Hello,

One of our own OFR members is in need of financial help. Matt Boutelle, the owner of MSI in Santa Ana, California has had life altering health issues and he can no longer provide for himself and his family. Two years ago, Matt had a cerebral stroke brought on by a bleeding ulcer. While in the shower Matt lost 7 pints of blood passed out and his life was saved by paramedics. The resulting cerebral stroke has left Matt bed ridden and unable to work.

The cerebellum controls balance and blood pressure and is why Matt has vertigo symptoms 24/7 and blood pressure that can fluctuate from 60/40 to 220/150 in an hour. To stabilize Matt’s blood pressure doctors give him a drug cocktail every day that basically freezes Matt’s ability to think cognitively. Matt is confined to his condo that he shares with his wife and son Jack. The stroke also has affected Matt’s vision and he has had 6 eye surgeries. Most of them successful and Matt now has 70% vision in his one good eye.

Through all this Matt still has his trademark smile and positive attitude. If there were a picture in the dictionary of positive attitude it would be the picture of Matt that you see here. Every time that I talk to Matt, he tells me it feels great to be alive. Matt has learned to appreciate the little things in his new reality. When he wakes, he turns on the bedside coffee pot and enjoys 2 cups of leaded coffee every morning. Then before he gets drugged it is time to communicate via text and phone with family and friends. Matt’s mind has not been affected by the stroke and is sharp as ever. He is always asking me if I have a project in California that he can help me with.

One day Matt was running a multi-million-dollar business and the next day his life changed forever. His brother Tony is doing all he can to keep Matt out of an adult care facility because Matt desperately wants to stay in his condo with his family. However, Matt’s savings are running low and social security payments are not enough to keep Matt at home in his condo long term. So, we have started a Go Fund Me page in Matt’s name to keep him in his condo forever. The GO Fund Me ask will go out to the OFR world along with hundreds of Matt’s friends in Southern California.

Our OFR goal is to raise $30,000 for Matt this week. We couldn’t offer a Charity last year so please open your hearts and your wallets to support one of our own… Matt Boutelle.

Thanks in advance for your donations,

OFR Committee