Matt 'Noidy' Lehmann
Donation protected
Matt will be so embarrassed at the thought of this being done, however we feel as though it's time people helped him instead of him helping everyone else.
Matt started playing rugby league with Valley United Spartans at age 19 in 1993 and played pretty much right through until 2009 where at 35, Matt thought he was too old. In 2010 Matt returned for 1 last game to help out the reserve grade side with numbers but realised he may be passed it. He then walked away from park footy.
A family man of 5 kids (2 of his own, 3 step children) and ex police officer, Matt goes above and beyond for everyone around him, always willing to help out where he can. At the ripe age of 44 in August 2018, Matt decided help out the Valley United Spartans A-Grade team in the local rugby league competition.
After a whirlwind of a year and huge life-changing decision of leaving the NSW police force due to suffering from severe PTSD, Matt thought he could take his mind off everyday life to kick the footy around and help out his mates.
This resulted in a very innocuous collision with an opposing player – no foul play, just pure bad luck. Matt suffered a severe crush trauma to his throat and as a result, he could not breathe. He was rushed to Mona Vale Hospital, heavily sedated, restrained and intubated, then air lifted by Air Ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital where he spent 5 days in ICU and underwent a surgical procedure where a tracheostomy was placed in his neck to allow him to breathe on his own.
Matt and his family were told that he would have the tracheostomy in for 2 months whilst awaiting fractures in his cricoid cartilages to repair and his nerves in his voice box return to normal. Fast forward 4 months later and unfortunately there has been no improvement and no healing. Matt was told from his doctors in Sydney that there wasn’t really a way around this and best case scenario would result in having one of his vocal cords removed which in turn would mean having little to no voice.
Matt and his wife Rochelle were not going to settle for this and after some extensive research found a vocal cord specialist based in Brisbane. After a trip up to Brisbane, he was able to arrange an operation in January 2019 to remove his tracheostomy and only part of his vocal cord – which means he will have a voice. Rehab in Brisbane will be approximately 10 days.
Unfortunately, the league’s insurance is not covering anything and this doctor is the only one in Australia who will operate on Matt, therefore costs for Rochelle and Matt are adding up – flights and accommodation in Brisbane as well as medical expenses for the operation and then rehabilitation – Especially being so close to Christmas!
We want to help Matt and Rochelle out through this tough period, even if it is to assist with the flights and accommodation in Brisbane, in order for Matt to be back to living a normal life with his friends and family.
Matt started playing rugby league with Valley United Spartans at age 19 in 1993 and played pretty much right through until 2009 where at 35, Matt thought he was too old. In 2010 Matt returned for 1 last game to help out the reserve grade side with numbers but realised he may be passed it. He then walked away from park footy.
A family man of 5 kids (2 of his own, 3 step children) and ex police officer, Matt goes above and beyond for everyone around him, always willing to help out where he can. At the ripe age of 44 in August 2018, Matt decided help out the Valley United Spartans A-Grade team in the local rugby league competition.
After a whirlwind of a year and huge life-changing decision of leaving the NSW police force due to suffering from severe PTSD, Matt thought he could take his mind off everyday life to kick the footy around and help out his mates.
This resulted in a very innocuous collision with an opposing player – no foul play, just pure bad luck. Matt suffered a severe crush trauma to his throat and as a result, he could not breathe. He was rushed to Mona Vale Hospital, heavily sedated, restrained and intubated, then air lifted by Air Ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital where he spent 5 days in ICU and underwent a surgical procedure where a tracheostomy was placed in his neck to allow him to breathe on his own.
Matt and his family were told that he would have the tracheostomy in for 2 months whilst awaiting fractures in his cricoid cartilages to repair and his nerves in his voice box return to normal. Fast forward 4 months later and unfortunately there has been no improvement and no healing. Matt was told from his doctors in Sydney that there wasn’t really a way around this and best case scenario would result in having one of his vocal cords removed which in turn would mean having little to no voice.
Matt and his wife Rochelle were not going to settle for this and after some extensive research found a vocal cord specialist based in Brisbane. After a trip up to Brisbane, he was able to arrange an operation in January 2019 to remove his tracheostomy and only part of his vocal cord – which means he will have a voice. Rehab in Brisbane will be approximately 10 days.
Unfortunately, the league’s insurance is not covering anything and this doctor is the only one in Australia who will operate on Matt, therefore costs for Rochelle and Matt are adding up – flights and accommodation in Brisbane as well as medical expenses for the operation and then rehabilitation – Especially being so close to Christmas!
We want to help Matt and Rochelle out through this tough period, even if it is to assist with the flights and accommodation in Brisbane, in order for Matt to be back to living a normal life with his friends and family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Chloe Whitfield
Organizer
Rochelle Lehmann
Beneficiary