This past Tuesday I left with my brother Chris and two of my friends Kent Owyoung and Stephen Day to attend the SEC baseball tournament in Hoover, Alabama.  We had a great time and got to see a lot of good baseball.  It was also really cool because the Razorbacks did a good job.  They made it all the way to the Championship Game where they lost to Vanderbilt.  We had to leave early Friday because it was Chris’s Wedding Anniversary.  We were wanting to stay and watch the Razorbacks in the Semifinals, but I was also wanting my brother to continue to be married come Saturday.  So we did the smart thing and got Chris home.  Overall we had a really good time.  I missed some of my therapy while I was gone to Hoover, but now that I am back I am starting to get back in the routine again.  My spasms in my legs have gotten worse it seems like ever since I have been doing this aggressive therapy.  My therapist Jerry from Project Walk said that usually happens but they should settle down after awhile.  My trip to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is getting closer and closer and I fly out there in the middle of July.  I will continue to keep you up to date on what is going on.

 Matt C

Matt will be getting a new bike. It is the RT 300-S. Thanks to everyone who has donated generously to Matt’s Project Walk fund, this bike could be ordered. You can read about the bike at http://www.restorative-therapies.com/ . Someone will fly in on June 8th to train us.

Matt is continuing to work out as he did at Project Walk. Project Walk was an awesome experience for Matt and his dad.  Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to work hard as spinal cord recovery is a long and slow process. We are filled with encouragement and hope daily.

I am going with Matt to Kennedy Krieger in July. Not only will he be evaluated by the doctors there, he will rehab at KK for two weeks. I am really looking forward to going to Baltimore and talking to the doctors there but Matt is more excited to see his favorite team play…The Yankees! He already has his tickets.

Thank you for your prayers and generosity to my family.

God Bless,

Sancy

Today is a special day in our society and truly a special day in my life.  Today is Mother’s Day and the day in which we honor our Mothers.  I am very blessed to have both a great mother and set of grandmothers.  Through this past year my mom has been at my side both night and day.  Anything that she can do…it gets done.  From the researching on “Spinal Cord Injury” to the everyday love and care, she has has been amazing.  All the success from Project Walk, and further beyond that, all the sucess in my life would not be possible without my mom.  Also my grandmothers have been amazing.  They do what they can to make sure that I am ok.  They have also been by my side and have been strong shoulders to lean on.  I am very blessed to have someone care about me as much as these ladies do.  There are also other mothers in my life.  Also what I call “My 2nd Moms” have truly been great.  These 2nd Moms consist of my friends’ moms to ladies that have taken interest in my life and have been both caring and thoughtful.  From visiting me weekly, cooking me pizza bread, buying me clothes in the hospital, to even bringing food….Thank you 2nd Moms.  Overall, I hope this shows some type of appreciation for the impact all of you have had on my life.  I would not be anywhere near the man that I am today without you in my life.  Thanks again for all of your nurture, love, and care.

 I Love You Mom,

 Matt C  

This past weekend was very busy and a lot of fun.  My weekend started on a Thursday with my mom and I going to Little Rock to keep my nephew Dayton at my brother’s house.  That night my friend Kent came down from Conway to hang out with me.  Kent, my mom, and I took Dayton to Chuckie Cheese.  I think Kent and I had more fun than Dayton did at Chuckie Cheese.  That next day I had to go to UAMS for my research project that I have been doing on the bike.  This project is really fun because of the people that I get to see.  The people that are involved at the research project are Twala (Physical Therapist Instructor at UCA), Dr. Reese (Physical Therapist Instructor at UCA), Mary Kay (Physical Therapist in Little Rock), and Stephen (Physical Therapist Student at UCA).  The past year I went to UCA where Twala helped me with some therapy.  She is really tough and always gets the best out of me.  She is basically my “Spinal Cord Mom”. Not only is she knowledgable in spinal cord issues, she is also compassionate and gives the best advice. I owe her a lot of thanks as she helped me get through this first year. My research project that I have been doing for a year consists of me riding a bike that I wheel up to in my wheelchair.  I strap my legs in and turn the power on and it moves my legs in a cycling motion.  Every other Friday I go to UAMS in Little Rock and meet with this H Reflex team where they put these patches on my legs to measure my reflexs.  It has really been great to be involved with this project because it has helped keep the muscle mass built up in my legs.  Saturday came and my family and I attended a family reunion on my mom’s side.  It was neat to see a lot of my family that I haven’t seen in awhile.  It was also the day of the Kentucky Derby and yes I won again…haha!  Sunday at our church they were honoring the Seniors in High School and a lot of my friends were on the stage.  I felt really old! That was depressing!  I’ve always heard people say that in the past, but now I am starting to experience that.   Overall it was a great weekend and I look forward to a full week of therapy.  My therapist Jerry has sent a DVD of the exercises for me to do.  I will continue to keep you up to date in the days to come.  Thanks for all your prayers and support!  God Bless! 

 Matt C