Our Families

Team Matthew

Description

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." Mary Anne Radmacher

Imagine you are an independent, active, outgoing person in charge of your own future, then one morning you wake up and life as you know it has changed. You realise the only part of your body that you can move is your eyes; you can’t speak or breathe on your own. Imagine being totally aware of everything going on around you but not been able to verbally communicate to others around you, of having your own thoughts and memories intact but not been able to do anything with them. This is what happened to our brother Matthew after suffering a stroke. Please ask to join our Facebook page "Praying for a Miracle for Matthew".

Our aim in joining The Developing Foundation is to raise money for all the additional medical equipment and extensive care that Matthew will require to regain as much independence as possible.

Matthew’s Story

On Sunday May 23rd 2010 Matthew suffered a stroke due to a blood clot in his brain stem. This left him with the condition called Locked in Syndrome, this is where a patient is aware and awake but cannot move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body except for the eyes. It is extremely rare.

When he woke up in ICU the only part of his body that he could move was his eyes. His only form of communication was the movement of his eyes: up for yes and down for no.

While in ICU the doctors told Matthew and his family not to expect any improvement.

Since then with unwavering hard work on his side, prayer and a team of dedicated Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Therapists, Matthew has continued to improve. He has regained most head movements and is gaining more facial movement. Matthew has also had some improvements in his hands and legs. He no longer needs a trachea tube to breathe and has managed to eat small amounts of food such as custard and jelly.

This is progress which we were told may never happen.

In Matthew’s own words “He doesn’t do things by half”. He continues to amaze his family and medical staff as he fights to regain the movement that he has lost and his voice.

Locked in but not locked out.

How you can help

Any support you are able to offer is very much appreciated.

• Donate online

• Send Matthew’s web page to your family and friends

• Help us raise sponsorship for Team Matthew at the Annual Riverwalk event. You can read about the event at http://www.developingfoundation.org.au/help-give-raise-funds/riverwalk

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and you will not receive any additional credit card charges. The Developing Foundation Inc. commits 90% of our target directly to Matthew’s expenses. The balance is used by the charity to cover administration expenses.

For more information on helping or if you have a question for Team Matthew please email teammatthew@y7mail.com or phone Aileen on 040481232.

Thank you for joining us on Matthew’s long Journey to reclaiming his independence.

Team Matthew