Matt’s Story

Site created on July 13, 2021

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. Matt was on his way home from work on his bike on Wednesday, June 30 when a car failed to stop at a stop sign and hit him. He sustained a severe brain injury, many broken ribs, fractured neck vertebrae and broken collarbone. He was transported by ambulance from the accident scene to Sacred Heart Emergency. They didn't have his name when he was admitted and I didn't receive a call from the ER until 1:30 am on Thursday, July 1. I had filed a missing persons report Wednesday evening and called all the hospitals twice, but they didn't have him admitted under his name. Many thanks to the ER chaplain who searched through his belongings and traced me down (PLEASE make sure you complete your "in case of emergency" notifications on your phone). Matt spent 15 days in the ICU and was moved to the Neuro Ward in the hospital on July 15. On July 21 Matt was transferred to St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute. Matt was discharged from St. Luke's on Friday, August 6, the feast of the Transfiguration! He will continue with outpatient therapy from St. Luke's for quite some time. The Neuro psychologist thinks Matt will have significant improvement in 4-6 months. We are so grateful for all the love and prayers you send him and our family. God has allowed us to be put on a new road, not of our choosing but due to someone else's mistake. But regardless of the road we travel, our eternal destiny remains unchanged and we remain in the loving care of Our Lord. We put all our trust in our good God, who is Emmanuel, "God with us". One way God's love is revealed is through the love and compassion and support given to us. God bless you and shower you with graces, too!

Newest Update

Journal entry by Marie Bricher

It has been three weeks since I have posted an update, but I wanted to let you know Matt continues to improve. He has had physical therapy about twice a week and gets to start occupational therapy tomorrow (short staffed, so it took this long to start!). His major focus is to take the driver's test and be cleared for work. He had a CT scan on his cervical fractures this morning, and they showed a good level of healing--filling in where the vertebrae were fractured 12 weeks ago. The doctor cleared him to take off his collar gradually--an hour off in the morning and an hour in the evening for a few days, then adding an hour more, etc. Doctor said by 10-14 days he should be collar free unless his neck hurts too bad. That is very good news for him, but he admitted to the doctor that he had already been taking it off at night and during the day for that past week at least, so that was a surprise to me! I have really struggled the last few weeks with how to support his recovery, since he has made it clear I need to back off and "get over it." I hope and pray he can get back to work very soon for both our sakes! My leave ended anyway. No wonderful news to report about insurance payments from the at-fault driver, State Farm is definitely not being a good neighbor. Taking forever to hear anything, and of course we don't have all the bills yet. I hate all the waiting. The good news to report is Matt is recovering and getting stronger. We so appreciate all the prayers and love and support. I hope you receive abundant blessings as well. 
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