Assistance for Matthew
Life threw our 26-year-old cousin Matthew Klos a giant curveball recently, and there are so many people who want to help, so we set up this page to make that a little easier. Donations of any size will assist him as he faces this very unexpected turn of events and will help Matthew and his awesome partner Jessika continue to live a fulfilling life of adventure and artistry.
WHAT HAPPENED
When Matthew went to bed on April 24, he was completely healthy. A few hours later, he awoke with excruciating pain in his back. By the time Jess had gotten him to the emergency room, he couldn't walk. The next 24 hours would change his life, as the medical team discovered that he had a lesion in his spinal cord that had ruptured and he was rushed into an hours-long, life-saving emergency surgery. After the procedure, doctors conducted a series of nerve tests, which revealed that Matthew is paralyzed from the waist down.
NEXT STEPS
After a week-and-a-half in the ICU, Matthew was transferred to the world-renowned Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, where he spent weeks in intensive occupational and physical therapy.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Matthew is committed to continuing to pursue his passions, which include photography and woodworking, and to build the life with Jess that they have long planned. And we can all help make that a reality.
The road ahead will undoubtedly be challenging--both physically and emotionally--and Matthew could definitely use some financial assistance, as most of us would if we encountered a sudden and life-changing event like this.
THANK YOU
Matthew has touched so many of our lives with his intelligence, his wit, and his artistic talents. We can all help support him through this crazy, difficult time by giving just a little (though a lot is certainly not frowned upon).
On behalf of Matthew, Jess, and our entire family, thank you so much for your generosity. We will keep you updated as Matthew gets stronger each day and embarks on the next chapter of his life.
- Jarid & Jill
