Yesterday I had a doctor’s visit with Dr. Sadowsky. The visit was for her to check up on me and get me readmitted for therapy. I will be starting my therapy up here on Monday. I am very excited about getting back in the groove of therapy. I will be working with Claire on my therapy program. I also was recently prescribed a new drug called 4-AP. Dr. Wise Young explains 4-AP very well… “4-AP (or 4-aminopyridine) is a drug that improves the function of surviving nerve fibers in your spinal cord. Most people with spinal cord injury still have some connections, but many have lost their myelin (an insulating material) and cannot conduct signals well. 4-AP allows these de-myelinated axons to send signals.” Here is more information about 4-AP (http://http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/news/May2000/4APFAQ.html). Anyway, I just wanted to share this information with you guys. Thanks for all of the thoughts, prayers, and support… God Bless!!!

Matt C

It is about time for me to give you guys an update on everything that is going on. I have a lot of things going on of late. I am all moved into my apartment and I absolutely love it. It is really awesome… It has a parking garage! Everywhere up here, people park on the side of the road, but I have a parking garage. The other day we were out and it came a downpour. While driving home I saw a lot of people running to get out of the rain and I chuckled a bit because that wasn’t me. My parents have been helping me get settled in here in Baltimore. They are flying home early in the morning tomorrow on my birthday. I guess we can have birthday breakfast before they leave. I started school last Thursday and I really enjoyed it. It was awesome to get back in the classroom and hang out with different students. It is neat because all of my professors’ call me “Arkansas”. My accent really stands out…! I also am going to be meeting with Dr. Sadowsky on Tuesday. This is the meeting to get me enrolled in therapy full time. I am excited about seeing her because she is so upbeat. She is an incredible person. That is about everything that has been going on. I will be sure to keep you guys up to date on everything that is going on. I really appreciate all of the nice comments and upbeat messages you guys leave me. I know that I would not be here without you guys. Thanks for everything… God Bless!!!

Matt C

I am currently sitting in the airport waiting for my plane to arrive. I will soon be boarding and on my way to Baltimore. I am very excited about this new journey in my life. My parents are currently in Baltimore and have moved all of my things into my apartment. I am ready to get settled and get into a groove. On Monday, I will be going to the University of Baltimore where I will be enrolled into my classes. I am excited about getting back into the classroom and continuing my education. I will also be starting therapy soon. I am ready to work hard and make all kinds of progress. Well I better wrap this up. I don’t want them to run off and leave me. I want to tell you guys thanks for everything that you do. You guys will be with my in Baltimore every step of the way. Without you, this would not be possible. Thanks again and God Bless!!!

Matt C

I had the privilege to speak to the University of Arkansas Razorback Football Team yesterday evening. My Dad and I arrived in Fayetteville around 5 in the afternoon. I met with Mark Robinson who is the Director of Football Operations for the University of Arkansas. Mark was very welcoming and showed us all around the football facilities. We checked out the position meeting rooms, the players lounge, locker room, and all of the offices. We then ate dinner with the football team. It was remarkable how organized the players were. They had a ‘Farm’ table and a ‘X’ table. The ‘Farm’ table was for those who needed to lose weight… So they ate the appropriate food to shed a few pounds. The ‘X’ table was for those who needed to put weight on… So they ate a whole lot of portions. Needless to say, I sat at the ‘Farm’ table. After dinner, I then went down to the team meeting room where I addressed the team.

Speaking to the football team was an incredible honor for me. There were no coaches in attendance, so I got to speak to the players on their own personal level. My main message was that all of the critics believed that they didn’t have what it took to be champions. I told the team what a champion was in my opinion. I told them that I believe a champion is one that not only shows up on Saturday (Game Day), but also shows up on Sunday through Friday and gives 110% both on and off the field. I shared my message of how I was told that I didn’t have a chance to ever walk again, but I am in the process of walking. I told them from what I have read and heard that all of the odds are against this team to ‘Walk’ this year. However, I told them I believe whole heartedly that this team will WALK and WALK like CHAMPIONS.

I want to send a special thank you to Coach Petrino, Mark Robinson, and all of the other Arkansas Razorback Football personnel. These guys were very hospitable and first class individuals. The players were very attentive and respectful and seemed to take in the message. It was truly humbling to have this opportunity to share my message. I have a good positive feeling that this team will be WALKING tall all year long.

Matt C

I wanted to fill you guys in on some of my future plans. I am going to be moving to Baltimore on August 23 for both college and therapy. This move will allow me to do full time therapy at Kennedy Krieger Institute. I will be attending college at the University of Baltimore-Maryland. I am very excited about this new adventure in my life. While I was in Baltimore in July, I found an apartment that will be suitable for me. I am looking forward to creating new relationships and making new friends in the Baltimore area. I want to thank all of you for your support. I am very blessed to have such a great group of people on my side. Keep up all the prayers… I need them! Thanks again and God Bless!!!

Matt C

With football season approaching quickly, I wanted to fill you guys in about my next speaking engagement. I will be speaking to the University of Arkansas Football Team on August 22. This is a tremendous honor for me and I am excited to share my message with the team. I first met Head Coach Bobby Petrino (Arkansas Razorback Head Coach) in Little Rock earlier this year when we were both speaking at an insurance convention. I told Coach Petrino who spoke just before me at the convention, “I hope you spoke on recovering from a spinal cord injury because I plan on speaking about how to attack a cover 2 defense.” He was very friendly and a great guy. He told me then that he wanted to get me up to Fayetteville to speak to the team. I will be speaking to the team during there Fall Camp. I hope my wordS will help inspire the Arkansas Razorbacks to be better football players, but more importantly better individuals. I will be sure to keep you guys in the know of what is happening in the near future. Thanks a lot for all of your thoughts, prayers, and support… God Bless!

Matt C