Matt is an optimist. He always keeps a positive attitude and laughs things off easily. This unparalleled positivity is admirable in anyone, but is especially remarkable considering what Matt, and his family, has been through.

In September of 2009, Matt was playing in a hockey game as the goalie for Northern Arizona University’s hockey team. He was hit and fell backwards, hitting the back of his head on the goal posts. Instead of taking time to recover, Matt got right back up and continued playing. As a precaution, Matt later visited a doctor and was told that he simply had a minor concussion and would be fine. As time went on, Matt began passing out and twitching in a seizure-like fashion. His doctors were adamant that it was a concussion. It wasn’t until a sinus surgery triggered a seizure that ceased Matt’s mobility that the surgeon realized his spinal cord had sustained sufficient damage from his hockey injury. In February of 2010, months after his accident, Matt was taken from Flagstaff to Banner Good Samaritan in Phoenix.

Originally from Escondido, California, Matt’s family had nowhere to go while their loved one was in the hospital. And so they discovered the Ronald McDonald House. “We had heard of it but we didn’t know what it was for. Banner Good Samaritan helped us out and we were easily registered within 5 minutes,” said Matt’s mom, Lisa. Lisa, a teacher, quickly ran out of sick days and was forced to return to California, allowing Matt’s grandfather to step in as his guardian and companion.

Matt and his mom, Lisa. April 2010.

Matt and his family were at the Ronald McDonald House until June 4^th. In all that time, they made many unbreakable friendships with the staff of the House and other residents. “There was a Navajo family staying at the House. The Navajo are notorious for not being overly friendly- they don’t hug or touch people. This traditional Navajo grandmother watched my progress and was always concerned for me. One day, she just hugged me,” Matt remembers. The two are still in contact. In turn, the staff of the House threw Matt a birthday party and was there when he took his first steps again, becoming a surrogate family for him. “I was talking to some of the staff and I asked them if they were this close to other families, and they said no. They try not to get too close because they never know when someone will make it. We were special to them,” Matt continued.

In addition to forging memorable bonds with people, the House allowed two of Matt’s dreams to come true. A loyal Padres fan, Matt had the opportunity to go to their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first week at the House and meet the players. He even met his favorite player, and name twin, Matt Williams, which he cites as one of his favorite memories from his time at the House.

Matt’s family could not be more appreciative of the Ronald McDonald House. “If it weren’t for the Ronald

Matt and his grandpa, Sam. August 2011.

McDonald House, we would have had to go back to Escondido and been burdened by finances,” Lisa said. “The House was a home.”

Some of Matt’s positivity about his injury stems from the positive atmosphere provided at the Ronald McDonald House. “It gave you things to look forward to. There were times when I even forgot about my injury,” Matt said. “Seeing people worse off than you puts things into perspective.”

Even though the 21 year-old walks with a cane and can no longer play hockey, he refuses to throw himself a “pity

party.” Matt recently received a scholarship for those with spinal cord and brain trauma to pay for all of his future schooling, aiding him in his quest to become a physical therapist. He uses his story to help others whenever he can. “I’m lucky about a lot of things,” he asserts. “I’m not in a wheelchair anymore or in the hospital and I’m back in school. It could be so much worse. I could have died. We just laugh it off.”

By Lindsay Walker, RMHC intern