Much Needed Support for Matthew and His Family

Hello friends and family. It has been a while since I've spoken or reached out to most of you. The reason I am reaching out for help today is because I have had some unfortunate events happen over the past few months.

On November 20, 2023, I was walking in a parking lot to my car and collapsed with no warning. I was unable to get myself off the ground and had to have two bystanders pick me up and help me in my car. I was in complete shock, and I had no clue what was happening. Thankfully I was able to drive home. Once I got home, I decided that if I could walk from my car into my house and make it to my living room to gather myself, I would hopefully be fine. After walking a few feet from my garage into my house, I collapsed again causing severe damage to my knees and hitting my head on the tile floor. The fall happened directly in front of my 6-year-old daughter, Aspen. She was truly traumatized. After hours of laying on the floor, I decided I was not going to be able to get up, so I called an ambulance to get me. That was the beginning of the long process of me being in multiple hospitals for over the next 4 months including losing use of my legs and developing severe impairment in my hands.

I spent approximately 4 months in different hospitals and rehab units and had undergone every test that doctors could think of including several MRIs, x-rays, CAT scans, spinal taps, muscle biopsies, and nerve tests. An infectious disease doctor was able to diagnose me with severe septic arthritis in my spine. This was first thought to be the cause of all my neurologic issues. After 6 weeks of being on IV antibiotics and clearing up the infection in my spine, I had not gained any additional use back in my legs or hands. The doctor concluded that the cause must be something else other than the infection. It has been over 5 months, and I do not have an answer as to why I can no longer stand up, walk, or use my hands normally.

I was released from the hospital on March 6th, which I was looking forward to very much. After returning home, I realized that the transition back home was not going to be easy. Unfortunately, my home is two stories and all the bedrooms and bathrooms with showers are upstairs. I am unable to access the second floor. I currently have a hospital bed set up in our living room, and I must have support with bed baths for cleanliness. I am working with a home health care service for physical therapy, but I am very much in need of intense outpatient physical therapy to help me strengthen my legs and hands to one day be fully functional again.

On top of everything, I have not been able to work. This has put tremendous stress on my wonderful wife, Maria to support our family on her own. This has also severely affected my daughter Aspen, and she is receiving the help she needs. Now that I am out of the hospital, I have piles of bills coming in from the past few months. I am not able to work until I get better, and I am unsure of how long my recovery will take. I have filed for disability, but I have been told it can take up to one year for me to find out if I am approved or not. Until then, Maria will continue to be our sole provider for our family. Maria has truly been a blessing for me, and I do not know what I would do without her. Unfortunately, all of this has put a tremendous amount of financial and emotional stress on our whole family.

I am not the type of person that reaches out to ask for help. Due to the severe circumstances that my family is going through, I am sincerely asking my friends and family for any assistance they might be able to provide, no matter how small it might be. Anything will help and would be greatly appreciated.

If you cannot give financially, please keep Maria, Aspen, and I in your prayers asking God to help us get through this.

I am praying that God will direct me to the right doctor who will be able to diagnose me, treat me, and get me back to normal, physically, and mentally. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and I love each and every one of you.

God Bless,

Matthew, Maria, and Aspen