A Friend In Need!

I was saddened by some recent news that my good friend Beth found out that her mom, Barb, was diagnosed with cancer. I'm posting this message here to spread the word and recruit people to pray and support this wonderful woman. Barb and the rest of Nolan family in Cincinnati have been and continue to be a huge support to me even though I have never actually met them. The following picture is from a Happy Hour fundraiser for me where over a hundred people attended where I only knew 3 who were there.


Beth, Joe, Bill, and Barb (from left to right)

From Beth:

"My mom, Barb, has been diagnosed with an advanced, rare form of Melanoma. Her prognosis is not good, but we are hopeful that with treatment and the prayers and positive thoughts of family and friends, she will be well again. She will begin her first round of immunotherapy this coming week at Good Samaritan Hospital, in Cincinnati OH."

Barb started treatment this week in Cincinnati and so far so good. Here's a message from her husband Bill:
"

Good Sam - Day 1

posted by Bill Nolan, Monday, November 29, 2010, 10:45 AM

Barb was admitted at 6:00 am this morning and had a port inserted into her chest for the interferon treatments. After recovery, she was taken to the ICU floor (7th floor) around 10:30 AM. Her oncologist. Dr. Maher arrived shortly after and went over the game plan. The first interferon treatment will be at 2:00 PM this afternoon followed by treatments at 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM tomorrow morning. Fourteen doses of interferon will be infused over the next five days. She will probably be released on Saturday.

Next week, Barb has an appointment with Dr. Maher on Thursday.. The following Monday, December 13, the 2nd round of interferon will begin again at Good Sam. The doctor expects Barb to gain 15% body weight from the interferon treatments and may be very fatigued for a couple of days following the treatments. She may also get a little testy at times (ya think!). The good news from Dr. Maher is that the bone scan was negative.

Barb is resting comfortably and we will try to have a schedule for visitors up shortly on the calendar. They want to hold visitors to no more than three at a time as long as we're quiet.

The first infusion of interferon at 2:00 PM lasted about 15 minutes. The only reaction since that time was Barb began to have chills about two hours following the procedure. This is a textbook reaction and medication was given to eliminate this symptom. Since that time, Barb has been catching a few winks of sleep as it has been a long day. The next infusion is at 10:00 PM. Beth is spending the night.

The outpouring of love and support, the offerings of prayer,and the inspirational messages left on this site continue to sustain us. Thank you doesn't begin to express our gratitude."

Please pray for Barb, Bill, Beth, Susan, Annie, and Pat and keep them in your thoughts has they go through this difficult time. I'll continue to post updates here. If you have an encouraging word to share let me know and I'll be sure to pass it on (mattrehab@gmail.com).

Barb - Keep fighting!! Love ya!!

-Matt

PS: As for me: I'm still in the process of getting things together to head to Project Walk, which I'm heading there in about 3 weeks! Getting excited!!

PW Here We Go Again!

November 19, 2010

This is my second Thanksgiving since my injury and I’m reminded that I have a lot to be thankful for. I’m thankful to have the loving support of my parents who have sacrificed so much for my well being and who continue to do so. I’m thankful for the friends who frequently come by to get me out of the house and who have donated generously to my cause. I’m thankful for the support of the people in my hometown, Etna, CA, who have donated so much time and resources. I’m thankful for the support of the kayaking community, which has been a brotherhood to me for many years – love you guys!! I’m thankful for the support of the amazing people in the outdoor community at large. I’m thankful for the support of the tight knit Nolan family and the community in Cincinnati, OH. I’m thankful for the many people that I’ve never met who have given generously to a perfect stranger. I’m thankful for the support of the amazing people and businesses in the great State of Jefferson. Thank you for your love and support you will never know how much I truly need and appreciate it!!!!

What have I been up to? I’ve been busy getting things sorted out to head back down to Project Walk. I’m officially moving down there around the middle of December even if I have to live in a van down by the river. My plan is to start attending Project Walk shortly after moving down there and stay there through August. I’m excited to see what 8 months of PW will do for me physically and mentally! Come and see for yourself and visit me in sunny San Diego.

I’ve also been working with my good friends Aaron Lewis and Eric Danson to submit a documentary about yours truly to the Ashland Film Festival. Check out the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhPaWJ4tumI&feature=related

I’m still in need of a place to rent down there. We’re looking for 3-bedroom house and have a few options that will work, but we’re still looking. The other need is a caregiver from the middle of April through the middle of June. So if you’re in need of a job and want to live in San Diego for a couple months let me know!! Oh, thanks to my good friend Hungry Joe who is going to be my caregiver from Dec to April!!

Attending Project Walk for 8 months will exhaust my resources, but I feel that it is the best option for my recovery at this point. Not sure what I will do after that, but one thing is for certain is that I will still have a financial need. By next spring I hope to have an account set up where people can donate specifically for medical expenses and then receive a tax deduction. I’ll have more information on that in the coming months. In the meantime, you can donate through the link on the blog or through snail mail.

And now to leave you with a quote I have found to be an inspiration:

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome” – Booker T Washington

-Matt

Project Walk

October 18, 2010

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

You may recognize the last 2 lines of the above poem from the movie “Invictus” or the fact that Nelson Mandela would often quote it. This poem really spoke to me and has been a source of encouragement lately. To me the essence of this poem is that no matter what life throws in your direction there is ALWAYS a choice. The choice is to either rise above the challenge or cower before it in defeat. I certainly don’t make that choice everyday, but it is something I definitely strive for. The beautiful thing is that every victory builds upon the last giving me the strength to make the right choice for the next challenge.

As many of you know, I spent two months at Project Walk over the summer, which was an amazing experience. 4 days a week 3 hours a day of pushing myself as hard as I ever have both physically and mentally. Physically I gained a lot of strength in my upper body, added muscle mass to my legs, and increased strength in my core. Mentally I gained the understanding that I’m not made out of glass and I can handle more than I thought. On the first day I was there two guys hoisted me out of my chair and propped me up on a spin bike. At first I was a little freaked out, but then I realized I was fine and told them ‘Let’s do this!!’ The camaraderie that I built with the other folks at PW was encouraging. It was therapeutic to be able to talk to people that are in the same situation with the same attitude as me. I met some amazing people that have amazing attitudes about what they’re going through and I learned a lot from these people. Going to PW also gave me a renewed hope and motivation. It’s good to know that you’re not alone sometimes.

What does the future hold?? I’m planning on returning to Project Walk for a longer stint. I’d like to go for at least 6 months. In order to do this there are a few things that need to come together. The main thing I need to sort out is some care giving while I’m down there. So, if you’re unemployed and want to get paid to hang out in San Diego with me and do some care giving let me know...seriously!!

I want to thank you for all of your support. There is no possible way that I would have been able to go to Project Walk in the first place without all your generosity!! I am truly blessed to have this support!!

Amazed and Humbled By All the Support!!

I would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who attended, donated and helped out to make the Klamath River Benefit Bash a huge success. We raised about $5500, but more importantly it was a great time of hanging out with amazing people.

As many of you know I was in San Diego all summer attending Project Walk. I will post a more detailed post about my experience there in the near future, but for now I just want to say that it was a positive experience and I want to go back. So the money we raised will go towards that effort.

The following list are all the businesses and people that donated! Thank you because without your continued support my recovery would have stopped a while ago!!!!

New Belgium Brewing Company

Caldera Brewing Company

Adventure Whitewater

Momentum River Expeditions

Sawyer

Darin McQuoid - Best whitewater calendar ever! Plus its me on the cover!

Traci, RT, Jodi, and Erik (Seattle crew)

Judd Lehman and Sherri Kies

Robyn Jansen and Beth Nolan

Ashland Outdoor Store

Jerry Cousins

Rush Sturges

Gene and Peggy Allred

Dayton Dean and The River King

Vitamin DC

Duggan

Rising Sun Farms

Bullet Watercraft

Noble Coffee Roasting

Cave Springs Resort

Siskiyou Distributing

Thank you for your amazing support! This kind of support is not typical! Gotta love the State of Jefferson!!

-Matt

River Rafting Fundraiser and Silent Auction - Help needed!

My stint at Project Walk is coming to an end. It's been a great experience and I have really benefited from it. My upper body has gotten a lot stronger, muscles in my core are starting to react, and I'm gaining some muscle mass back in my legs. I'm looking into trying to come back down here in the near future, but there are some logistics to work out.

Don't forget about my fundraiser coming up on the Klamath! It's going to be fun!!

Right now the following things have been donated:

Silent auction items:
-A day whitewater rafting for 2 on the Upper Klamath
-12' whitewater raft

Food for dinner:
-Appetizer
-A keg of beer

We could really use some more donations for drinks(beer, wine or whatever), dinner, breakfast, and the silent auction. So if you can help let me know!! Also, spread the word!

Thanks again for all your support. I wouldn't be here at Project Walk without it!!

-Matt

July 27, 2010

Have you heard about?



Whether or not you know Matt Thomas, come join us on 20 acres for a riverfront celebration in the State of Jefferson! Live music, dinner, camping, sand volleyball, horseshoes, a great beach, swimming hole, whitewater rafting, and a silent auction. All proceeds will be donated to Matt to help him get additional therapy at Project Walk, equipment to continue therapy at home, and other devices to improve his quality of life. Last y...ear, over 100 people had a blast at the event, so please spread the word to co-workers, friends, and family so we can get a bigger crew this year!

See below for detailed information:

PLEASE RSVP by emailing mattrehab@gmail.com. Please indicate if you're rafting or not. As you can imagine, getting food for this event will be challenging if we don't know how many people are coming.

Oh yeah, Matt will actually be there this year!! So please spread the word to anyone who might be interested and let's party!!!

We're looking for volunteers and people to donate time, food, drink, and items for the silent auction. Please check out the facebook page's discussion board:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Thomas-Fundraiser-2010-Music-camping-and-rafting/136505649708810?ref=ts

Or email mattrehab@gmail.com.

Details:

When: It starts Saturday afternoon with live music and ends Sunday after some whitewater rafting. Feel free to come camp out Friday or stay till Monday. Just be sure to bring food.

Food: Dinner Saturday night, breakfast Sunday morning, and lunch on Sunday for those that are rafting will be provided.

Cost: Minimum suggested donation of $30 for dinner, live music and breakfast. Minimum $50 donation for rafting, which includes lunch. Sliding scale so if you can't swing that come anyways!!

Where: Paradise Point, CA

Directions to Paradise Point:

1. From the North or South on I-5, go West on Hwy 96 at exit 786. (Near Yreka, CA)

2. Go 60 miles on Hwy 96 to the town of Happy Camp. This is the last remnant of civilization before Paradise Point (Gas, Food, ect.)

3. Continue on Hwy 96 past Happy Camp for about 18 more miles to Paradise Point (very helpful to set your odometer). There will be a small sign on the left and an open yellow gate. Follow the dirt road to the right until you reach the parking area.

4. The turn for Paradise Point is exactly 0.9 miles past 'Coon Creek' River Access. If you get to Dillon Creek Campground you have gone 3 miles to far.

5. If you want to use a google map, Paradise Point usually shows up as Cottage Grove, CA. (Paradise Point sits on the old town of Cottage Grove)

For those who cannot attend but want to donate, you can make a check out to Matt Thomas and send to:

8309 French Creek Rd.
Etna, CA 96027

You can also check out more about Matt at mattnevergivesup.blogspot.com or if you have questions specific for him you can email him at h2othomas@gmail.com.

Hope to see all of you there!

I'm over half way through my stint at Project Walk! I continue to get stronger each day. It's a lot of hard work, but I absolutely love it!! Even though I don't have any new sensation I can feel muscles starting work in my core, which has been very encouraging! Making friends with some crazy canadians and some aussies so the social scene is getting a little better, but I miss all my buddies up north! Got to go surfing with Wheels2water.org. It was so much fun and it felt amazing to be in the water!! Check out the pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128628567393&v=photos&ref=ts

"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop." -Confucious

July 9th was exactly one year and my progress has been painfully slow, but at least there's progress! It has been one heck of a year! I'm thankful for my friends and family because without them I wouldn't have made it this far!

June 27, 2010

I finished my first full week of Project Walk and I'm exhausted. I love it!!! I'm already seeing favorable results and the bottom line is that I'm going to get a lot stronger, which will help me gain some highly desired independence. The people at Project Walk are great and push me hard in an encouraging way. One of the other patients here had a social gathering last night where I got to meet several other people in similar conditions as mine with similar attitudes. It seems like we're all here because giving up is not an option and we don't believe in words like "never" or "can't". It's been very encouraging and I have actually had some tangible hope. So thanks to ALL of you for making this possible. You have no idea what a blessing you are!

I'll be posting pictures of my adventures at Project Walk here and if you're reading the blog you can view them here or type in the following:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=186424&id=793208549&l=b6f91699d3

Here's a quick recap for the last month. Had an an awesome send off bbq party in Southern Oregon prior to heading to Project Walk. There were probably 60+ people there. Great food, great beer, and even better friends made it an incredible night. My good friend Aaron Lewis did a documentary about me for his capstone project to graduate from SOU and showed it at the BBQ. Aaron did an incredible job and it turned out way above my expectations. It was very moving! So after all that we packed up the van and headed south to only break down in Redding, CA. We were stranded in Redding for 4 days! No offense against those of you that live there, but ugh…seriously?? Although, the sun dial bridge is pretty cool especially at night. We finally escaped Redding, and now we're in Encinitas, CA. The place we're staying is peaceful, wheelchair accessible, and just out of the coastal fog. It's very nice. So if you need some sun and time at the beach come on down.

We're going to be doing the Klamath River benefit music/dinner/rafting weekend again on the weekend of August 21-22. It's going to be a blast. Mark it on your calendar and get your butt out there for it. There will be an official announcement going out soon. We plan to do a silent auction as well. So we'll be looking for volunteers to help donate time and/or resources.

Now here are some philosophical thoughts so if you're not into that then you can stop reading here. I recently had a discussion about dealing with adversity and it brought up some ideas on the subject. The way I've approached adversity is to have a realistic assessment of the current situation, but don't accept it as the end all/be all. Instead always look for the opportunities for growth and embrace that growth with optimism, persistence, and a positive attitude. One more thing is to also not be too proud to ask for a little help. We all need it once in a while.

If you feel like making a visit to sunny SoCal let me know I'd love to see you. I'll just be here giving everything I got at Project Walk. Also don't forget about the Klamath River Bash. It's going to be fun. Thanks again for all your support. To my homies in Jefferson State and Seattle…miss you guys crazy!!

Made it to Project Walk!!

After months of hoping, begging, pleading, working hard in PT, and heaps of generousity from all of you Project Walk is now a 10 week reality. Had some van problems but finally cleared it all up and now we're in Encinitas just down the road from Project Walk.

Today was my first day at Project Walk and they're not messing around. After a short little orientation it was off to the races and now I'm sore and beat down tired. It's awesome!!

May 14, 2010

Two very common questions I get a lot is what’s new and how are your folks? So let me put those to rest; not much and they’re doing well. Now let’s get on with the good stuff. It’s been a busy month got my official start date for Project Walk, college buddy from Boise came to visit, went to the Etna rodeo, watched the Kentucky Derby (on TV), and have been looking for a place to stay in San Diego. I’m still doing therapy and I’m getting stronger everyday. It’s been great seeing the sunshine again, but spring has been bittersweet not being in a kayak.

It was great to see my good friend from college, Matt Price. I hadn’t seen him in about 6 years so it was nice to catch up. We reminisced about the good ol’ college days. Remember when you smashed my sandwich between two books. Remember when we almost got arrested at that wedding reception. Remember when you threw my bills out the window on the freeway. Remember when…you get the idea. I showed him around the area and we could have seen a lot more, but I think Price was nervous driving the minivan. He drove slow enough for every Winnebago on the freeway pass us. Here’s what Price had to say about the weekend.

On May 1 a beautiful girl in a beautiful dress picked me up and we headed into Ashland to watch the Kentucky Derby at Tease. It was a fun day hanging out with all the pretty people drinking mint juleps and celebrating Gabe’s birthday. The next day I attended the Etna rodeo, which was a sharp contrast from the previous day. There’s nothing pretty about the Etna rodeo, but lots of fun for sure. I then went and had dinner at the ranch I used to work on. It was nice to visit with Jim and Katie and their family. I forget what a beautiful place Scott Valley is.

I’m getting excited to head down to Project Walk. I’m still looking for a place to stay down there so if you have connections down there…HELP. I’ve been in contact with a couple people that are going to be attending PW at the same time, which is cool know a couple people there. It’s hard not to be just a little nervous. It’s going to be a lot of hard work and the outcome is uncertain.

This week at physical therapy I was able to go for 30 minutes on the arm cycle without stopping and no assistance. When I first started physical therapy after getting out of the hospital I could only go for one minute without stopping and I needed assistance on each revolution. My physical therapist is pleased with my progress. She’s been kicking my butt lately. I think she wants to make sure I don’t embarrass her at Project Walk…ha ha.

Mornings remain the most challenging mentally especially now that its spring. I miss kayaking so much its painful. This is what I was doing last spring and oh how I want to do that again!!

I have to consciously decide to have a positive attitude each morning. Most of the time I’m successful, but not always. The biggest challenge is making the most of each day without losing the hope of a full recovery. There are a few things that have really helped me maintain a positive attitude and maintain hope. First is my faith in God and out of that the belief that ALL things happen for a reason even if I don’t know what that is. The next is the loving support of my friends and family…THANKS!!! The next thing is completely ignoring all the nay sayers and negative nancys out there.

Thanks again for the all the help and support. Project Walk is NOT cheap and without your help it wouldn’t even be an option. Therapy at PW and living expenses will add up to about $7000/month. So thanks for your continued support!!

Keeping the faith,

Matt

Project Walk in the news!

Project Walk on CNN! Less than a month to go before we start Project Walk. While we remain cautiously optimistic, we're definitely going to be building back some muscle mass on Matt over the 10 weeks of intense therapy. With nothing to lose and everything to gain we're heading there full of hope and determination. Matt never gives up!

In other news, Matt got his standing frame for an amazing deal thanks to another wonderful and kind friend. Along with the standing frame he got a manual wheelchair! Both these items are helpful in therapy, the standing frame is particularly important in preventing bone density loss which occurs over time when all you do is sit (a reminder to office workers, get up often and use those legs)!

Thanks for all your support over the past 10 months!

News: April 14, 2010

The deafening roar mesmerizes me as I sit there waiting for the signal going over each move in my mind. I’m nervous…very nervous! I can hardly stand the anticipation. Then there it is, the ‘all clear’ signal, a couple of taps to the top of the head that signifies that one of my friends has made it to safety and now its my turn. I take one last look at the towering granite walls on both sides, swallow the fear welling up in my throat, and peel out of the eddy letting the power of current take me. My purpose is singular. There’s no fear or any other thought in my mind except for the task at hand. I take several powerful strokes building up speed accelerating towards that critical moment of do or die. Wait for it…NOW!! I dip my paddle pulling just hard enough, lifting up with my knees, and shifting my weight to place me on the slide at the perfect angle slightly to the left. This crucially timed movement will seal my fate. Suddenly I’m rocketing down the slide, launching into the air and landing with a jolt in the white caldron known as Cherry Bomb Gorge. Abruptly, I’m upside down approaching the infamous ‘Weir!’ I roll just in time to make a critical move to avoid a beat down and an epic swim. I make it to the safety of the eddy, look up at the towering granite walls and think ‘Now this is LIVING!!’ The grin is enough to split my face in half. I wake up staring at a white ceiling that is strangely familiar, my body feels foreign, and as the memory fades I know that more adventures await me! That hope fuels my motivation and I cry out ‘I will NEVER give up!!!’

Life is rolling on! I can hardly believe it’s been 9 months. In some ways it feels like it was just yesterday and in other ways it feels like an eternity. My triceps continue to get stronger and though the progress is slow its still progress, but physical therapy continues to pay off. Some recent accomplishments include shaving my own face and drinking out of a pint glass. I have to use two hands to drink out of the pint glass, but let’s be honest most of us should anyways. Thanks to your amazing generosity I’ve purchased a standing frame that will help my bones not deteriorate.

Last, but certainly not least, I’m officially going to Project Walk and will start at the beginning of June. I’m very hopeful and excited about this. I know it will be challenging both physically and mentally, but I’m ready for a challenge! Check out what Project Walk is about at their web site.

I want to sincerely thank all of you for generosity both monetarily and time. I could not do this without your support. I’m truly blessed and I don’t say that flippantly!! I’ve been able to purchase a shower chair, standing frame, and I’ll be able to attend Project Walk due to your generosity.

Some upcoming needs are:

• A place to live in Carlsbad when I’m attending Project Walk. Rent could cost as much as $3000/month and Project Walk is using the bulk of the donations so far at a cost of $20,000 for 10 weeks.

• Hand controls for my van allowing me to drive, which will provide a huge step towards independence. The cost will be around $6000-8000.

• Care giving is an ongoing need.

Every little bit is a huge help and greatly appreciated

Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings. I hope that you are well and enjoying life and those in it!

Matt

Special Thanks!

A huge special thanks to everyone for helping me out (especially Mark Peaty on his Spring Break) it was a great excuse to just hang out. Also thanks to everyone who offered the response was overwhelming! Awesome!!

My parents finally got their much needed break. They were able to drive down to Carlsbad and spend some time at Project Walk getting to know the therapists and looking in the area for housing for June.

Preview of an update and parents need a vacation!

Update is coming...promise! Some of the highlights include shaving my own face, drinking out of pint glass without assistance, purchasing a standing frame, and very close to having everything in order to attend Project Walk. So stay tuned.

My parents, who have been taking care of me, want to go on vacation and so I need some substitutes. I need help in various ways day and night from April 6th through April 12th. Send me an email at h2othomas@gmail.com if you're interested in helping and when you can. Any little bit will help.

Have a great day,
Matt

Showing the way | MailTribune.com

Showing the way | MailTribune.com

Posted using ShareThis

February 6, 2010: Update

Some of you are thinking ‘It’s about time!’ Sorry for the lack of recent updates, but better late than never. So without further ado (drum roll) here’s what’s been happening with me.

The Holidays were fine, but I’m really glad they’re over. December was rough for me emotionally sometimes its tough to keep a positive attitude. Thankfully I had a lot of support from my family and timely visits from my friends, which I am VERY grateful for. If I had a friend off with anyone else I’m quite certain I would win hands down. I’m not boasting because it has very little to do with me I’m just lucky.

I’m not entirely sure why I was so down. Maybe it was the harsh realities of being paralyzed setting in. Or as the ski season set in I knew that, at least for this year, I would not be partaking in one of my favorite past times. I wouldn’t be enjoying that weightless poetry of floating over the crystalline paradise feeling the cold smoke sting my face obscuring my view turn after turn. I’m realizing that my passion for the outdoors, my passion for chasing the white demon in the beautiful mountains and then chasing it again as it flees to the sea was more than recreation it was a lifestyle that I loved more than anything maybe even anyone…just being honest. So adjustments have to be made. While I still look forward to participating in the sports I love so much, I’ve learned that true friendship transcends all. Our ability to perform physically is a constantly changing thing in good ways and bad, but true friendships just continue to grow and develop. It is and has been one of the few consistencies in my life. During this time I realize the importance of good friends now more than ever. I realize the importance of having good friends and the importance of being a good friend. My hope is that I'm as good a friend as my friends are to me.

Speaking of friends. Did I mention I have some great friends? On January 29th my friends put together a raffle to raise money to assist me on my road to recovery. The drawing was held at Caldera Tap House and the place was packed. My friends raised a bunch of money and it was Caldera’s biggest night next to their grand opening. More importantly it was a fun event and seeing all my friends together like that makes me get all choked up. Thank you! You guys rock!!

So, what’s new for me? Right now, I’m working on purchasing a standing frame and applying to Project Walk. Trying to work out the logistics for getting down there including living arrangements, care giving, and how long. I’m hoping to be there by March, but we’ll see. I’m going for sure it’s just a matter of working the logistics out.

Physically I continue to get stronger. My left tricep has improved by 400%. I still can't lift the weight of my arm with it, but it IS getting stronger. Lot's of little gains will add up to a big gain eventually.

That’s all I got for now.

I want to send a huge thanks to Darin, Kyle and Shaggy for putting a bunch of work to pull the raffle off, everyone who attended or bought tickets, all the businesses that donated, and Caldera for being a gracious host. This event just proves the outdoor community is a tight family that I’m proud to be a part of!

Keeping the faith,

Matt

What a party!

I'm overwhelmed by the generous support of my friends, the outdoor community and the State of Jefferson community!! I want to thank everyone who came out Friday night in Ashland. It was great to see everyone and it was a lot of fun. I get all choked up thinking about how lucky I am to have this support. From what I hear from my doctors and therapists this kind of support is not the norm. So THANK YOU!!!


Be sure to check the results because you could have won!
http://mattthomasraffle.blogspot.com/
Couldn't do this without you!!


Thanks,
Matt

Matt Thomas Rehab Raffle Drawing - January 29th

Featuring the Sundown Poachers and Derek Mauldin!
The good news is YOU CAN STILL BUY TICKETS AT THE EVENT before the raffle. The bad news is you DON'T have to be present to win (your loss).
Come tie one on with us and enjoy good live music, the raffle drawing, good people, good beer, and great times!!

Raffle Prize Information Found Here

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 8:00pm - 12:00am
Caldera Tap House
31 Water Street #2
Ashland, OR

View Map

On top of all the great prizes that have already been listed, several more have been donated.

The Sportsgrants Foundation is donating a new, never used Jackson Rocker creek boat. Be sure to check out the really cool work this great organization is doing.
The Pomodoro Restaurante in Ashland has donated two gift certificates for $50 each. Thanks for the support!

Update coming...here's a poem

I know I need to do an update and I'm working on it. In the meantime here's a poem a dear friend wrote that I thought some of you might enjoy:

for my friend matt,

always grounded, beautiful tact
what can be said
spirit floats river bed
he sits so serene
his love permeates every ravine

our God, you are amazing
catch us off guard, open hearts blazing
his life i'm so thankful
body injured, he stays grateful
with so much strength
none but him, know this great length

strength invert weakness
there's beauty in meekness
his purpose, his intuition
leads us all to fruition

first night i was there
his eyes, i'll never forget that stare
i tried so hard to be strong
tears fell, i was wrong
looking back on that moment
he gave me atonement

eager to help him
shrink his worries thin
all friends we compete
love him too much, we'll never leave

thinking back on adventure
brings me such pleasure
we climb
with open mind
drive to pilot rock
sip coffee, good talk
spontaneous, down for whatever
memories in my heart forever

these times are different
equally equivalent
that was the past
this is the contrast

like a needle to the heart
pulls my mind apart
no matter where i am
my heart is in his hand

his mom i applaud
such wisdom in her nod
his dad big strong heart
with courage from the start

he walked in my dream
let's pray peaceful ending
a great weight will be lifted
the burden, rise, shifted

matt-

you are such a blessing
so humble, always composed
in God, future blissfully grows

love,
marissa