. Last y...ear, over 100 people had a blast at the event, so please spread the word to co-workers, friends, and family so we can get a bigger crew this year!

See below for detailed information:

PLEASE RSVP by emailing mattrehab@gmail.com. Please indicate if you're rafting or not. As you can imagine, getting food for this event will be challenging if we don't know how many people are coming.

Oh yeah, Matt will actually be there this year!! So please spread the word to anyone who might be interested and let's party!!!

We're looking for volunteers and people to donate time, food, drink, and items for the silent auction. Please check out the facebook page's discussion board:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Thomas-Fundraiser-2010-Music-camping-and-rafting/136505649708810?ref=ts

Or email mattrehab@gmail.com.

Details:

When: It starts Saturday afternoon with live music and ends Sunday after some whitewater rafting. Feel free to come camp out Friday or stay till Monday. Just be sure to bring food.

Food: Dinner Saturday night, breakfast Sunday morning, and lunch on Sunday for those that are rafting will be provided.

Cost: Minimum suggested donation of $30 for dinner, live music and breakfast. Minimum $50 donation for rafting, which includes lunch. Sliding scale so if you can't swing that come anyways!!

Where: Paradise Point, CA

Directions to Paradise Point:

1. From the North or South on I-5, go West on Hwy 96 at exit 786. (Near Yreka, CA)

2. Go 60 miles on Hwy 96 to the town of Happy Camp. This is the last remnant of civilization before Paradise Point (Gas, Food, ect.)

3. Continue on Hwy 96 past Happy Camp for about 18 more miles to Paradise Point (very helpful to set your odometer). There will be a small sign on the left and an open yellow gate. Follow the dirt road to the right until you reach the parking area.

4. The turn for Paradise Point is exactly 0.9 miles past 'Coon Creek' River Access. If you get to Dillon Creek Campground you have gone 3 miles to far.

5. If you want to use a google map, Paradise Point usually shows up as Cottage Grove, CA. (Paradise Point sits on the old town of Cottage Grove)

For those who cannot attend but want to donate, you can make a check out to Matt Thomas and send to:

8309 French Creek Rd.
Etna, CA 96027

You can also check out more about Matt at mattnevergivesup.blogspot.com or if you have questions specific for him you can email him at h2othomas@gmail.com.

Hope to see all of you there!

I'm over half way through my stint at Project Walk! I continue to get stronger each day. It's a lot of hard work, but I absolutely love it!! Even though I don't have any new sensation I can feel muscles starting work in my core, which has been very encouraging! Making friends with some crazy canadians and some aussies so the social scene is getting a little better, but I miss all my buddies up north! Got to go surfing with Wheels2water.org. It was so much fun and it felt amazing to be in the water!! Check out the pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128628567393&v=photos&ref=ts

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop." -Confucious

July 9th was exactly one year and my progress has been painfully slow, but at least there's progress! It has been one heck of a year! I'm thankful for my friends and family because without them I wouldn't have made it this far!

June 27, 2010

2010-06-27T21:50:00.000-07:00

I finished my first full week of Project Walk and I'm exhausted. I love it!!! I'm already seeing favorable results and the bottom line is that I'm going to get a lot stronger, which will help me gain some highly desired independence. The people at Project Walk are great and push me hard in an encouraging way. One of the other patients here had a social gathering last night where I got to meet several other people in similar conditions as mine with similar attitudes. It seems like we're all here because giving up is not an option and we don't believe in words like "never" or "can't". It's been very encouraging and I have actually had some tangible hope. So thanks to ALL of you for making this possible. You have no idea what a blessing you are!

I'll be posting pictures of my adventures at Project Walk here and if you're reading the blog you can view them here or type in the following:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=186424&id=793208549&l=b6f91699d3

Here's a quick recap for the last month. Had an an awesome send off bbq party in Southern Oregon prior to heading to Project Walk. There were probably 60+ people there. Great food, great beer, and even better friends made it an incredible night. My good friend Aaron Lewis did a documentary about me for his capstone project to graduate from SOU and showed it at the BBQ. Aaron did an incredible job and it turned out way above my expectations. It was very moving! So after all that we packed up the van and headed south to only break down in Redding, CA. We were stranded in Redding for 4 days! No offense against those of you that live there, but ugh…seriously?? Although, the sun dial bridge is pretty cool especially at night. We finally escaped Redding, and now we're in Encinitas, CA. The place we're staying is peaceful, wheelchair accessible, and just out of the coastal fog. It's very nice. So if you need some sun and time at the beach come on down.

We're going to be doing the Klamath River benefit music/dinner/rafting weekend again on the weekend of August 21-22. It's going to be a blast. Mark it on your calendar and get your butt out there for it. There will be an official announcement going out soon. We plan to do a silent auction as well. So we'll be looking for volunteers to help donate time and/or resources.

Now here are some philosophical thoughts so if you're not into that then you can stop reading here. I recently had a discussion about dealing with adversity and it brought up some ideas on the subject. The way I've approached adversity is to have a realistic assessment of the current situation, but don't accept it as the end all/be all. Instead always look for the opportunities for growth and embrace that growth with optimism, persistence, and a positive attitude. One more thing is to also not be too proud to ask for a little help. We all need it once in a while.

If you feel like making a visit to sunny SoCal let me know I'd love to see you. I'll just be here giving everything I got at Project Walk. Also don't forget about the Klamath River Bash. It's going to be fun. Thanks again for all your support. To my homies in Jefferson State and Seattle…miss you guys crazy!!

Made it to Project Walk!!

2010-06-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

After months of hoping, begging, pleading, working hard in PT, and heaps of generousity from all of you Project Walk is now a 10 week reality. Had some van problems but finally cleared it all up and now we're in Encinitas just down the road from Project Walk.

Today was my first day at Project Walk and they're not messing around. After a short little orientation it was off to the races and now I'm sore and beat down tired. It's awesome!!

May 14, 2010

2010-05-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

Two very common questions I get a lot is what’s new and how are your folks? So let me put those to rest; not much and they’re doing well. Now let’s get on with the good stuff. It’s been a busy month got my official start date for Project Walk, college buddy from Boise came to visit, went to the Etna rodeo, watched the Kentucky Derby (on TV), and have been looking for a place to stay in San Diego. I’m still doing therapy and I’m getting stronger everyday. It’s been great seeing the sunshine again, but spring has been bittersweet not being in a kayak.

It was great to see my good friend from college, Matt Price. I hadn’t seen him in about 6 years so it was nice to catch up. We reminisced about the good ol’ college days. Remember when you smashed my sandwich between two books. Remember when we almost got arrested at that wedding reception. Remember when you threw my bills out the window on the freeway. Remember when…you get the idea. I showed him around the area and we could have seen a lot more, but I think Price was nervous driving the minivan. He drove slow enough for every Winnebago on the freeway pass us. Here’s what Price had to say about the weekend.

On May 1 a beautiful girl in a beautiful dress picked me up and we headed into Ashland to watch the Kentucky Derby at Tease. It was a fun day hanging out with all the pretty people drinking mint juleps and celebrating Gabe’s birthday. The next day I attended the Etna rodeo, which was a sharp contrast from the previous day. There’s nothing pretty about the Etna rodeo, but lots of fun for sure. I then went and had dinner at the ranch I used to work on. It was nice to visit with Jim and Katie and their family. I forget what a beautiful place Scott Valley is.

I’m getting excited to head down to Project Walk. I’m still looking for a place to stay down there so if you have connections down there…HELP. I’ve been in contact with a couple people that are going to be attending PW at the same time, which is cool know a couple people there. It’s hard not to be just a little nervous. It’s going to be a lot of hard work and the outcome is uncertain.

This week at physical therapy I was able to go for 30 minutes on the arm cycle without stopping and no assistance. When I first started physical therapy after getting out of the hospital I could only go for one minute without stopping and I needed assistance on each revolution. My physical therapist is pleased with my progress. She’s been kicking my butt lately. I think she wants to make sure I don’t embarrass her at Project Walk…ha ha.

Mornings remain the most challenging mentally especially now that its spring. I miss kayaking so much its painful. This is what I was doing last spring and oh how I want to do that again!!

I have to consciously decide to have a positive attitude each morning. Most of the time I’m successful, but not always. The biggest challenge is making the most of each day without losing the hope of a full recovery. There are a few things that have really helped me maintain a positive attitude and maintain hope. First is my faith in God and out of that the belief that ALL things happen for a reason even if I don’t know what that is. The next is the loving support of my friends and family…THANKS!!! The next thing is completely ignoring all the nay sayers and negative nancys out there.

Thanks again for the all the help and support. Project Walk is NOT cheap and without your help it wouldn’t even be an option. Therapy at PW and living expenses will add up to about $7000/month. So thanks for your continued support!!

Keeping the faith,

Matt

Project Walk in the news!

2010-05-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

Project Walk on CNN! Less than a month to go before we start Project Walk. While we remain cautiously optimistic, we're definitely going to be building back some muscle mass on Matt over the 10 weeks of intense therapy. With nothing to lose and everything to gain we're heading there full of hope and determination. Matt never gives up!

In other news, Matt got his standing frame for an amazing deal thanks to another wonderful and kind friend. Along with the standing frame he got a manual wheelchair! Both these items are helpful in therapy, the standing frame is particularly important in preventing bone density loss which occurs over time when all you do is sit (a reminder to office workers, get up often and use those legs)!

Thanks for all your support over the past 10 months!

News: April 14, 2010

2010-04-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

The deafening roar mesmerizes me as I sit there waiting for the signal going over each move in my mind. I’m nervous…very nervous! I can hardly stand the anticipation. Then there it is, the ‘all clear’ signal, a couple of taps to the top of the head that signifies that one of my friends has made it to safety and now its my turn. I take one last look at the towering granite walls on both sides, swallow the fear welling up in my throat, and peel out of the eddy letting the power of current take me. My purpose is singular. There’s no fear or any other thought in my mind except for the task at hand. I take several powerful strokes building up speed accelerating towards that critical moment of do or die. Wait for it…NOW!! I dip my paddle pulling just hard enough, lifting up with my knees, and shifting my weight to place me on the slide at the perfect angle slightly to the left. This crucially timed movement will seal my fate. Suddenly I’m rocketing down the slide, launching into the air and landing with a jolt in the white caldron known as Cherry Bomb Gorge. Abruptly, I’m upside down approaching the infamous ‘Weir!’ I roll just in time to make a critical move to avoid a beat down and an epic swim. I make it to the safety of the eddy, look up at the towering granite walls and think ‘Now this is LIVING!!’ The grin is enough to split my face in half. I wake up staring at a white ceiling that is strangely familiar, my body feels foreign, and as the memory fades I know that more adventures await me! That hope fuels my motivation and I cry out ‘I will NEVER give up!!!’

Life is rolling on! I can hardly believe it’s been 9 months. In some ways it feels like it was just yesterday and in other ways it feels like an eternity. My triceps continue to get stronger and though the progress is slow its still progress, but physical therapy continues to pay off. Some recent accomplishments include shaving my own face and drinking out of a pint glass. I have to use two hands to drink out of the pint glass, but let’s be honest most of us should anyways. Thanks to your amazing generosity I’ve purchased a standing frame that will help my bones not deteriorate.

Last, but certainly not least, I’m officially going to Project Walk and will start at the beginning of June. I’m very hopeful and excited about this. I know it will be challenging both physically and mentally, but I’m ready for a challenge! Check out what Project Walk is about at their web site.

I want to sincerely thank all of you for generosity both monetarily and time. I could not do this without your support. I’m truly blessed and I don’t say that flippantly!! I’ve been able to purchase a shower chair, standing frame, and I’ll be able to attend Project Walk due to your generosity.

Some upcoming needs are:

• A place to live in Carlsbad when I’m attending Project Walk. Rent could cost as much as $3000/month and Project Walk is using the bulk of the donations so far at a cost of $20,000 for 10 weeks.

• Hand controls for my van allowing me to drive, which will provide a huge step towards independence. The cost will be around $6000-8000.

• Care giving is an ongoing need.

Every little bit is a huge help and greatly appreciated

Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings. I hope that you are well and enjoying life and those in it!

Matt

Special Thanks!

2010-04-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

A huge special thanks to everyone for helping me out (especially Mark Peaty on his Spring Break) it was a great excuse to just hang out. Also thanks to everyone who offered the response was overwhelming! Awesome!!

My parents finally got their much needed break. They were able to drive down to Carlsbad and spend some time at Project Walk getting to know the therapists and looking in the area for housing for June.

Preview of an update and parents need a vacation!

2010-03-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Update is coming...promise! Some of the highlights include shaving my own face, drinking out of pint glass without assistance, purchasing a standing frame, and very close to having everything in order to attend Project Walk. So stay tuned.

My parents, who have been taking care of me, want to go on vacation and so I need some substitutes. I need help in various ways day and night from April 6th through April 12th. Send me an email at h2othomas@gmail.com if you're interested in helping and when you can. Any little bit will help.

Have a great day,
Matt

Showing the way | MailTribune.com

2010-03-04T08:11:00.001-08:00

Showing the way | MailTribune.com

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February 6, 2010: Update

2010-02-06T22:53:00.000-08:00

Some of you are thinking ‘It’s about time!’ Sorry for the lack of recent updates, but better late than never. So without further ado (drum roll) here’s what’s been happening with me.

The Holidays were fine, but I’m really glad they’re over. December was rough for me emotionally sometimes its tough to keep a positive attitude. Thankfully I had a lot of support from my family and timely visits from my friends, which I am VERY grateful for. If I had a friend off with anyone else I’m quite certain I would win hands down. I’m not boasting because it has very little to do with me I’m just lucky.

I’m not entirely sure why I was so down. Maybe it was the harsh realities of being paralyzed setting in. Or as the ski season set in I knew that, at least for this year, I would not be partaking in one of my favorite past times. I wouldn’t be enjoying that weightless poetry of floating over the crystalline paradise feeling the cold smoke sting my face obscuring my view turn after turn. I’m realizing that my passion for the outdoors, my passion for chasing the white demon in the beautiful mountains and then chasing it again as it flees to the sea was more than recreation it was a lifestyle that I loved more than anything maybe even anyone…just being honest. So adjustments have to be made. While I still look forward to participating in the sports I love so much, I’ve learned that true friendship transcends all. Our ability to perform physically is a constantly changing thing in good ways and bad, but true friendships just continue to grow and develop. It is and has been one of the few consistencies in my life. During this time I realize the importance of good friends now more than ever. I realize the importance of having good friends and the importance of being a good friend. My hope is that I'm as good a friend as my friends are to me.

Speaking of friends. Did I mention I have some great friends? On January 29th my friends put together a raffle to raise money to assist me on my road to recovery. The drawing was held at Caldera Tap House and the place was packed. My friends raised a bunch of money and it was Caldera’s biggest night next to their grand opening. More importantly it was a fun event and seeing all my friends together like that makes me get all choked up. Thank you! You guys rock!!

So, what’s new for me? Right now, I’m working on purchasing a standing frame and applying to Project Walk. Trying to work out the logistics for getting down there including living arrangements, care giving, and how long. I’m hoping to be there by March, but we’ll see. I’m going for sure it’s just a matter of working the logistics out.

Physically I continue to get stronger. My left tricep has improved by 400%. I still can't lift the weight of my arm with it, but it IS getting stronger. Lot's of little gains will add up to a big gain eventually.

That’s all I got for now.

I want to send a huge thanks to Darin, Kyle and Shaggy for putting a bunch of work to pull the raffle off, everyone who attended or bought tickets, all the businesses that donated, and Caldera for being a gracious host. This event just proves the outdoor community is a tight family that I’m proud to be a part of!

Keeping the faith,

Matt

What a party!

2010-02-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

I'm overwhelmed by the generous support of my friends, the outdoor community and the State of Jefferson community!! I want to thank everyone who came out Friday night in Ashland. It was great to see everyone and it was a lot of fun. I get all choked up thinking about how lucky I am to have this support. From what I hear from my doctors and therapists this kind of support is not the norm. So THANK YOU!!!

Be sure to check the results because you could have won!
http://mattthomasraffle.blogspot.com/
Couldn't do this without you!!

Thanks,
Matt

Matt Thomas Rehab Raffle Drawing - January 29th

2010-01-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

Featuring the Sundown Poachers and Derek Mauldin!
The good news is YOU CAN STILL BUY TICKETS AT THE EVENT before the raffle. The bad news is you DON'T have to be present to win (your loss).
Come tie one on with us and enjoy good live music, the raffle drawing, good people, good beer, and great times!!

Raffle Prize Information Found Here

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 8:00pm - 12:00am
Caldera Tap House
31 Water Street #2
Ashland, OR

View Map

On top of all the great prizes that have already been listed, several more have been donated.

The Sportsgrants Foundation is donating a new, never used Jackson Rocker creek boat. Be sure to check out the really cool work this great organization is doing.
The Pomodoro Restaurante in Ashland has donated two gift certificates for $50 each. Thanks for the support!

Update coming...here's a poem

2010-01-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

I know I need to do an update and I'm working on it. In the meantime here's a poem a dear friend wrote that I thought some of you might enjoy:

for my friend matt,

always grounded, beautiful tact
what can be said
spirit floats river bed
he sits so serene
his love permeates every ravine

our God, you are amazing
catch us off guard, open hearts blazing
his life i'm so thankful
body injured, he stays grateful
with so much strength
none but him, know this great length

strength invert weakness
there's beauty in meekness
his purpose, his intuition
leads us all to fruition

first night i was there
his eyes, i'll never forget that stare
i tried so hard to be strong
tears fell, i was wrong
looking back on that moment
he gave me atonement

eager to help him
shrink his worries thin
all friends we compete
love him too much, we'll never leave

thinking back on adventure
brings me such pleasure
we climb
with open mind
drive to pilot rock
sip coffee, good talk
spontaneous, down for whatever
memories in my heart forever

these times are different
equally equivalent
that was the past
this is the contrast

like a needle to the heart
pulls my mind apart
no matter where i am
my heart is in his hand

his mom i applaud
such wisdom in her nod
his dad big strong heart
with courage from the start

he walked in my dream
let's pray peaceful ending
a great weight will be lifted
the burden, rise, shifted

matt-

you are such a blessing
so humble, always composed
in God, future blissfully grows

love,
marissa

Happy New Year!

2009-12-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that you are surrounded by those you love and who love you too :)

Thanks for being a part of this community that has brought me no small amount of joy this holiday season!

Thank you,

Matt

Thursday, December 10, 2009

2009-12-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

Delayed Raffle Drawing

Due to lots of people out of the country (including myself) and everyone's busy holiday schedule, we have decided to postpone the raffle drawing until Mid January, when we will have a big black tie shindig in Ashland, Oregon and commence drawing the tickets. Stay tuned for location and time as the date approaches. Thanks for all the support, Matt appreciates it and can't wait to see everyone at the party - Darin

News: December 9, 2009

2009-12-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it has been 5 months since that fateful day. I woke up on July 9th feeling great completely oblivious to what lay in store for me. Life was going great. There was employment on the horizon. It was a beautiful sunny summer day. I was hanging out with a beautiful girl that I adored with whom I had just spent a magical weekend kayaking in NorCal where she ran her first waterfall...I was so proud. I had plans with my good friend Tony for a full day of mt biking. Had weekend plans to go swimming at some beautiful swimming holes in the mountains close to here. I was in the best shape of my life...life was good.

I got up early that morning made breakfast and coffee for that special girl gave her a kiss and watched her head off to work. Cleaned up the dishes and sat down to get some work done for my good friend Dustin. Met up with Tony and his Uncle Jeff to shuttle Chucks Chips at around noon. 10 minutes after leaving the car we were at the first gap jump, which I had done many times before. The jump had been modified since the last time I had done it so I took a long look at it then decided to give her a go. From here things are a little hazy. I remember approaching the jump then I remember the sound of a helicopter and then the next thing I know I'm in the ER with people asking me lot's of questions. I vaguely remember being in a CAT scan machine. Then I remember Beth, Tony and Don talking to me and at this point I realized I couldn't move. Other then burning to death being paralyzed was my worst nightmare over even drowning. I distinctly remember the Dr then showing me the CAT scan of my neck and telling me that I had dislocated and fractured C6 and that he needed to operate immediately. Beth, Tony, and Don then came in to pray with me then they wheeled me into surgery. I had the distinct thought that if I couldn't move my legs that I hoped I didn't survive surgery. I remember them drilling a screw into the side of my head and then next thing I woke up in the CCU and the first face I remember seeing is Beth's. Seeing the love and concern in those beautiful green eyes I thought life might just be worth living, and then I found out there were at least 20 people waiting for me in the waiting room...life is good. The injury has left me paralyzed from the chest down. Since that day life has been a daily struggle physically, mentally, spiritually, relationally, and financially. It is safe to say that there's not one part of my life that hasn't been drastically affected, but I press on keeping my eye on the prize with the help of the loving support of my family and friends.

Life can change in an instant whether its an injury, the loss of loved one, the loss of a relationship, or the loss of your means to make a living. Why is it human nature to not appreciate something until its gone? I appreciate it now!! Do you appreciate the things in your life?

Enough of the deep stuff. I'm still working on getting the FES bike. Just need to make sure that my muscles will respond to the electrical stimulation. I'm also going to get a standing frame and a manual wheelchair. I just got a portable ramp so if you've been waiting to invite me over cuz you have steps...the wait is over. :) Oh yeah, my insurance said that a shower/commode chair is a luxury so I ordered it and paid for it directly. Now I'll be able to have a shower more than once a week. So if you have donated money it has gone to that and will go to the things listed above. If I get everything above it will total about $25,000. So thank you for your generosity. It is greatly appreciated and has a huge impact!

I've been working out at home and I continue to get stronger. Its a slow process, but its steady. I had developed some pressure sores on my heels and butt, but they have completely healed. I haven't gotten any new movement, but I'm getting stronger with what I can move.

The last couple months have been some of the hardest I have ever had to endure in my life. At times hope seemed like a dirty word that would bring nothing but pain and disappointment. I have been shaken to the very core of my existence. I've had to redefine everything in my life. I wish I could give you a cookbook answer to how I have dealt with it all. The only thing I have to offer is that I have learned that life is precious and so are the people that are a part of that life.

Now get off the computer and get out there and use those legs if you're able!!

PS: I have one question. Do anyone still read these and are they at all inspiring? Just curious.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for being thankful for what we have and thought I would share some things I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful that I can move my arms, that I can feel things from my nipples up, that my lungs remain healthy, that there were over 20 people in the waiting room on the day of my injury, thankful that Beth stayed the night in the ICU with me that first night, that Kyle stayed the next night, for all the others that kept me company during the nights at the hospital, the neurosurgeon was able to put me back together, that my mind is intact (well mostly), that I have some of the best friends that anyone could ask for, that I have a loving supportive family, and there's so much more that I could go and on.

Still one thing amazes is all the support from perfect strangers. It has renewed my faith in humanity! So with that I want to send a personal thanks to each and every person that reads this!

-Matt

November 17, 2009: Hope

2009-11-17T21:58:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how fast this year is flying by! I can't believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because its all about food, friends and family.

I had my first therapy session in the pool, which was awesome! It felt so good to be in the water. The therapist put floaty things on me and I was able to propel myself around the pool. I even went completely under a couple of times by request of course. Now I just need to find a pool with a lift and a couple of volunteers and I can go swimming whenever I want. Anyone?

I only have a few therapy sessions left at hospital due to my insurance. So I'm looking into other alternatives. Right now I'm looking into going to Project Walk in Carlsbad, Next Step in Seattle, or Neuro Worx in Utah.

The FES bike is still in the works. I'm also looking into to getting a standing frame and start getting the components for a home work out set up. It turns out that standing and exercising is actually good for you...who knew?

I've been thinking about the word hope a lot lately. A definition I read recently is: hope is to desire with the expectation of obtainment. This resonated with me and so I thought i would share it. Hope gives me the strength to face each day.

Thanks for all the love and support. God knows I need it!

2009-11-13T18:13:00.001-08:00

The drawing was done by my good friend Gabe. He's a talented local artist and whipped this out in 20 minutes. Check him out.

Put in a vote for him here:

http://www.artistaday.com/?p=4875

Check out his web site:

http://artofgabriel.com/

November 2, 2009 Update

2009-11-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

Don't forget about the raffle:

http://mattthomasraffle.blogspot.com/

Thank you Scott Valley...again. Over a hundred people came out for the Halloween Fun Run organized by an Etna High School senior for her senior project. Thanks Terri! I want to also thank the Sweezey's for hosting the event at their ranch.

I received the paper work for ordering the FES bike and hope to have it in my possession in about a month. Check out the bike at

http://www.restorative-therapies.com/

if you haven't yet. I plan on getting the RT 300.

For Halloween I dressed up like a badly injured Spider Man. I'll have some photos posted soon. Then hung out with Clark Kent, Uncle Rico, an 80's aerobic instructor, a flight attendant, Hans, Frans, and a Zombie.

Its been a bittersweet past few weeks. I just sold my truck, which was good financially but was hard emotionally. That truck was a trusted friend and we had been through a lot together. From kayaking trips to Tatlow Creek to surf trips to the Straight of Juan de Fuca to back country missions off Cecilville summit to secret mountain bike missions on the preferred cycling trail to visiting that special lady friend. I'll miss you my friend. I'll never forget you.

The ebb and flow of life is a dynamic adventure that is best experienced on the narrow path. We don't always get to choose the outcomes, but we always get to choose our response. Asking 'why me?' is quite possibly the biggest waste of energy in the known universe. My hope is that I always choose this path no matter what life may bring.

KEEP THE FAITH!

October 19, 2009: Update from Matt

2009-10-20T19:47:00.001-07:00

A big thanks to Paul Gamache for putting on the 2009 Cali Burn Fest at the infamous Burnt Ranch Gorge. It sounds like it was a great time!

Here's a link to a video covering the event.

http://vimeo.com/7099987

And here's a link to the results.

http://dagger.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cali-burn-fest-race-results

Another thanks to Marissa Gillingham and the SOU women's soccer team. It was a fun event and I enjoyed watching the game. Thanks!

In therapy I've been pushing myself around in a manual chair. I do laps around the rehab center. It's kinda fun and a great work out. My arms are getting stronger, which has been very encouraging. I started the process for purchasing an FES Bike and hope to have one in my posession within a couple months.

This week was pretty tough emotionally and mentally. The weight of my cuurent predicament was getting to me. I woke up early on Saturday morning thinking about the many things I've lost and all the things I can't do anymore. I just laid there and cried for about a couple of hours just wishing I could go back to that fateful day and go around that jump. Then I forced myself to think about all the things that I'm thankful for. And it's amazing what a shift in attitude can do for ones perspective. There's many things that I miss, but I also have so many things to be thankful for.

So here's a funny story after all that seriousness. My Mom was dropping me off in Ashland to meet up with some friends. The van was parked on a steep side slope making the ramp steeper than normal. So when I exited I ended up falling forward doubling over at the waist due to the lack of ab muscles. I ended up laying on my arm that was on the controls for my wheel chair. I couldn't push myself up and was headed out of control towards the car parked next to us. Luckily I was able to shift my weight enough to turn the chair. I missed the car, but ended up going around in circles bumping into the curb on each revolution. I made three revolutions before my mom was able to get to me and sit me back up stopping the out of control mayhem that was about to get worse. Afterward we both laughed...it was either that or cry. I'm sure it was quite a sight.

I can't thank all of you enough for all the support, positive thoughts, and prayers.

2009-10-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo of Matt with no neck brace. They spoke with FES bike people today and that ball is rolling! Next update Matt will have a funny story about an exciting exit from the van!

Thanks again to everyone who has offered prayers, food, love, time and energy in working towards Matt's recovery. Keep up the amazing work!

October 13, 2009 Update from Matt

2009-10-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. My goal is to provide an update at least once a week, and if I don't feel free to call me out!

Since the last update I've had visitors from Seattle a couple of weekends, I got stranded in an elevator, my wheel chair died, and I no longer have to wear the neck brace. That's right no more neck brace!!!! It feels great to finally be able to turn my head again after 3 long months.

Therapy is going well. I'm getting stronger and stronger each day. I still have a long ways to go, but there's progress and I'm thankful for it. My left tricep is still weak, but is slowly becoming functional.

Several people have said to me that they're impressed with my positive outlook. My positive outlook is largely due to all of you. Without the love and support I'm not sure I would have made it this far. So thanks!!!!

My spirits remain high and my hope is strong! If I can encourage any of you it would be to get off your butt and go use your legs. Those things are pretty cool. Also let the people know who are dear to you that you appreciate them. Because things can change in an instance!

Keep the faith!

Upcoming Events:

SOU Women's soccer team is playing this Saturday and donating some of the proceeds to me. So check it out!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=140583261019&index=1

PS: Excuse the grammar. No one is editing these for me anymore and I'm just an engineer. :)

September 30, 2009 Update: From Matt

2009-09-30T17:26:00.000-07:00

First, I would to thank everyone for all the support and love. This has been a tough journey and couldn't do it without it.

I recently purchased a van that has made getting out and about much easier (see the photo in the photo section on facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128628567393), which has also helped my psyche immensely. So, needless to say I've been taking full advantage of it. Eventually I'll be able to drive the van myself with only few modifications.

Therapy is going well. I'm getting stronger and stronger each day. I'm looking into acquiring FES Bike that will allow me to exercise my legs using electrical stimulation. Check out the web site see more about it. It's Christopher Reeve used during his therapy.

http://www.restorative-therapies.com/

For you kayakers out there don't forget about the raffle. There's some pretty cool stuff being raffled off.

http://mattthomasraffle.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for all the support.

September 22nd Update: Wow, thank you all so much!

2009-09-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

The following is an update from Matt:

This is starting to sound like a broken record, but there is just so much to be thankful for right now. Truly in the past two and half months I've been floored by all the support and people who have come out of the woodwork to help me. First off I have to thank my mom and dad for being who they are, kind and generous people themselves. I think the turn out for the Scott Valley fundraiser is largely due to them.

The fundraiser was a huge success, an awesome time, and an unbelievable turn out. I had a great time and I was completely blown away! Thanks to everyone that was there, especially Diane Pomeroy for setting this up, organizing it, and growing it from nothing into the most amazing blessing for me. So many people to thank, and still so hard to type, Mark did a great job of capturing some on the website so I'll borrow from there for now. Thank you so much for all the auction items and for all of you bidding on them. This is a huge step for me and hopefully a huge step toward me taking some steps again.

The Siskiyou Daily News captured some of the event really well I think and they promise to have more coverage soon, check out their site and thank them for the coverage!

http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/homepage/x2023997782/-Scott-Valley-loves-the-Thomas-family

We got the minivan and used it to haul me to the fundraiser, it's so much easier than the previous methods of strapping me into someone's car and then loading my wheelchair into a van or truck. Quite a process it used to be, now it's one car and no transfers! I love it, thank you all for making the van possible!

Thanks Brian for coming along to the fundraiser, above and beyond the call of duty, I'm so glad we met you at Providence Hospital you have been a life saver in more ways than one!

Thanks to Mark Peaty for providing the website support for the event and the following summary of the event:

Kudos and thanks to the following individuals and businesses who helped us to quickly organize and successfully host this fundraiser:

A huge thanks to Diane Pomeroy who’s energy and enthusiasm made all of this possible.

Thanks to Bob and Linda Ward for donating food, serving items, utensils, coffee pots, and many more items from their restaurant. Their expertise and experience are really appreciated. We ran out of food, which is an indicator of a good event where many more people showed up than we anticipated, but only because we ordered for 250 not because Bob and Linda didn’t bring enough.

Thanks to Etna Brewery for donating the beer. It was a beautifully clear pilsner with a nice head and a great taste. There were cases of empty wine bottles left so I think the wine sales went well also. I’ll update on who donated the wine.

Thanks to the guys that handled the serving of the drinks.

Thanks to Cliff Munson for his expert auctioneering abilities. He kept the crowd entertained while he gently squeezed just a little bit more out of each bid. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks to the many, many people and high school students who spent most of the day in the park helping to load, unload, carry, and set up the many items that were needed.

Thanks to Dan Kiep for keeping the garbage cans managed and keeping the restrooms clean.

Thanks to Mike Theofanides for placing lighting up in the trees and around the patio.

Thanks to Marion Stealman and the Bluegrass Festival for the loan of the rope lighting.

Thanks to Rick Perkins for the loan of his personal PA system.

Thanks to Corky Small and KSYC 103.9 for creating some public service announcements to help advertise.

Thanks to Daniel Webster and Pioneer Press for all the free press that was given about this cause and event.

Scott Valley and friends greatly exceeded all expectations on their generousity and love for the Thomas family.

by Mark Peaty

September 14th Update: On the river again!

2009-09-14T21:52:00.000-07:00

The Scott Valley Fundraiser is coming up quickly, please let us know if you're coming by getting your Pre-sale tickets from one of the locations below or by calling Diane Pomeroy at (530) 468-2707 or you can always get your tickets at the event:

* Wildwood Crossing and Coffee; Etna
* Scott Valley Florist; Fort Jones
* Bob’s Ranch House Restaurant; Etna
* Fort Jones Hardware; Fort Jones
* Kay Hanley @ Scott River High School (am) & Etna Elementary (pm); Etna
* Diane Pomeroy @ Quartz Valley School
* Mark Peaty @ Scott River High and Etna High School
* Joy Edwards @ SVUSD District Office; Main St., Fort Jones
* Suzy Marshall @ Scott Valley Berean Church; Etna
* Mike Thomas @ Matt’s house in Medford

Fundraiser @ Etna City Park on 9/19
Social hour and silent auction 5:00 p.m.
Complete tri tip BBQ dinner 6:00 p.m.
Dessert and Live auction to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $15 single, $25 couple, $5 children aged 10 or under

Special live music performed by Calico throughout the evening

The following is a message from Matt:
Now for the other good stuff, I went fishing this weekend, Ryan and Red hauled me off and got me into a Ryan's drift boat. I had an awesome time. First time back on the river and not the last either!!

The only disconcerting part was the fact I was strapped into a wheelchair that weighs about 100 lbs, not that it would matter since I couldn't swim right now to save my life, but still it was a little unnerving. Anyway, a blast was had and I can't thank Ryan and Red enough for having me along for the fishing trip and my first float boat ride in a long time!

September 10th Update: Matt drinks from a cup by himself!

2009-09-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

The following is a slightly embellished message from Matt:

For the first time since the accident I drank from a cup all by myself! It wasn't a straw or sippy cup either so there! A huge relief for me and for anyone who eats with me, because now I'm not reliant on asking someone for a drink everytime I want one. Now if I can just figure out how to drink out of a beer bottle by myself; there is always more to achieve around here.

On August 29th I went out to the Britt show to see the Avett Brothers in concert. A big thanks to Judd Hanna who got the tickets and had the idea in the first place. And a huge thank you to Dustin and Eva for the ride, which these days is no small task. Super fun!!

Labor Day weekend my brother and his fiance flew up for a visit from Los Angeles. I spent most of their first day in town at the doctor's office, but we had a good time Friday night drinking Red Truck wine and eating some homemade lasagna from Katie Morris. We sat around talking about how amazingly generous everyone has been and talked about the possibility of getting and FES bike. Neal brought me up to speed on the donations coming through the blog from all sorts of people that have never even met me. I still get choked up at the idea so many people out there care about my situation and have been willing to help.

Saturday night we headed out for my first night on the town in Ashland since the accident. We had some good Italian food at Pasta Piatti and the Allred's joined us there for dinner. After that we headed around the corner to the Paddy Brannan's Irish Pub for my first night out in Ashland. Eric Danson brought along the video camera to capture the first outing for the documentary we're working on. An enormous thank you to my dad for the ride in to town and staying up late to come pick me up again. The scaffolding ramp system into the back of the truck really worked and no got hurt loading and unloading the wheelchair... Oh Lord won't you buy me a wheelchair van (forget the Mercedes Benz)!

Sunday afternoon they loaded me into Beth's car (thank you so much for loaning us your car, the power seat option for the passenger made the whole trip possible) and we headed out to Crater Lake National Park. It was a big weekend for me, two big outings and still no wheelchair van, but we're making it work so I don't go stir crazy at home. The lake was beautiful, but I was really looking forward to getting back home for some pizza and a visit with Danson!

Sunday night we had a good time over pizza and some more Red Truck wine. We had some good laughs at the expense of Kermit the Frog and then Danson shot some video with my brother for the documentary project. Busy weekend all the way around!

Doctor Update: Dr. Alstadt says things look good and half my neck brace was removed. One more month and everything is removed. Woohoo!

Don't forget about Darin's raffle, some awesome kayak gear up for grabs! http://mattthomasraffle.blogspot.com/

There is a big fundraiser going on in Scott Valley September 19th. Some amazing auction items have been coming together for the event, get your tickets now! http://sv4thomasfamily.wordpress.com/

A special thanks to Mark Peaty for putting together the website and to Diane Pomeroy and Palm Malmberg for organizing this event

September 9th Update:

2009-09-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

A very positive and exciting note, the Hoyer hydraulic lift came today so my mom can finally get Matt in and out of bed alone. It will also make transfers in and out of bed for the caregivers easier and safer for Matt too. The most dangerous activity Matt faces each day is the transfer in and out of his wheelchair and bed. Quite a dramatic change from the dangers he faced before the accident, but no less dangerous I can assure you. Matt is still the adrenaline junky he always was, you should see how fast he drives that wheelchair!

Another positive note, Matt began receiving disability payments on an expedited schedule (normally it can take six months to kick in). The bad news is the first month payment was $35 which is all they will give you while you're in the hospital. The next month is going to be around $600, which obviously doesn't cover much when we're spending just $900 a month on home care helpers to take care of Matt every night so my parents can sleep. Basically you get two hour naps all night long with Matt. There are two regular care givers who have been coming pretty regularly, Brian and Tia, they have been life savers. They get paid next to nothing and still come with a smile on their face and help Matt almost every day. This freed up my dad to go back to work and my mom can have a little time for herself again.

If we can get together enough money Matt can get some serious rehab started. Check out this MSNBC story from a few years ago about the FES bike.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11103352/

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 Update:

2009-09-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

THE FOLLOWING IS A MESSAGE FROM MATT~
Sorry for the lag on this update, but things have been busy. Rehab is going well and small gains are realized everyday. It’s a slow and hard process, but good nonetheless. Triceps are gaining strength, but still have a long ways to go. I'm also getting more time in the standing stand (machine that moves my body into a standing position), which is exciting. My bladder has started relieving itself, which has been both inconvenient and exciting at the same time. It’s exciting because it could provide more convenient options for bladder control down the road. I have a Urodynamics test scheduled for Friday so keep your fingers crossed. Oh, I also get my very first enema...the fun never stops.

The Shasta premiere was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who helped me get there and thanks to all who made it down to Shasta Park for the event. There even road bikers who rode 100 miles round trip to be there. Getting down to Shasta was quite the process. First, it took a few people to get me from my wheelchair and into Beth's car. Then, it took a few more people to load my wheelchair into Dustin's van. After figuring this all out, we were finally off to Shasta City, CA! My friend Isaac rode with Beth and I. Isaac is a nurse and also helped recline me in the passenger seat to avoid any skin breakdown. When we arrived, several of my buddies carefully transferred me from the car and back into my wheelchair. It was a pretty cool being on the receiving end of so much love from all my friends! It was so good to get out and the movie was great. Nice work Shon and thanks!

This past weekend, about 70 people in Cincinnati Ohio had a benefit for me at a bar called Monk’s Cove. The benefit was organized by Susan Nolan (Beth’s sister), Joe Crace and the rest of the Nolan family. Aside from Susan and Joe, I have never met the 70 people who attended this event. However, many of them are on this email group and I am blown away by their support and love for a complete stranger. They raised over $1400 during this Happy Hour benefit. I saw photos of the night and it looked like a great time. I’ve never been to Cincinnati, but I have a feeling that they know how to have a good time and sure are a generous group of folks. Thank you Nolan Family and thank you CINCINNATI (I won’t fault you for being Bengal’s fans)!!!

I've been reflecting on the last 6 weeks and all I can say is WOW! The only negative thing is the fact that I'm paralyzed. Never in my life have I felt so much love or witnessed such an outpouring of love. From my boys in Seattle who got me a Kindle (a electronic device that I can download books to so I can read) and who have visited me several times; to the folks in Scott Valley who have brought food and shown their support; to the folks in Cincinnati who threw a fundraiser for someone they have never met before; to my friends in Rogue Valley who have done so much that I can't even begin to list it…I’m truly amazed and overwhelmed. So, from the most sincere part of my heart~ THANK YOU! I would NOT have made it this far without all of YOU!

Love, Matt

2009-08-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, I'm (Neal, Matt's brother) heading up there next week for an in person status update and I'll do a write up of how he's doing. What I've seen from his posts on Facebook is that he's getting a little bit of strength out of his left tricep and that's good news. If he can get his triceps to work he'll be able to shift his own weight and have a little more independence with other activities.

Keep him in your thoughts and prayers for recovery, he still hasn't given up and even though things are not changing a whole lot on a daily basis he's still very positive and thrilled about even the littlest things. His attitude continues to be an example for the rest of us about not letting life's circumstances get you down and to just keep trying no matter what the odds.

Below is a link to a site for those of you in the Scott Valley area or Southern Oregon for an upcoming fundraising event September 19th.

http://sv4thomasfamily.wordpress.com/

by Mark Peaty

Social hour and silent auction 5:00 p.m.

Complete tri tip BBQ dinner 6:00 p.m.

Dessert and Live auction to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $15 single, $25 couple, $5 children aged 10 or under

Special live music performed by Calico throughout the evening

Next organizational meeting: September 9 at 7:00 p.m. taking place at the Fort Jones Community Center

Donations are tax deductible through the Siskiyou Institute 503(c) account.

Friday, August 21, 2009 Update:

2009-08-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

The big movie premiere is tonight in Mt. Shasta, Matt is going to be there, he has transportation in place and even a back up transportation plan. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers for safe travel from Oregon to California.

Thursday, August 20, 2009 Update:
Sorry for the lack of updates this week. Several of us have been busy getting the new house ready for Matt and his parents. We anticipate they will move in on Sunday. Finally, they can say goodbye to the sad little dungeon @ Providence House. Yeah!!

THE FOLLOWING IS A MESSAGE FROM MATT:
Hello everyone. Yesterday, in therapy, I stood up for the 1st time using a crazy sling and brace contraption. The sling holds me up and leg braces keep my knees from buckling under my body weight. I was able to hold 90% of my body weight. The therapists say this is a great start and I was able to do more than what most people can do their first time in this sling. Now, I want to be clear that this does not mean that I have strength or feeling in my legs. However, I am doing new cool stuff, like the standing sling, in therapy and this has been encouraging.

With the help of a wheelchair taxi van, I checked out the new house the other night and it is going to be a million times better than the closet I'm currently living in. It’s bright, open, spacious, and has a spectacular view. I'll miss the parking garage parties, but I think I'll manage ;) And I look forward to having space for friends and family to visit and take in the scenery with me.

I want to send huge thanks to the super motivated work crew that worked very hard to make the new place very homey and inviting! You guys ROCK!!! Now I don't have to live in a van down by the river. ;)

REMINDER!!! This Friday night, the Shasta Boyz will premiere their new kayaking movie as a benefit for yours truly. It starts at 7 at Mt. Shasta City Park. Let's get a HUGE crowd there. I'm going and I'm paralyzed. So what's your excuse? :) That’s what I thought…see you there!

Here is the site to see more about the event: http://sbollock.blogspot.com/

Also, please check out the ad on Craigslist re: my truck for sale….
http://medford.craigslist.org/cto/1326796597.html

Also, a great big thanks to the folks in Scott Valley for meeting this week and organizing a great event fundraiser for me that will take place in September.

….Thomas out!

Sunday, August 16th Update:

2009-08-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

Matt started outpatient therapy on Friday and was thrilled to find out that his favorite therapist has been assigned to work with him 3 days/week. Matt and his new therapist have 2 main therapy goals: 1. to keep his body, head to toes, in the best physical condition as is humanly possible and 2. to strengthen what is working right now so that he can be as independent as possible. Matt's arms continue to get stronger yet he still does not have movement or feeling in his legs. However, he does have a little more sensation in his nipples! This sensation is new and he didn't have the feeling a week ago. So slowly but surely, he is regaining a little more sensation...it's just very slow progress.

Matt's determination and motivation grows more and more each day. Although Matt has some ups and downs, he refuses to be anything other than optimistic. One way he is staying motivated is by finding new ways to be independent. Tonight, Matt took a wheelchair taxi van, by himself, to and from a party at Talent Art Studio, hosted by his friend Gabriel Lipper. It was the first time he had been in a vehicle since the accident. Matt hung out with friends and even modeled for some of the artists as they painted and sketched his portrait (pictures will be posted soon!)

Taking these outings helps Matt maintain a sense of normalcy, which is so very important for him. Other good news: Matt and his family have found a place to live in Medford. They look forward to moving in at the end of this week!

Info re: fundraiser in Scott Valley from Diane Pomeroy:"Scott Valley Loves Matt Thomas" group is having an organizational meeting on Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00 in the Fort Jones Community Hall and are asking interested people from the valley, and also someone from Medford area, to attend to help us plan a fundraiser. We are hoping to have this even on Saturday, September 19 and at this point are asking for donations for an auction. We already have some great things, but could really use some more. And it would be great to get donations from the Medford area as well. Please contact Diane 531-468-2707 to offer suggestions or donations. Thank you

Thursday, August 13th Update:

2009-08-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

Matt’s discharge from the hospital yesterday proved to be, well, a total junk show, (thanks in large part to our wonderful medical system). Matt and his parents moved across the hospital parking lot into the "Providence House." This is temporary housing owned by the hospital that is wheelchair accessible. This housing situation is not ideal. It's small, dark and, well, pretty damn depressing overall. BUT, luckily, it is only temporary until they can find a house that fits their needs. Unfortunately, this is not an easy task as the wheelchair accessible housing options in the Rogue Valley are quite pathetic.

The good news is that his private caregiver will start working with Matt tomorrow morning. This will give his mom and dad a much needed break from being the primary caregivers. Also, he starts outpatient therapy tomorrow. Matt is looking forward to this because the outpatient therapists will work him harder then the previous therapists did. He is excited to enter this next phase of therapy…his goals are to strengthen his arms and continue to move and stretch his lower extremities. Range of motion is key!

Certainly, Matt has had his ups and downs in the last 5 weeks, but all in all, he is simply amazing. How he can laugh at situations when most people (including myself) would want to cry is incredible. Matt has a long road ahead of him but he is still determined as ever and says he could not do this without everyone backing him up and cheering him on. Baby steps.....

If you’d like to support Matt and have a good time doing it, please join Matt and his fabulous friends for a premiere of the new kayaking film (featuring Matt Thomas) shown in Shasta, CA on Friday, August 21st. For more info, check out this link: http://sbollock.blogspot.com/

And for those folks in Cincinnati, please join me (Beth) and the Nolan family for Happy Hour @ Monk’s Cove on Friday, August 28th to raise money for Matt. Check this link for more info! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=121421071465&ref=mf

For all the kayakers and whitewater rafters out there, the wonderful Darin McQuoid has put together a raffle to help raise money for Matt. Please go to the link and buy or a raffle ticket...(or 2, 3, 4) for a chance to win some great gear!!http://mattthomasraffle.blogspot.com/

And last by not least, check out the article on Canoe & Kayak Magazine blog spot re: Matt's injury and how the river community is coming together to support him. very impressive. http://blogs.canoekayak.com/whitewater/the-riverman%e2%80%99s-code/

Tuesday, August 11th Update:

2009-08-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

Roland Stevenson made a video for Matt this weekend and the link is posted below!
http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/z5ADK/hash/8w0bzg5n.swf?v=142125555069&ev=0

Today, Matt's parents visited some different housing options around the valley. For the time being, they have decided to rent an apartment on the hosptial campus until they can find a house that works for them. Matt will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow afternoon and he will begin out patient therapy 3x/per week. Living outside of the hospital will definitely bring a new set of challenges for him and his family. But, it will also be the beginning of new opportunities for Matt and freedom from the confines the hospital rules! Bitter sweet for sure. - Beth

2009-08-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to follow up on Beth's message yesterday about the 1st annual Matt Thomas Benefit raft trip...

Many thanks to everyone who helped out and donated- We raised over $5K with only two weeks of notice to all you busy folks out there! Matt's presence was missed dearly-- we'll try to get something on the calender earlier for next year so we can get a bigger group to do it again with Matt there. Special thanks to Jim Grantland, Dustin and Brandon Knapp, Gene & Peggy Allred, and Tony Smith for the food donations. Todd Gillman, New Belgium Brewing Co., Caldera Brewing Co., and Edenvale Winery for the drinks. Sundown Poachers for the awesome music. And Ken Smith, Jason & Gene Allred, and Anita & Dave Butler for the auction items. Thanks again, and hope to see you there next year. -Kyle

And another thanks to everyone that rafted, it was a great time on the river and a special thanks to Scott Eastman for getting us all together and on and off the river without any injuries. - Neal

Sunday, August 9, 2009 Update:

2009-08-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Adventure Whitewater held the 1st Annual Matt Thomas Rehab Benefit. It was a huge success! 60+ friends and family came down to Paradise Point on the Lower Klamath to show their support for Matt. We danced, ate delicious food and enjoyed the water, weather and beautiful people.

Special thanks to the Allred family for organizing the event and the Sundown Poachers who played for the crowd. The only thing missing was Matt…but he promises to be there next year.

Even though most folks were down on the Klamath River, Matt still had plenty of visitors at the hospital, including his 2 best friends from Seattle. Today, he was given a “get out of jail (hospital)” pass. He cruised down the street to Mucho Gusto for lunch and went to the movie theater this evening. Ahhh, free at last….well, almost. Matt expects to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday. He and his parents are still unsure where they will live while he attends outpatient rehab at Providence. In the meantime, they will most likely stay in the hospital’s extended stay apartments. If anyone knows of wheelchair accessible housing available in the area, please let me know.

Thanks again for your continued love and support…the medical professionals at Providence say they have never seen anything like it. It’s awesome!!!! - Beth

Friday, August 7th, 11am update:

2009-08-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Wednesday evening, a crew of Matt's friends rolled into the hospital with micro brews and pizza in hand. Nevermind "hospital policy", we were on a mission to have a nice, normal evening with our friend Matty. So we followed Matt to his favorite spot on the hospital grounds, (the top of the hospital parking garage) and hung out; just like old times. It was a great night, we all told stories, laughed till we cried and just enjoyed each others company. Check out the photos of our great night...

Thursday August 6th 12PM Update:

2009-08-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

Check out the Mail Tribune article on Matt!

http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090806/LIFE/908060304

Monday, August 3rd @ 11pm Update:

2009-08-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today, Matt was interviewed by the Mail Tribune (the local Medford newspaper). They asked him about the accident, what he’s doing now to rehab, his previous kayaking experiences, etc. They are coming back tomorrow to take photos and then we’ll wait for it to go to print. It will be posted under the “Outdoor” section of the newspaper so keep your eyes out for it! I’ll be sure to add the web link to this group for all you out-of-towners.

Once again, Matt started the week of therapy off on the right track. He is still working on rolling to one side on the therapy mat and hopes to master this task soon. When asked how rehab was today, he responded, “I’m exhausted and that’s a great thing. I’m more motivated [to recover] than ever.” The amount of support Matt is receiving (from every corner of the world) is really sinking in now and he is feeling everyone’s energy and love more strongly than ever. Matt wants to be sure that everyone knows how much he appreciates each one of you and all that you are doing for him and his family….old work partners, schoolmates, boating buddies, friends-of-friends, strangers, and, yes, even the wee-nids….it doesn’t matter because if you are reading this, then you are a friend of Matt’s and he is so very grateful to have you in his court….cheering him on. Thank you!

Monday August 3rd Update:

2009-08-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, totalling up the July donations alone and I'm astounding at the support. This outpouring of support has been an incredible relief especially for my family at a time we were already facing some pretty dark circumstances. To have to worry about money and housing and transportation on top of just getting Matt on the road to recovery would have been overwhelming to say the least without your help. I'm not sure listing your names on a blog is enough to say thank you at all, I'd like to also have you all nominated for saint hood as well.

In all seriousness, I don't think my dad would have survived through July if we hadn't see this incredible response from friends, co-workers, and family. From people who have never met Matt, to those who are some of his closest friends... the response has been no different. Unconditional caring and support in a very trying time. You've allowed us all to focus on Matt's recovery and taken a huge burden off of us both financially and emotionally.

I don't want to simply emphasize the financial matters, but I'm not sure all of you even understand the impact here. My parents make very little money as school teachers in a rural area, and my brother has been unemployed since Thanksgiving. With facing the costs of rehabilitation and relocating to Medford my parents would have been facing some really tough choices in how they would all survive this situation and be able to keep giving Matt the best attention. Thanks to Terry at Providence they were able to expedite both his Social Security Disability paperwork and Medicaid paperwork. Also Matt's previous employer was able to get Matt on to COBRA thanks to a reform measure that was passed in February which extended his eligibility. I know this may be boring to most of you, but I assure you it is nothing short of a miracle that he is on COBRA and this event will be covered by that insurance (well a large portion of it) and Medicaid is kicking in already which will help cover some of the expenses outside of the hospital in getting Matt a accessible place to live and reimbursements for some transportation costs.

While we're still looking at pretty substantial expenses outside of those coverages, the picture has been made less bleak by your donations. Basically what you've allowed is time, every dollar that has come in has bought more time for us to research options, to look for housing, to come up with a plan for recovery and for how to take care of Matt in the interim. There are so many decisions to make and to throw worrying about paying for everything on top of that would be even more overwhelming. Every little bit that comes in is a huge help and allows us freedom to just focus on doing what is best for Matt right now and not worry about money.

I want to make sure everyone knows every cent that comes in (aside from the fees PayPal charges) is going to be put to good use. Part of it is going to the COBRA insurance payments (we only have to cover 35% of that his employer has graciously covered the other 65% through September) and the rest is being saved for other expenses (hopefully his wheelchair van, he really wants some independence and is hoping to get mobile again soon).

There's another fundraising event, the date and time has not yet been set, but keep on the blog and we'll let you know. It's a movie premier (with Matt in some of it kayaking) taking place in early 2010 in Mount Shasta. In the meantime if you're going to attend the Jefferson Sate Rehab Event please RSVP by tomorrow at the latest so we can get a final count especially for the rafting. Dinner we may run out of beer and spaghetti if we don't know how many people are coming, but you're welcome to show up and donate and at least listen to the band even if you don't RSVP.

http://web.me.com/ryanallred/thomasrehab/Home.html

Thank you all again really, amazing support, please keep it coming if you are able it has made a world of difference already! - Neal

Saturday, August 1st, 9am Update:

2009-08-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Matt had a crew of folks from Seattle to Montana to Shasta and, of course, the local valley visit him yesterday. Thanks to Dustin and Eva for bringing dinner. Matt also received an unexpected phone call from a good friend in Australia who is going through a similar situation. He felt very encouraged after hearing about the improvements his friend is making. The love and support is streaming in from all over the place!

Thursday, July 30th Update:

2009-07-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

Matt continues to put everything he has into his therapy sessions. Even on his not-so-good days, he still agrees to get up, get out and bust his butt. Each day, he is still seeing small improvements in his strength and endurance. He's still working on his "roll"...almost there; he just needs a little more strength to land it.

Friends from Montana are coming to see him this weekend, which he is very excited about. Matt loves all his visitors….thank you! Best times to visit in the hospital are M-F, 5:30pm-8:30pm and weekends.

Looks like Matt may discharge from the hospital in a little less than 2 weeks. He and his parents will then move into a home in the Rogue Valley and continue with outpatient therapy. He is looking forward to this change and feels that the outpatient therapy will push him even harder to succeed.

How ironic- seeing the similarities between this current challenge and the challenges he faced in kayaking...both physically and mentally. Needless to say, his kayaking experiences have prepared him well for this new challenge.

***Have you RSVP'd for the State of Jefferson River party in honor of Matt-AUGUST 7-8?!? See you there!

Wednesday July 29th a note from Matt:

2009-07-29T23:22:00.000-07:00

i am overwhelmed with gratitude from all the support. i am scared, but my spirit remains positive thanks to all of you. a special thanks to my family, kyle, everyone who has visited, everyone who has brought me food, everyone who has kept me company during the scarey late hours of the night, and an extra special thanks to beth. her love and support has literally been a life saver. THANK YOU. ~Matt

(p.s.-Matt typed this himself via his new typing device).

A note for Tuesday July 28th from Kyle Allred

2009-07-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Matt's parents Mike and Jeanie have been in the hospital with Matt every day since they rushed home from their trip overseas. They are giving Matt their very best love and support while simultaneously trying to research various items related to his injury. Trying to juggle the two has been exhausting for Mike, Jeanie and brother Neal (though they are not ones to complain about anything). My goal in writing this note is to take as much of the load off Matt's family as possible-- regarding specific things that Matt's support group can help with. Mike has agreed to give me a list of homework assignments that we can do to help out, and I will post them to this site when he does. Many of you are incredibly busy, so these assignments are directed towards folks who have the time to help. If this is you, please "sign up" for one of these assignments using the message board topic "homework assignments" on his facebook support page. Thanks!

First assignments:

1) Matt has agreed to sell his Tundra. It is a 2002 4x4 with high miles about 240,000. He owes about $8900 which is about what it is worth. It runs well, but needs front brakes. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested, or could put it on craigs list for us. The truck is parked in the parking lot at Providence for pictures/ test drives. Mike has the Keys in Matt's room (3010).

2) Could someone do research on vans, etc. for wheel chair use with lifts. Particularly interested in a Dodge Sprinter(they have Mercedes diesel engines so get about twice the mileage of typical vans). Looking for prices, where to get a vehicle outfitted with a lift, etc.

3) Could someone check out "Mobility Unlimited"(its in Medford) and the person's name is Bruce Hoff. it is some kind of charitable outfit for disabled people.

This is the info that I received from Mike-- If you have questions about any of these assignments, you can send me (Kyle Allred) a message, and I'll try to get more info for you about it.

P.S. Thanks for all the recent donations and thanks for the research on Project Walk everyone!

Monday, July 27th, 11pm Update:

2009-07-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

Matt recognizes that he has approximately 3 ½ weeks until he is discharged from the hospital and therefore, every minute in physical therapy counts! Today, he got closer to being able to roll to one side on the therapy mat and his arms are able to hold his body weight for longer period of time. He is also making it a priority to keep his body moving as much as possible when not in a therapy session. Matt’s goal is to make the nurses do range of motion with his arms and legs every chance they get. The more his body moves, the better!

For those of you who to visit Matt, please offer to help him with range of motion. It’s a good skill to learn, easy to do and makes a big difference!

In the last few days, Matt has begun to experience muscle spasms in his legs. This is common for people with spinal cord injures. It does not necessarily mean that he is regaining sensation in his legs. According to the nurses, this only means that he is coming out of “spinal shock”. Interestingly enough, spinal shock often lasts 4- 6 weeks post injury. Matt is only a little over 2 weeks post injury. We don’t have any answers as to why he seems to be “coming out of spinal shock” more quickly than the average person with a spinal cord injury (although, my hunch is that it’s because he’s part-human, part super-hero.) Never the less, we hope it’s a sign that he is healing quickly and pray that sensation will start to return!

From Cincinnati to Idaho to Seattle to Oregon to Southern Cali and beyond….keep spreading love and support to Matt and each other. Send prayers and positive vibes Matt’s way….please focus on Matt’s body regaining sensation and movement….from his head to his toes!

Monday, July 27th, 5pm Update:

2009-07-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Matt's good friend, Joe Jackson, writes for Outside Magazine and did a Q & A with him last week. It was posted today… check it out!
http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2009/07/kayaker-matt-thomas-qa.html#more

July 26th Update: Rehab Costs

2009-07-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all our friends for some great links to rehab programs for spinal cord injury patients. There are a few really good programs out there and a lot of great stories from those programs. I just watched a video on Project Walk's website where a girl with a C5/C6 injury just started taking her first steps after a little over a year in the program. While this is encouraging the program is somewhat costly and not covered by insurance. We're still looking for rehab options and the costs we're seeing seem to range anywhere from $35,000-$50,000 per year for a patient.

With this figure in mind we really need to start focusing our efforts on applying for grants. Your kindness is deeply felt and appreciated!

July 25th Update: Fundraising Event August 7th

2009-07-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

"The Jefferson State Matt Thomas Rehab Trip." We tried to model this fundraiser with Matt’s favorite pastimes in mind; great friends, rivers, music and a good beer in the State of Jefferson. Dinner, live music from the Sundown Poachers, camping, and whitewater rafting are planned for August 7th and 8th at Paradise Point-- a 20 acre campground on the Lower Klamath River.

Full details can be found at:
http://web.me.com/ryanallred/thomasrehab/Home.html

Please RSVP by confirming at the event page attached to this site, emailing mattrehab@gmail.com, sending a facebook message to Kyle Allred, or calling Allegra at 541-261-9369.

Questions can be directed to any of those places as well.

Additionally, if you know anyone who would like to donate food, drinks, raffle items, etc. please use the contact info above! Thanks-
Kyle
______
Today was a good mellow one for Matt. He stayed up a little later than usual last night watching a movie and chatting with friends. But he slept well and caught up on his sleep with a mid afternoon siesta. Matt had a positive morning visit from his surgeon- who on his way out said, "We gotta get Matt in a Kayak again." Matt got a break today from the intense therapy yesterday, and says his left arm is almost pain free now and slowly getting stronger. His inhalation strength continues to improve tremendously and he is taking less pain medication.

Matt continues to be overwhelmed by the wonderful support you all have provided. Matt often checks his lap-top computer to read emails and messages from this group ...They mean a great deal and keep em coming!

The hospital food continues to be less than ideal, so home cooked meals and healthy take-out food are wonderful ways to help. (Bring any extra to Mike and Jeanie since they rarely leave Matt's room).

Continue to support and pray for Mike and Jeanie as they have been so faithful and strong. And big props to Beth for all of her support and giving the daily updates for Facebook and the Blog!

July 24th, 11pm Update:

2009-07-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

Today, Matt’s physical therapists stepped the training up a notch and had him do a variety of new exercises. They also began teaching Matt how to roll his body to one side, prop himself up with his elbow and then to his arm. Although, he needs assistance to do this right now, it’s only a matter of time before he can do it on his own. Learning to do this task is the first step to being able to get himself up and sitting on the side of the bed. As you all know the left arm (tricep) is still very weak, but it is showing small signs of getting stronger each day. Yesterday, he could not lift a 1 pound weight with his left wrist. But, when he attempted this exercise today, he was able to do 4 reps!

Matt is focused on the ultimate goal, but is starting to find the healthy balance between the end goal and making the most of each and every day. In other words, Matt is learning the value of patience.

The future plan (4 weeks away) is for Matt and his parents to rent a wheelchair accessible house in the Rogue Valley and continue Matt’s rehab therapy on an outpatient basis. If anyone has any leads on a house that is available to rent in the Rogue Valley, please let me know. They are open to housing outside of Medford, such as Phoenix or Talent, too. In fact, housing away from the city would be most therapeutic for all of them.

MATT’S INSTRUCTIONS: Matt appreciates everyone’s extra prayers and thoughts directed towards his left tricep. He asked that everyone continue to focus on his tricep; that it gets stronger and stronger each day.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

July 23rd, 9pm Update:

2009-07-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Matt continues to work hard in Rehab and he is making small, but meaningful progress each day. The therapists are focusing on strengthening his arms and keeping his legs and joints flexible. He is able to spend longer amounts of time in the wheelchair each day and enjoys cruising around in the power chair. On Tuesday, he was able to hold 75% of his body weight up with his arms on the mat. Then, on Wednesday, he could hold 100% of his body weight up. The most exciting news to report is that his left tripcep muscle is working. The therapist was able to feel his left tricep muscle react during therapy the other day. Although the muscle is very weak, it’s great to know that it is working....this means a great deal to his recovery and ability into the future.Future Plans: The doctor expects that Matt will remain in the hospital rehab unit for another 4 weeks and then be discharged home with outpatient therapy. Thank you for all putting your energy and thoughts into that tricep!

July 22nd 8:08PM Neal's Update:

2009-07-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

Got to talk to Matt on the phone tonight, he sounds great, so much better than when I left the hospital last. Seeing the pictures of him outside the hospital and smiling has been a real boost for everyone (well at least for me). His voice is more normal than it was, he doesn't sound tired, or strained to talk; he really did sound fantastic! Sensation levels are still about the same, but again the spinal shock (not to be confused with the band Spinal Tap) might take as many as 6 weeks to calm down. Keep your positive thoughts coming and prayers for a speedy and full recovery.

Thank you all again for the donations, they are really helping to ease some of the stress and emotional toll of this whole event. They are allowing us to focus on Matt and his recovery and not the expenses that we need to take care of while we wait for any government assistance to come in (which could take 6-8 months and in some cases 24 months). We've been told his applications for assistance are being expedited thanks in a large part to the hospital staff so we are very grateful for their assistance in this as well. Everyone at Providence Hospital in Medford is doing everything they can to help Matt and get him on his feet. They are definitely a hospital that cares for their patients and we are so blessed that he was brought there.

Keep my parents in your thoughts and prayers as well for the strength to keep up with Matt and his recovery. Thank you all again, your kindness continues to go above and beyond all expectation.

July 20th, 9pm update:

2009-07-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

Well, true to form, Matt Thomas is kicking some serious butt in rehab therapy. He pushed himself hard today and accomplished several new goals: He stayed up in his wheelchair for almost 3 hours, learned how to use his new power wheelchair and held himself up on the therapy mat using his arm strength. And to top it off, he still had enough energy to take a little evening stroll outside the hospital via his new power wheelchair. Tonight was the first time Matt has been outside since the accident. Yeah, FREEDOM!!!

The power wheelchair will be a huge benefit to Matt. It allows him more independence and dignity.

The rehab therapists say that Matt is ahead of the game and making strides. They explained that most patients need to build up their muscle before the therapists can really start to work with them. But since Matt is a young, strong guy with great upper body strength; they are able to start right in with the hard stuff.

Matt can’t thank you all enough for your continued love and support. He wants to be sure that you all know,”you are all freaking awesome!”

July 19, 10pm Update:

2009-07-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Another great night of sleep for Matt on Saturday night (thanks Tommy G.) ....yeah! Today, he had a break from therapy and spent a nice mellow Sunday with his parents and family friends. Tomorrow, it's back to working with therapy, which is tiring but he looks forward to it. For those of you who may not know, Matt is a very accomplished kayaker. His good friend and kayaking buddy, Darin McQuoid, recently posted incredible photos of Matt running crazy whitewater and waterfalls that would make most people cry. To view these impressive photos, please go to: http://darinm.blogspot.com/

Enjoy and thanks for your continued support….and special thanks to all those who have donated to Matt's support fund or added Matt to prayer circles and church services and to those of you who do not know Matt personally, but are praying for him and his family.

July 18, 8pm Update:

2009-07-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks, in part, to a delicious home cooked meal and the addition of an air mattress on his bed, Matt had his best night of sleep yet. He was able to sleep almost the entire night. He woke up feeling refreshed and ready for therapy. Therapy is going well, but it will be a slow process. Matt is giving 100% to his rehab sessions...he remains positive and optimistic.The air mattress on his bed will assist in preventing skin breakdown (imperative for someone who cannot move in bed).

The next step is to improve Matt's nutritional intake- also a key component for recovery. The hospital food is sub-par, at best...home cooked meals seem to really hit the spot. Food (especially home cooked) feeds the body and spirit. So, if anyone in town is interested in cooking a meal for Matt and his family, please let me know! eanolan@hotmail.com

Thank you, thank you!

J uly 16th, 11pm Update:

2009-07-17T07:25:00.001-07:00

Today, Matt was able to complete 3 hours of therapy in one day. As a result, he was officially admitted into the Providence Rehab Program. This means that his medical care will be transferred from the surgeon to the Medical Director of Rehab. This new doctor is well known as being THE best Rehab physician in the valley. She is well respected by the medical community and has a very skilled and knowledgeable team of therapists. This program transfer also means that Matt's days of lounging around the hospital will be no more ;). The therapy routine is very intense and, as Matt said, "The therapists might look all nice and cute, but they're hard asses!"

Needless to say, they will work him to his max each day. So, every solid night of sleep he gets and restful nap he catches during the day, will help to enhance the effectiveness of his therapy sessions…which leads to better recovery.

MATT’S INSTRUCTIONS:
Strength, endurance, determination and the will, attitude and stubbornness to keep pushing himself beyond what is known to be possible are all traits that Matt possesses. But on the really tough days ahead, he may need some reminding. Over the next several months, please help remind Matt of why we love him so much and that ANYTHING in life is possible. Thank you for continuing to hold Matt in your hearts and sending great vibes to his pinkies! It truly makes a world of difference.

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
~Charles R. Swindoll

July 17, 2009, 12am Update:

2009-07-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Matt’s restless nights tend to make for some frustrating mornings. But, despite the lack of consistent, continuous sleep as of late, he always manages to end the day on a positive note….especially when his favorite nurses, Brian and Antonio, work with him. Tonight, he is listening to a guided meditation and imagery CD in hopes that it helps him to relax and sleep soundly. (Needless to say, this will be a first for Matt!)

Some things to mention:
1. The number of people visiting Matt each day is wonderful and really lifts his spirits. Matt is a “people person” and it’s important that he connect with you. Your support helps to recharge his batteries. However, the nurses have requested that visitors say their evening goodbyes by 8:30pm. The hope is that he can quite down earlier and have a better chance for restful sleep at night. Thanks for your help with keeping Matt on the nurse’s good side! ;)

2. Currently, Matt and his family do not have the time to research “spinal cord injuries”. If anyone has information regarding contacts, resources, technological advances in stem cell research, treatment options, recovery stories, etc., please send it my way! Finding out about other options, new technologies or success stories serves as a great comfort and support to them.

If you have any information you’d like to share with them or some time to do some research that would be wonderful. You can email the info to me or add it as a link to this group. Sharing this information with the group could be of great benefit to all of us. Knowledge is power!

Good night. Rest well.

July 15th 11PM Update:

2009-07-15T23:13:00.000-07:00

After a restless, sleepless Tuesday night, Matt took a short nap and then rallied to have a great therapy session. Although the day didn't start out very good, it ended well and he is expecting to have a great night sleep. His buddy, Pete, is staying with him in the hospital tonight. Having someone stay with him at night is the key to Matt’s peace of mind and comfort. Thanks to all who have volunteered to help. If anyone would like to volunteer, let us know by emailing mattnevergivesup@gmail.com

As for his health, his vital signs remain stable, lungs are clear and O2 saturation levels are within range on room air. His right arm is still stronger than his left. No changes regarding the feeling in his chest. It is likely that the physical and occupational therapy will be the most exhausting and strenuous experience his body has ever been through. So rest will be crucial during this time.

MATT'S INSTRUCTIONS: Continue putting positive thoughts and prayers out there! Feel free to use your creative flair...cheers, chants, songs, pictures, poems or whatever else you can think of to get his LEFT TRICEP moving and help push him through the rigorous therapy sessions. Please note the new blog spot listed now has links to see some of Matt's crazy kayaking adventures. Also, there is a place to donate money to help Matt and his family pay for medical equipment and nursing services, now and in the future. Matt's road to recovery might be a long one, but it's lined with beautiful people cheering him on. You all give him a tremendous amount of strength. Thank you, thank you!

July 14th 10PM Update:

2009-07-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you for praying and breathing deeply with Matt yesterday. All of his hard work and yours made a world of difference. He is off oxygen and all IV fluids and his lungs are clear. Because of this improvement, he was released from the CCU and transferred to the Inpatient Rehab Unit at 6pm this evening. He will begin intense physical and occupational therapy tomorrow. Matt's "fan club" continues to stream into the hospital. So many folks have come to visit, that the hospital made sure Matt got the biggest room on the rehab floor. At one point this evening, there were 20 friends visiting in his room.Matt's spirits remain strong and he has never once complained about the situation he is in....what an amazing human being and an inspiration to all of us. Personally, I am blown away by his courage and optimism. Matt is so grateful for all of his friends, family and even strangers who are holding him in their hearts. Every evening, we read the latest posts on this facebook group. Your kind words and support gets him all choked up. He is still "shocked" by all of the support streaming in; the visitors, cards, food, long drives to the hospital, FB posts, etc. You are all wonderful, loving friends. Matt and his family say "thank you, thank you, thank you".

MATT'S INSTRUCTIONS:Since his lungs are looking so good, Matt has asked that we concentrate on helping him to regain strength in his LEFT TRICEP. If he can get the strength back in his left arm, then therapy will be alot easier and he will be able to do more things for himself. With much gratitude,Beth

July 13th. 9am Update:

2009-07-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning. Last night was a little rough for Matt due to pain and the uncomfortable C-Pap mask he has to wear which helps to maintain his lung function. They finally managed to make him comfortable around 3am and he slept for a solid 3 hours after that. The good new of the morning is that the neuro checks showed improvements from what they were on Sunday morning! Matt held his left arm in the air for 8 seconds, which is 5 seconds longer than he did on Sunday morning. Also, he has more feeling in his chest region. The nurse was very excited about this!! The goal for today is to work his lungs to that he can avoid developing pneumonia. Pneumonia would be a big set back and would guarantee a longer stay in the CCU.

***MATT'S INSTRUCTIONS: Today, please focus your efforts, prayers and energy on giving Matt the strength to cough and breathe fully and deeply. Pray for clear looking lungs on the next x-ray. The sooner he gets out of the CCU and into the Inpatient Rehab Unit the better!Matt's nurses and therapists have been outstanding. He is in good hands. Thanks to all who visited this weekend, especially those of you from out-of-town. MATT'S QUOTE FOR THE DAY: "I can feel the love and it's strong." [Referring to everyone's prayers, thoughts, visits, cards, emails, etc.]

July 12, 2:45pm Update:

2009-07-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Although Matt had a good night sleep, he has been very exhausted today. The Occupational Therapist worked with him and the doc stopped by. No new changes to report and unfortunately, we have not seen any movement in his fingers, like the nurse said earlier. They are watching his lungs closely and making sure he practices coughing and does his lung exercises every hour. His parents just arrived...they will be having some much needed family time now.I'm learning that this whole experience will be a long process with many ups and downs. We will embrace the good moments and stand by him during the not so good moments. Thanks for your continued love. You are amazing support.~Beth

July 12, 2009, 6am Update:
Matt had a great night. He slept very well and his lung function has improved. Also, just in the last 12 hours, his left arm has gained more strength AND he can now move some fingers on his right hand!! His mom and dad will arrive today (they were in Greece when the accident happened) and his good friend RT, from Seattle, is flying in today...Matt is VERY excited.Matt sends his love. Be encouraged and be happy....he is doing great.

July 11, 2009 Update:

2009-07-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

Matt's Quote today: "I'm going to recover 100% and I'm not going to stop until I do." (That's our Matty!)Today was a good day! Matt's pain was under control, he drank alot of fluids (he especially loves fruit smoothies from the Co-op) and ate a little too. The movement in his arms are getting stonger and more controlled. Although, he still cannot feel anything below his nipples; he has regained a little more feeling in his fingers. This is HUGE and we are all celebrating the little victories.Matt's spirit remains strong and continues to think only positive thougths. Friends and family continue to stream into the ICU to visit Matt. He is "overwhelmed with all of the support."

*INSTRUCTIONS FROM MATT: Matt has asked that we all focus our energy, thoughts and prayers on specific goals in order to create a more powerful, unified voice/energy.For now, he would like us to send healing energy directly to the effected part of his spinal cord (@ C6/C7) and send positive thoughts to his pinkie fingers. His goal is to feel his pinkie fingers in the next day or so. Matt might not be able to feel his legs right now, but he can feel our love....so thank you and keep it comin'!

July 10, 2009 Update: Specifics of the Accident

2009-07-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

Matt was mountain biking in Southern Oregon with friends yesterday. He attempted a new jump, went over his handlebars and landed on the back of his neck. As a result, he fractured and dislocated his C6/C7 vertebrae. He had emergency surgery @ Providence Hospital in Medford Oregon. He is currently in the ICU and will begin working with physical therapy today.At this time, he does not have feeling/movement from the chest, down to his legs. However, Matt is showing small signs of improvment in his arms. Last night Matt could only move his right arm. This morning, he was able to almost fully extend his left arm too. Matt is encouraged by these small improvement!Matt is determined to recover and his spirit is strong and healthy. He is grateful for all his loving friends and family....both near and far.Matt's quote from last night: "Life is precious, it can change in an instant. But I'm alive and life is good."