Matthew

I still remember the phone call like it was yesterday. It was a Sunday morning and I was just waking up. I will still pregnant with Lane at this point. My mom called and from the moment I heard her voice I knew something was wrong. She said Matthew had been in a really bad 4-wheeler wreck. Tears filled my eyes and the only words I could form was is he ok. Her answer...we don't know. He is unconscious and in Erlanger Hospital with a brain injury. The next few moments are all a blur. It was like my whole world shook and just stood still. I remember mom telling me not to get to worked up and to just pray. She was so worried about telling me because I was pregnant but she knew that I had to know. Matthew has always been such an important part of my life and more like a brother than a cousin. We grew up always playing together and spending time at his house. I remember always having my Grandfather take me over there to play. As we got older I would always go watch him play ball where ever he was playing and I was always so proud of him and his accomplishments. Matthew was a star at any sport he attempted but excelled most at baseball. He received a pitching scholarship to Jacksonville State. Even with the distance between us Matthew would always call me randomly to say hi and see how I was doing. And when he would play ball close to where I was living in Ft. Campbell he would call so I could go watch him. The night before Aaron and I left for Alaska we got together with Matthew and some of my other family and ate at Olive Garden. He gave me one of his big bear hugs before leaving and that was the last time I had seen him. It had almost been a year. I felt so helpless being so far away. All I wanted to do was go home. Aaron had been downstairs while I talked to my mom and as I was getting off the phone he came in the room. I lost it. The next few weeks were filled with prayer and begging God to heal him. On the 3rd day after the accident Matthew had to have surgery to remove part of his skull to make room for his swelling brain. At one point the doctors said they had done all they could do. His mom, dad, and sister spent what the doctors thought would be his last night with him but little did they know...God had a miracle in store for Matthew. Matthew pulled through that night, and the next, and next. Now a year and almost 3 months later...Matthew is still pulling through. It has been a rough road with many discouraging moments but also full of hope. There has not been one moment that I have doubted Matthew's healing. I just can't imagine my life without Matthew and I refuse to do so. As Matthew healed the doctors decided to replace the piece of bone in his skull that was removed not long after the accident. They were using the actual piece of bone that was removed which had been saved for this very surgery. A while after this surgery his mom and dad noticed that things were just not right. Matthew had developed a really bad infection in his brain so the piece had to be removed. Matthew had made what we felt like was a lot of progress but after this infection he lost a lot of weight and basically had to start his rehab over. As of now, he has been measured for a synthetic bone piece to be placed. This piece has been approved by the doctor and we are just waiting for the surgery date. At this surgery Matthew's shunt will be changed out as well as the placement of the bone piece. Another big problem Matthew has had is congestion which has brought on by the ARDS he has developed. Matthew lungs have gone through a lot and at one point he had two tubes in each lung. You can just tell that all this congestion and coughing makes him feel bad. When I went home to visit in August I finally got to see him for the first time since his accident. As good as it was to see him, it hurt just as much. Seeing someone you love so much unable to do all the things they used to do is heartbreaking. But through it all you could see the Matthew I know inside. Matthew loves kids and the whole time I was around him he would watch the boys play. He would just look at me like he wanted to tell me something but couldn't. I can't imagine how hard it is for him.

Matthew is working hard to regain his life. We all know that the road ahead is really long and it will be full of trials. But it's a road that we all know Matthew is strong enough to make. Matthew has made it this far and with God's help he will make a full recovery. Matthew response yes and no with eye blinks. He has begun raising one of his arms. Ironically, the first time he did this...he was holding a ball and when he raised his arm it was almost like he was trying to throw the ball...which went rolling across the floor. Matthew has finally started holding his head up a little more. He was doing this really well until the infection but he is regaining more and more of his strength. There are so many people out there praying for Matthew but we need more. Matthew's story is a miracle in the making and we all feel that God is using Matthew to show just how wonderful He his and that nothing is beyond His reach. I ask that all of you remember Matthew when you pray and please say a special prayer for his congestion and this next surgery he is about to under go. Also remember his parents, Pam and Jim, his sister, Paige, and all of his other caregivers. I just can't wait to see his big smile and hear his laugh. I miss him so much. I will keep you posted with his progress. Remember...Matthew 19:26..."With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."