My name is Lara Baxter. On June 12th, 2024, I received a phone call that changed our family forever. A car turned in front of our son with no blinker, causing him to be ejected 27 feet off his motorcycle into another vehicle. Matthew's body literally totaled the second car. Emergency personnel were trying to get him stable enough to transport him to the hospital. We arrived at OU Medical, and waiting by the front door was an OCPD officer who informed us if Matthew made it the next few hours, he would be "messed up" for the rest of his life. I believe he was in surgery for 5 hours. His body was broken. His back was broken in 3 places and was fused from T2-L3, his shoulder was fractured and detached. He had broken ribs, collapsed lungs, and 5 brain bleeds, and was on a ventilator. He had sustained a traumatic brain injury and a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from his chest to his toes. Thankfully, he still has use of his arms and hands. Matthew was in the trauma unit for 6 1/2 weeks. He had many surgeries, several that were life-saving, and when he was patched up and put back together, we were flown to Denver, Colorado, where we were taken to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. Craig is in the top 5 facilities in the US for Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain injuries. It was at Craig that he participated in physical, occupational, and speech therapy every day. He was only there a week when he had to have another life-saving surgery and spent over a week at another hospital. Thankfully, Craig saved his spot, and the rehabilitation would begin again. Craig specializes in teaching their patients to become as independent as possible. After teaching Matthew how his post-injury body functions, learning how to get dressed again, learning how to check his body for any redness that could turn into a pressure sore, and learning how to understand and navigate life from a wheelchair, Craig Hospital goes above and beyond providing opportunities to participate in as many activities as possible. Matthew was actually able to participate in a sled hockey practice, kayak at a nearby lake, and attend a professional sports event. Craig is teaching its patients how to become as independent as they possibly can. After 5 1/2 months at Craig, Matthew was ready to go home. He was so homesick. Unfortunately, we lost two of our dogs while we were in Colorado. It was heartbreaking. Fast forward a year and a half, Matthew continues physical therapy, exercising, and attends church. He's gained at least 20 pounds, and he's very independent. He's working from home and is ready to continue to expand his social and professional life. There's just one problem. As much as he appreciates his brother or whoever driving him around, he is very ready to do it on his own. He has attended driver training and obtained his license to drive a vehicle with hand controls. Although he is thankful for all the rides he has been given, he needs to complete the last piece of the puzzle, but he needs a car to do it. The Department of Rehabilitation will absorb the cost of the equipment and installation and will customize a vehicle to meet his needs so that he can drive. This costs about $60,000-$70,000. Now all he needs is a car, most likely a van. We are trying to sell a car and think of ways to get him a dependable vehicle that meets the state's requirements.

Matthew's birthday is Saturday, November 22, and we would appreciate so much if you could think about donating to the cause. He has endured so much at such a young age. If you find it in your heart to help Matthew obtain the freedom and independence he desperately needs, the freedom to go hang out with friends, go fishing, go to an actual job, go to the gym, and eventually move out on his own. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to make this happen alone.

Matthew is paying what he can as well to help, but we simply can't make this dream come true for him without the help of others. Any donation is one step closer to Matthew's independence. Thanks for reading Matthew's story.