LCpl. Matthew was injured by an IED in Iraq in January 2007. He lost both of his legs, his eyesight, has internal & shrapnel injuries and broken bones. Matthew as been keeping busy with physical therapy and learning braille letters.
Update Fall 2007 Matt has started standing/walking on his new legs and has even done a few stairs. He is also adept at scaling the climbing wall used for therapy and President Bush was able to watch him do it. Ooh Rah Matt!
Update : Feb 2008 Matt reports his eye is about as good as it's going to get, which is not good, but he is now walking more using only canes. That's a huge accomplishment. He says he's working hard. We know that Matt!
Update: 3/4/08 Matt was interviewed for an episode of "Celebrity Apprentice" and says it should air either March 11 or 13. It's wonderful that people are making our heroes visible. 3/11/08 Matt's Mom says the showing has been rescheduled for March 27.
Update 7/11/08 Matt's latest posting. "Hello everyone! I know it has been awhile since I signed in last and I am sorry about that. We have been travelling and visiting friends. We went to Bethesda to visit friends and really had a great time. We also stopped by the VA in Richmond to visit the doctors and nurses there. Dr. McNamee walked with me all over to visit. Now we are back home for the remaining visit. Courtney is here to visit with us. I hope that everyone had a great 4th. We spent the day with family, eating and swimming(when it wasn't raining). It has been a good trip. I will be heading to Chicago when we get back to Texas. It may be awhile before I can sign on, but I will keep mom updated so that she can update for you. I hope everyone has a great day and I will be back on later. Thanks for all the concerns and prayers. Everyone take care. Matt"
Update 9/12/08 from Matt: Hello everyone! Today was a good day, we have had good weather. Dad flew in for the family program at this center for learning independence. Seven more days for this part of therapy. The past month has gone by fast. I will be back here for more computer training in October. Thanks for all your prayers and concerns. Talk to you later. Matt
Update: 2/10/2009 from recent postings by Matt..."Hello everyone! Today was the nerve testing. Everything seems to be okay. Nerves are a little weak in the right arm, but there is still enough there to be okay. The sight is still the same. Still seeing some shadows. Everything there still looks good. I am in training for the Death March at the end of March. That is a 26 mile walk in the desert. I am walking everywhere that I can and am usually on them all day. They are becoming a second nature to me. I hardly ever use the wheel chair. Today I did a 3 mile walk. My legs were a little sore.
We have been going through all the cards and letters that have been sent the past 2 years and it is amazing how far I have come so quick. Extra special thanks for everything from all of you. With all your prayers, concerns and friendship, I can be all that I can be. Thank you each and every one. Matt"
Update 4/5/2009 Matt has been very busy. He is going through the Med Board process and it is very time consuming and exhausting. His attitude continues to be fabulous however. That's our Matt!
He trained and participated in the yearly re-creation of the Bataan Death March - a 26 mile tribute (the actual one was 60 miles) to those who had to do it in WWII. He trained by walking 3 miles at a time and on different surfaces so he could give it his best shot. He completed 10 miles and said he could have gone further but the gravel surface he encountered was just too much for him. BUT, he's already planning to do at least 15 miles next year and will get more practice with gravel.
He also specifically pointed out...."I would like to thank you for all the cards and letters from Marine Parents and everyone else. Also thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and concerns." His Mom also says... "Thanks for all your prayers. He has come a long way from last year. With all your prayers and concerns, next year he will be a lot farther ahead. Thank you each and everyone."
You are helping this brave Marine keep going.
Update 5/10/2009 from Matt: "I want to wish all the moms a very Happy Mother's Day. Thanks for all your support and prayers. I hope that everyone has a good week and has had a good weekend."
How cute is that?!?
We Moms all love you Matt, just as if you were our own!
Update 7/20/09 from Matt: "Hello everyone! It has been a very busy weekend. On Friday, Hope for the Warriors and some of New Yorks Firemen came down and took some the wounded to the Texas Rangers ballgame. We were invited to join the players on the field where we all introduced and got autographs. Friday night, we went to eat and then on to Cowboys. Several of my Marine buddies joined us there, where I actually rode the mechanical bull, not once, but twice. I hope everyone has had a good weekend and will have a great week coming up. I also want to thank everyone for all the prayers, cards and letters. My family has really grown over the last 2 years. You all are amazing with your friendship and love. Talk to everyone later." You are amazing to us, and we wish you all the best, Matt!
Update 9/11/09 Matt recently posted on his site that sadly, his Grandfather passed away in August. His mother suffered a heart attack but is okay, and fortunately she was released from the hospital and felt well enough to go on a trip with Matt to Montana. Their trip turned out great and his mother is doing much better now. He also moved into a house with a pool, just about has all the boxes unpacked, and soon he will enjoy that pool. He can't wait to get into it!! Matt said that he will still be going to the hospital regularly for therapy and treatments but it will be nice to have a place where he and his Mom can be family again. Please continue to lift up Matt and his Mom for continued healing and strength.
Update: December 20, 2009 Matt has been doing regular updates and has much to report. He was in Wash DC and completed the Marine Corps Marathon on his hand-cycle. He travels as a representative of the Marine Corps wounded and was recently awarded "Marine of the Year" by the USO at a banquet where all the stars there wanted to be seen with him!
Update: December 24, 2009 Matt has received his Christmas cards because in his words - "Hello everyone! Just wanted to thank everyone for all their concerns and prayers. I also would like to thank you for all your cards and letters. I hope that everyone has a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.
Matt"
Update: Jan 18, 2010 from Matt: "Hello everyone! As you all probably already know, tomorrow is my 3 year Alive Day. It's hard to believe that it has been 3 years already. Started off a little rough, but the last 2 1/2 years were great! God put mountains on this earth so we can learn how to climb them. So for the last 3 years, I have nearly made it to the top. Your support and prayers are always there to cheer me on. I might not get to meet everyone, but I want to thank each and everyone for staying in touch. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns."
Update: 3/21/2010 from Matt:
"Hello everyone! Sorry that it has been awhile, but I have been busy. (We'd love to know how he's doing all this. His guides must be awesome!) Getting the new truck. I got to go hunting this past weekend and actually killed a doe. She was a pretty good size. I have been invited back to New York so will be traveling again. I hope that everyone had a Happy Valentine's Day. I want to thank you all for the prayers and concerns. I hope you all have a good night and a good week. I will be talking to you later. Matt"
Update: 4/6/2010 from Matt: When Matt has updates, he REALLY has updates! He's been travelling a lot but the big news is that he re-enlisted and was promoted to Corporal on April 1st.(which he notes is NOT an April Fool's Joke!) He hopes everyone had a Happy Easter and thanks all for the prayers and good wishes but especially for your friendships.
He is such a sweetie.
Update: 4/13/2010 Here is a news article we posted today in the news room
http://www.marine-corps-news.com/2010/04/blind_marine_reenlists.htmUpdate: 6/8/2010 When we reported that Matt participated in the Marine Corps Marathon on a hand cycle, did you wonder how on earth he did that? So did we. Since then we have come across this interesting information.
Matt was escorted through the course by five other Hope For The Warriors™ team members on hand cycles, four of whom are also USMC wounded warriors. One of those wounded warriors is none other than our former OperationPAL™ Eric.
Although the team originally planned on guiding Matt via headset, that plan changed when they realized that he uses his hearing to compensate for vision loss and so putting headsets on Matt would be like blindfolding him.
Matt's training mostly revolved around weekly rides at the Medical Center with a squad leader on the Marine Patient Affairs Team. They had their share of bumps and wrecks while learning communication signals, but every time something would happen, Matt would just get back on the cycle.
Matt and the team faced many difficulties on the marathon course, especially where the course was crowded and loud. They finished in just under five hours. "You believe, you can achieve," he says. "It's about how far I've come. It's another way to prove to people that anyone can do it."
And by the way, Matt's hand cycle was donated by the New York City Fire Department. OohRah to the NYFD!
Matt is moving this week to start his new assignment and we hope everything goes well. He has a lot ahead of him, working with newly wounded warriors, and he'll be great at it.
Update: 7/22/2010 The Corporal has re-surfaced and is now settled into his new place. He says "Hello everyone! I am sorry that it has been so long. I am actually back at work. The job is going good and the house is being put in order." His travel schedule with his new job should be not as hectic as it was when he was a recovering patient. (That sounds backwards, doesn't it?:) He also says..."I want to thank everyone for all their prayers and concerns. We are finally starting a new chapter in life thanks to all of you and your prayers."
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Date added to program: 2/4/2007
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