It has been a while! In the past few weeks Matt has continued his therepy in Fort Collins. He is doing well and making progress.
Dad has been working hard at a fundraiser that will be held on October 5 at St. Michaels Event Center in Greeley, Colorado. The address is 3050 67th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634. The phone number is 970-336-1000. Bob Purcell and The Outriders (a well known band from Greeley, CO) will be holding a concert to help Matt pay his medical expenses. Derek Amato, a well known pianist in Colorado, will also be playing. In addition, there will be a variety of companies such as the Olive Garden, Ace Hardware, and the UPS joining us at the fundraiser, rafling off gift cards, and other products. There will also be T-shirts, food and drinks for sale.
Everyone is welcome to attend the concert. There is no admission fee, but donations are being accepted and much apprieciated. All proceeds from the event will go toward Matthew's Trust fund.
Cicis Pizza is still holding their fundraiser as well. This will continue through the end of October.
Tune in to your radio station, 1310 am KFKA, at 08:20 a.m. on October 2, 2008. Dad will be on the radio talking about Matthew and the fundraiser. This will be exciting: Richard on the radio!
Thank you again very much to all who have supported Matt and his family. It is greatly appreciated.
Also a huge thanks to Bob Purcell and the Outriders for making all of this possible!
Colorado Eagles
Ryan Tobler, Grandma, Matt, Greg Pankewicz
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Lisa and Chris came to visit during Matthew's time in the hospital a few weeks ago. Mom said she wanted to thank Lisa and Chris for keeping her head on straight and for reminding her of the love they share. She said that is something she will never forget!
The family also wants to thank Cici's Pizza. They are having a fundraiser for Matthew in Greeley and Fort Collins, Colorado. For all reciepts that are turned in, Cici's will donate 10% of the reciept total to Matthew's trust fund.
Matthew's condition seems to be improving every day. His rehabilitaion has been progressing, although his doctors said there is still a long road ahead of Matt. He will be attending rehab 3-4 times a week. It is hard to estimate for how long, but the doctors are thinking 6 months to a year of rehabilitation. He is still having a hard time balancing on his right side; he also can not walk backwards or go up or down steps. He will be seeing an Eye Specialist in the near future due to problems with his right eye as well.
The family also wants to thank Cici's Pizza. They are having a fundraiser for Matthew in Greeley and Fort Collins, Colorado. For all reciepts that are turned in, Cici's will donate 10% of the reciept total to Matthew's trust fund.
Matthew's condition seems to be improving every day. His rehabilitaion has been progressing, although his doctors said there is still a long road ahead of Matt. He will be attending rehab 3-4 times a week. It is hard to estimate for how long, but the doctors are thinking 6 months to a year of rehabilitation. He is still having a hard time balancing on his right side; he also can not walk backwards or go up or down steps. He will be seeing an Eye Specialist in the near future due to problems with his right eye as well.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Matt is now in between levels 6 and 7 of the Rancho Los Amigos scale. Some of the characteristics of these levels are as follows:
- Shows beginning awareness of a situation.
- Confusion between the past and present, with "remote" memory better than recent memory.
- Will consistently follow simple commands.
- Still requires external cues in order for task completion.
- Can pay attention to tasks in a non-distracting environment for at least 5 minutes.
- Unable to understand that disabilities exist.
- Unable to think about consequesnces of decisions or actions made.
- Overestimates abilities.
- Unable to recognize inappropriate social interactions or behaviors.
On the positive side, Matt is now home. He is glad to have his own bedroom and bathroom again.
However, he will still need out-patient therapy, and will be doing that several days a week at a different facility. He will be doing the same therapy he has been doing: occupational, physical, speech and nuero-behavioral therapy. In addition, Mom bought him a guitar so that he can also start music therapy.
Grandma Boehler left on Thursday, which Matt was very sad about. He didn't want her to leave! Though, they now speak every day on the phone. As Grandma left, Matt had some new visitors arrive, his friends Joey and Nick, from Arizona. Thank you guys for making the trip out here!!
Since, we are on the topic of thanks, we would like to thank Cheryl and Don Farmer for getting Grandma out here to visit, Uncle John and Aunt Joyce for your beautiful card and prayers, and Uncle Rich for his phone calls of concern. Also, many thanks to Sami, who has been there for Matt and our family throughout this entire ordeal. You have been amazing!!
We would also like to send our thoughts, love and prayers to Uncle Dave who is undergoing chemotherapy. We are right here, fighting along with you Uncle Dave!
Lastly, we are looking forward to taking Matt to see Greg Pankewicz and Ryan Tobler and the rest of the Colorado Eagles play hockey up at the Budweiser Event center. Thanks again, Greg and Ryan, for visiting Matt and creating such a memorable moment.
- Shows beginning awareness of a situation.
- Confusion between the past and present, with "remote" memory better than recent memory.
- Will consistently follow simple commands.
- Still requires external cues in order for task completion.
- Can pay attention to tasks in a non-distracting environment for at least 5 minutes.
- Unable to understand that disabilities exist.
- Unable to think about consequesnces of decisions or actions made.
- Overestimates abilities.
- Unable to recognize inappropriate social interactions or behaviors.
On the positive side, Matt is now home. He is glad to have his own bedroom and bathroom again.
However, he will still need out-patient therapy, and will be doing that several days a week at a different facility. He will be doing the same therapy he has been doing: occupational, physical, speech and nuero-behavioral therapy. In addition, Mom bought him a guitar so that he can also start music therapy.
Grandma Boehler left on Thursday, which Matt was very sad about. He didn't want her to leave! Though, they now speak every day on the phone. As Grandma left, Matt had some new visitors arrive, his friends Joey and Nick, from Arizona. Thank you guys for making the trip out here!!
Since, we are on the topic of thanks, we would like to thank Cheryl and Don Farmer for getting Grandma out here to visit, Uncle John and Aunt Joyce for your beautiful card and prayers, and Uncle Rich for his phone calls of concern. Also, many thanks to Sami, who has been there for Matt and our family throughout this entire ordeal. You have been amazing!!
We would also like to send our thoughts, love and prayers to Uncle Dave who is undergoing chemotherapy. We are right here, fighting along with you Uncle Dave!
Lastly, we are looking forward to taking Matt to see Greg Pankewicz and Ryan Tobler and the rest of the Colorado Eagles play hockey up at the Budweiser Event center. Thanks again, Greg and Ryan, for visiting Matt and creating such a memorable moment.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Here is an article printed up about Matt in the Greeley Tribune newspaper.
Click on link to view:
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20080814/NEWS/65527181&parentprofile=search
Click on link to view:
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20080814/NEWS/65527181&parentprofile=search
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Jenn and I visited Matt today, and we were pleasantly surprised to find him awake and talking. The last few times Jenn has visited Matt he has been sleeping, so it was awesome for her to finally see him awake. He gave her a very long, affectionate hug and recognized her immediatley saying, "Hi Jenn."
Soon after we arrived he started listening to his IPod. He sang along to Kenney Chesney's 'Don't Blink' and 'Baby You Save Me' perfectly; he could still recall all the words to the songs. He sung out loud to us for a good fifteen minutes.
Matt and I discussed playing hockey together in the future, which we had previously planned before the accident. Hopefully, when Matt fully recovers we can make this happen.
At one point during our visit he asked mom if he was "doing alright." He seems to be aware that he is not functioning properly mentally, however, mom reasured him with a smile, "no sweety you're doing fine, you're doing just great!"
Regarding Matt's recovery, he is still in between stages 4 and 5, even though yesterday was a definite improvement. It seems as if he is fully aware of his surroundings, yet it is apparent that at times he is not. Sometimes, he would laugh just because we laughed or agree with what we asked or said, though he really was not certain of the answer. And joking around with him is not a good idea, because he is takes every word literally.
Matt kept looking at me and telling me that I was making him laugh. It made Mom, Grandma, Naomi, Jenn, and I laugh with him. Matt actually laughed and smiled during our entire visit, which is the best we have seen him yet.
Matt, I am so proud of you Dude!
Soon after we arrived he started listening to his IPod. He sang along to Kenney Chesney's 'Don't Blink' and 'Baby You Save Me' perfectly; he could still recall all the words to the songs. He sung out loud to us for a good fifteen minutes.
Matt and I discussed playing hockey together in the future, which we had previously planned before the accident. Hopefully, when Matt fully recovers we can make this happen.
At one point during our visit he asked mom if he was "doing alright." He seems to be aware that he is not functioning properly mentally, however, mom reasured him with a smile, "no sweety you're doing fine, you're doing just great!"
Regarding Matt's recovery, he is still in between stages 4 and 5, even though yesterday was a definite improvement. It seems as if he is fully aware of his surroundings, yet it is apparent that at times he is not. Sometimes, he would laugh just because we laughed or agree with what we asked or said, though he really was not certain of the answer. And joking around with him is not a good idea, because he is takes every word literally.
Matt kept looking at me and telling me that I was making him laugh. It made Mom, Grandma, Naomi, Jenn, and I laugh with him. Matt actually laughed and smiled during our entire visit, which is the best we have seen him yet.
Matt, I am so proud of you Dude!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Thursday August 7, 2008
There has not been a great deal of change with Matt over the past few days, so I do not have much to inform you of. He is still in between levels 4 and 5 on the Rancho Los Amigos scale (for Traumatic Brain Injury), which is due to the confused state he is still exhibiting. He seems to be confused about the present. During mom's visits she will sometimes take a break to get some water, however, when she returns, Matt seems as though he is seeing her for the first time that day.
Mom asked Matt today what he remembers of the accident. He said he is trying really hard to remember, but he can't. He said he doesn't even remember the bike trail he was on at Thomas's house. On a good note, Matt is aloud to listen to music now. It has to be mellow music, so mom put together some country songs on his IPod. Matt may not be able to remember the accident but he knows all the Kenney Chesney songs. He serenaded Mom, Dad, and Aunt Brenda over the phone. My mom said he knew all the words! By the way, Matt is an awesome singer, when all this is done, everyone should bug him to record a cd!
Mom asked Matt today what he remembers of the accident. He said he is trying really hard to remember, but he can't. He said he doesn't even remember the bike trail he was on at Thomas's house. On a good note, Matt is aloud to listen to music now. It has to be mellow music, so mom put together some country songs on his IPod. Matt may not be able to remember the accident but he knows all the Kenney Chesney songs. He serenaded Mom, Dad, and Aunt Brenda over the phone. My mom said he knew all the words! By the way, Matt is an awesome singer, when all this is done, everyone should bug him to record a cd!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
This afternoon, Matt started walking on his own! However, he still needs assistance: a belt around his waist and someone observing close by, in case he falls. Another bump on the head would not be good. Matt's balance is a little better as well; it seems his therepy is starting to pay off, although he does have a long road ahead of him. Matt was also able to take a shower, with supervision. He seemed to have liked being able to shower. He is progressing with his speech therapy: he has been given worksheets to help him with word association, and he is doing a great job. He is also tested on his memory on a daily basis. Matt does not remember anything about his accident, but he does know that a dirt bike was the cause of his injuries. The nurses also have him write down a log of all visitors and events of the day, so that he can review them the next day. This is to test his short term memory.
Matt told mom today, "There is something different within me that I need to work out", which is a pretty profound statement. In addition, he has made several references about his lack of mental capabilities by saying such things as, "I know I'm not retarded" and "I know something is wrong, because things just aren't clicking, you know?"
Matt's friend's (Guy) grandma (Alice) is hosting a yard sale this weekend, in which she will donate all of the proceeds she makes to Matt's trust fund. Thank you Alice, for taking the time and effort to help Matthew. That is so wonderful of you.
Matt told mom today, "There is something different within me that I need to work out", which is a pretty profound statement. In addition, he has made several references about his lack of mental capabilities by saying such things as, "I know I'm not retarded" and "I know something is wrong, because things just aren't clicking, you know?"
Matt's friend's (Guy) grandma (Alice) is hosting a yard sale this weekend, in which she will donate all of the proceeds she makes to Matt's trust fund. Thank you Alice, for taking the time and effort to help Matthew. That is so wonderful of you.
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