A big smile. Yes.That's so wonderful. :)
I'm in the office today.
I'm in the office today. It's really great all the support from the forum. Thank you.Congrats!!!!!
I'm in the office today. It's really great all the support from the forum. Thank you.WooHoo!!!
After hanging out with us for a while, Matt had to leave for his physical therapy appointments. He did really great today. To get to our office he has to climb two steep flights of stairs which he did on his own with Bob and Jim and I only serving as spotters. Bob showed him a tiny Linux box running Media Center. Matt helped out with a tricky Media Center bug we had been working on, and he updated to the latest source on his computer (4 months worth of changes!!) and created a development build. And the best part is Jim brought donuts for all :)Guess he has retained all of his code talent. Such wonderful news.
It was a fantastic feeling to have Matt with us again!!!
Thanks so much to everyone for all the support for Matt and his family. I know it's been a huge help for them, and for all of us at JRiver.
- John
I'm in the office today...
Matt helped out with a tricky Media Center bug we had been working on, and he updated to the latest source on his computer (4 months worth of changes!!) and created a development build.
I'm in the office today. It's really great all the support from the forum. Thank you.
I'm in the office today. It's really great all the support from the forum. Thank you.
(http://www.pix01.com/gallery/8D12431D-7EA0-495D-9EA2-775091458CB9/Matt_s_Return/10696276610.jpg)Too bad Hendrick is in Germany. He could have been on the far left to give a proper perspective of Matt's height. ;D
Left to right: Matt, John, Bob.
I'm in the office today. It's really great all the support from the forum. Thank you.
600 emails ?? -- that sounds like "cruel and unusual punishment" to me Jim ..
Matt's here at work again this morning for a few hours.Wow - I didn't expect this so soon.
Matt, you and your family are really heroes for me.That is just a lovely post. Thank you.
In such a short time, where you are now, and from where you came.
Your story gives me hope and many others. I see now that if I keep fighting and believing, that eventually my diseases will
maybe cure also. I lost hope, but now I have got it back.
Thank you, Matt.
A couple of days ago someone bumped an old thread started by Matt, back from 2012 or something. I mistakenly read that it was a new thread by Matt and I started reading it got really excited, like he's doing all that stuff now. Then I realized it was an old thread :-[.
Best wishes for you and your mum. Sorry to hear the news.
So good...
By Brooke and Matt Ashland — 15 hours ago
Matt continues his steady improvement. This is such an encouraging time.
He has been spending time at JRiver, when it fits with his therapy schedule and according to his energy. I am thankful that Matt has had this job he loves and for the understanding, support and encouragement Jim and the JRiver crew have given us. They have kept Matt (and his family) company at the hospital, visited and chatted with Matt as he became more aware, taken him for drives and brought him meals. The work discussions he has had with them have engaged his interest like no other topic. The team's good will and positivity toward Matt's recovery have been unwavering.
From the time Matt woke up enough to start reacting - first, with raised blood pressure and increased pulse, and later, with eye blinks - his strongest responses seemed to be for anything related to work (I also got some pretty good responses when I gave him a kiss in the ICU). So it doesn't surprise me that, according to Jim, he is doing an *amazing* job at work. I think of his time there as therapy too. We continue to monitor his energy and mood during and after these outings. No one will push him past his limit. But based on these first few outings, I could not be happier for and with him that work is once again a part of his life. Thank you, Jim. And thank you, Bob, John and the JRiver team.
After his outing this morning and an afternoon of therapy, I thought Matt might be completely wiped out tonight. He came home for the evening and even helped me grill dinner (I have been known to singe off arm hair when left alone with the grill). Later, Matt, the kids and I walked to the park. It is about 1/4 mile to the park and back. Matt did great.
At one point this evening, I mentioned something to Matt about his scars. (He has a scar on his abdomen from the feeding tube, a scar on his throat from the trach, and a large scar on his head from the craniectomy and cranioplasty.) He did not realize that he had had a feeding tube and tracheotomy. He asked me tonight to tell the story of what happened. It surprised me. I thought he knew from the many times I have told him over the months. Whenever he woke up disoriented, I would tell him briefly how he ended up there. I realized I have not done this for several weeks, maybe not since he was at Bethesda. Today I told him the story again, this time with more details, which he asked for, but keeping it simple and factual. Matt got pensive and said it was strange to hear that these things happened to him which he doesn't remember at all. I said I imagined it would feel very strange and that it might also give him a perspective on what his loved ones have been going through. He said it sure did.
Thank you, God, for this sensitive, thoughtful, kind and intelligent man I am lucky enough to call my husband. I pray for your continued healing, Sweetheart. You are a wonder and a blessing.
Love,
Brooke
I'm in the office today. It's really great all the support from the forum. Thank you.
I'm in the office today. It's really great all the support from the forum. Thank you.
Matt's at work again this morning for a few hours. He stayed overnight at his home with the family on Saturday. It was the first time since January 2. He went down to Waseca yesterday to watch a game with his parents.
He's planning his escape from Courage Center.
Having gone through (comparatively minor) rehab myself, I can tell you there WILL be a plateau. Dealing with the frustration--and fear--and working through it is part of the recovery process. Matt's doing so well so far because of shear will power. But that same force of will can eat at us when the results stop coming so quickly--temporarily.Yes, I understand as I had to learn to walk again after an accident...but this isn't about me it's about Matt and his family.
If the thread entitled "Matt's return" is not the appropriate place to talk about Matt's return, could somebody direct me?
Matt, I hope things are continuing to improve.
I'm at work again today.
I got big news that tomorrow is my last day at Courage Center. It's back home after that (where I belong).
I'm at work again today.
I got big news that tomorrow is my last day at Courage Center. It's back home after that (where I belong).
We're really happy to have Matt back at work a little. He's doing great. He ditched the walker and is now walking on his own, though sometimes with a little wobble.
Yesterday, he walked from the Courage Center to the car, and when we got to work, he walked from the car to the building and up to the second floor unassisted.
I feel totally normal now.
I feel totally normal now. I suppose there could be some lasting effects, but I don't know what they are (because I have a brain injury) :P
As long as you remember that your wife is always right, you'll be fine.
I see Matt posting everywhere lately which is great. I'm just wondering how the recovery is going.
I don't really think much about it anymore, which is a good thing :)That's great news Matt. I'm so happy for you and your family.
It's full speed ahead at work.
I have a couple things that still plague me, like I can't ride a bike.
But life is really good now.
Thank you to everyone for all the support. It means the world.