Back to page

Help Matt Walk Again

  • News Update: 3 News tonight

      18 January 2018

    Hello everyone

    Once again I it's been too long between posts but I am hoping that this one catches you all up to where I'm at with progress and what next for me.

    Today I spent some time with Mike McRoberts from 3 news, News Hub, doing an interview for tonights 6 o'clock news. I won't say any more but let you watch and hopefully enjoy.

    I hope you all understand how important your kind donations were in getting me to where I am.

    Unfortunately, when I get back to Singapore I will be having to fund my continued rehab. With that in mind I would appreciate you sharing my page with people who you think could help me complete this journey I have been forced to take on.

    I think that there is probably going to be a number of people who find themselves taking on the same journey that I am on and hopefully they take some hope and inspiration from what I am managing to achieve. I want to be there for those people at a personal level and if they are reading this they can contact me on:

    hallmatt2015@gmail.com

    News Hubs website is www.newshub.co.nz where you can see the news story once published.

    Like I have said before but can't emphasis enough, it is your generous donations that have made this possible and I am just incredibly grateful!

    THANK YOU

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Another update...

      13 November 2017

    Another quick update just days after the last one.

    I know you all get these updates as emails but I do encourage you to go to the bottom of the email and log into the site as it shows the video that I attach to each update.

    I have 75 days till I head back to Singapore and with this in mind I’m pushing very hard.

    Now that I can use crutches I want to build up to walking a km in one go as I figure that’s a reasonable distance. I also need to work on my walking speed as it’s ridiculously slow at the moment.

    I’ll give you weekly update of my walking stats. I already carved 40 seconds of my lap times. My goal is 300m by Saturday I’ll also add a length of backstroke to my total each time I have a swimming session.

    Saturday 154m 14:38 Monday 154m 14:00

    On Saturday I managed to walk into my gym on my crutches, up 8 steps and did the whole session without any assistance to go between the pieces of exercise equipment. The wheel chair stayed in the car the whole time. Whoo hoo!

    The days of using that terrible thing are numbered.

    I have been meaning to update you all on where your money has been spent as I think it’s important to be totally transparent when people are giving you their hard earned money.

    Three cycles of NeuroPhysics 3 X $2,600 = $7,800

    Acupuncture 3 X $800 = $2,400 Total $10,200

    I will be going into a fourth cycle of NeuroPhysics and acupuncture before returning to Singapore.

    As you can see I really could not have done this without your support!

    I am incredibly grateful. Thank you!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Not long now!

      10 November 2017

    Hello to you all.

    Once again I have left updates a little too long but at least I have plenty of progress to fill you all in on.

    Where to start? Right, well I did go for the re-assessment at the Spinal Unit where I spent my first four months. I had to do this for the ACC funding I was trying to get for NeuroPhysics. I managed to walk in using a walking frame and went through an hour and a half assessment.

    The findings where that I had made excellent progress and that I had moved from an ‘ASIA B’ grading to an ‘ASIA D’. The American Spinal Injury Association, (ASIA) has a grading from A through to E and apparently it helps predict if you will walk again. Bizarrely an ‘A’ score is the lowest and and an ‘E’ is the best.

    I started as a ‘B’ because I had some sensation in my legs. I am now a ‘D’ and I have 68% of my neurological function back. Some people would say thats questionable...haha..

    So, it looks like I have one last ‘grade’ to get!

    I continue to push my body to its limits each day with my goal of getting to ‘E’ and having 100% of neurological ability back. How hard can the next 22% be..haha. I’m thinking pretty dam hard but I’ll do it!

    In the last week I have gain access to the pool four times a week and I’m loving it. In the water I can get far greater range of activity for my legs. I started a month ago and was obviously a little apprehensive about being back in the water but now I am smashing each session.

    Today I managed three lengths of back stroke and walked across the width of the pool using only a couple of floatations for balance. I am also walking in and out of the pool just using the two rails for support.

    I keep telling my amazing friend Deidre that I am going to be back in their pool on the 7th of January, one year on from my accident in their pool. I think this makes her anxious but it is just one of those things I need to do. Clearly I won’t be diving in!

    As you can see from the video I have started using crutches to walk and have been working on going up and down stairs. This is something I couldn’t have dream about only a few months ago.

    A couple of people have asked if their friends or family could get in touch due to them going through similar life changing events. I am more than happy to talk to anyone who I might be able to help. My NZ number is +6422353667, if in NZ 022 3537 664 or by email hallmatt2015@gmail.com.

    Thank you so much for your kind donations that helped this recovery become a reality.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • So Much News!

      8 October 2017

    I know an update has been long overdue and I apologise for this, however I have been pushing myself harder and harder and do have so much news to share with you all.

    I’ll start with my progress over the past four weeks. It frustrates me that I can only put one video up at a time so I have added these vimeo links in the text below and hopefully you can play them. If not, you can cut and paste the vimeo link into google and they will play.

    These are some of the exciting new things I have been working so hard on.

    Climbing across the rock walk

    https://vimeo.com/237151859

    Using the low walking frame

    https://vimeo.com/237152228

    Using the exercise bike

    https://vimeo.com/237152283

    Press ups

    https://vimeo.com/237151938

    I have been pushing hard to get New Zealand’s government insurer, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), to recognise NeuroPhysics as a rehabilitation therapy. I am desperate to get other people with spinal injuries access to NeuroPhysics. My determination with this is paying off and I have a reassessment with Spinal Specialists on the 26th October and depending on that assessment a meeting with the ‘Funding committee’ at ACC.

    Having this upcoming assessment is pushing me even harder as I want to walk into that assessment on crutches. If I can get NeuroPhysics recognised it will be a huge achievement as it will help many injured people get access to a treatment that has amazing results for me. Please cross your fingers for the assessment on the 26th.

    Through my recovery I have become friends with a wonder women called Catriona Williams, a New Zealand Olympic Equestrian rider, who broke her neck in a riding accident. She is a truly inspiration person who started a very successful Spinal Research foundation called Cat Walk. https://www.catwalk.org.nz

    Catriona wants to share my story in their annual magazine and we are talking about ways for me to get more involved in the foundation. Hopefully in a future update I can share a little more of the exciting ideas we have been talking about and hopefully the published article.

    I have also been developing a ‘Motivational Presentation’ that I plan to launch shortly for a range of audiences including, senior secondary school students, staff groups, corporate and business organisations, fundraising events and sports clubs. The focus will be on people taking action and setting a clear path for their future and sharing my story about my recovery. If you or an organisation you know may be interested please contact me through my email hallmatt2015@gmail.com or +64 22 353 7664

    I will endeavor to keep you all better updated with progress and would love to hear from you.

    Take care and talk soon

    Matt

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Walking with nobody holding the bar

      21 August 2017

    Hello again

    Watch the video at the end.

    I couldn't add two videos to the one post so here is part two of todays rehab session.

    I managed to take steps without anybody holding the bar. Pretty dam happy with todays progress! Stoked!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Time to stand

      21 August 2017

    A quick update on another milestone.

    Go to the link and watch the video.

    I've been trying to stand without assistance for weeks now. Got it at last!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • The most significant day of rehab yet

      9 August 2017

    Please when you get these updates in your email take a minute and go to the actual page and watch the video.

    My recovery took a massive step forward today with feeling totally confident that my legs would hold my weight. When I walked (shuffled) along I didn’t need a back-up chair behind me incase my legs gave out.

    Removing anxiety about falling is a massive step!! My legs felt great.

    It’s all a bit odd as last night I dreamt that this was all a bad dream and I could walk again. Obviously my brain is processing all this and is getting me ready for walking.

    I’m just so pumped up and look forward to everyday of rehab. I’m sure tomorrow I will do even more.

    Hope you all are having a great week and try not to let the little niggly things get too much traction in your lives.

    Till next time.

    Matt

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • First steps!!!!

      3 August 2017

    It’s been exactly two months since I started the rehab you all gave so generously towards.

    This week I started another intense round of NeuroPhysics and am making great progress.

    Today I took some pretty solid steps towards my goal of walking. I am feeling much more confident on my feet and am incredibly focused on the end goal.

    While I am very happy with those first steps they are not the end point or the goal I set. There is going to be a hell of a lot more work required but I certainly have my eye on the prize.

    I am very grateful for the donations you all gave as they have allowed me to have access to NeuroPhysics and to work with Olly and Jane who are my two therapists. They are the most amazing people!

    If anybody you know has suffered a stroke, concussion, on-going pain or back problems I really can’t recommend them enough. Olly lives in Tauranga and Jane is in Auckland. Get in touch if you want to know more.

    Thank you have a wonderful weekend.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • To 'Standing'

      23 July 2017
    Main image

    Hello friends and family.

    I do apologise for the long gap between updates. To be honest with you this rehab is rather consuming and even my evenings are rehab focused. I have this amazing acupuncturist, Sonia Lee, who comes to see me three times a week in the evenings. The acupuncture and neurophysics compliment each other beautifully. I would recommend acupuncture to anybody who has any on-going health concerns and it’s not just for muscular problems. If you have any questions about acupuncture, please ask me about it as the results really are phenomenal. Yes, unfortunately they use needles and I’m very aware that lots of people don’t like needles but neither do I, but I just close my eyes and think how it is helping me walk again.

    I am now just over six weeks into the Neurophysics rehab and it’s going fantastically. Jane, the therapist I'm working with in the video, is such a positive person and has this amazing ‘can do’ attitude. She is a total pocket rocket who I have the greatest respect for. Her attitude and belief in me walking is crucial to this process. I also work with Ollie who lives in Tauranga and he comes up to Auckland at different times and he always makes time to see me which I jump at. I do get extra treatment from these two as I think they know how much this means and see how I’m not stopping till I walk again.

    Some people have asked me what the professionals think about how long this will take? I have never asked any doctor or medical person for their opinion about what happened as a result of my injury as I think their reply would limit my outcome. It would become my destiny rather than the only outcome I’ll accept and that’s walking. What they say or think is kind off irrelevant to me and I say that with no disrespect to them.

    I have set a goal of walking by the end of October and to do that I’ve broken it down into steps. The next step is free standing without any supports. That will be my next post. At the same time as this I am also working on getting up to a stand from a sitting position, which works perfectly with free standing as I have to get up for each stand so no extra focus is required.

    It won’t be as long to the next post as I’m going to be free standing pretty soon! Keep sending me your positive thoughts and if anyone asks how I’m going the reply I’d like you to give is ‘he’s not far off walking’…. LOL… Got to keep the mojo marching.

    Till next time folks take care and have a wonderful week.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • The Therapy has started!!!!!

      4 June 2017
    Main image

    This week I started the neuro physics therapy. It has been a crazy experience and it has tested what I believed about the human body.

    After four days of intensive therapy I am totally convinced that I will walk again.

    I am sure that you are all curious about what Neurophysics is?. It is about building the neuro pathways that I need to learn to walk. Each session is spent visualising what my legs are doing and what muscles are needed to carry out a movement. Clearly to walk one needs to start with their feet. I am so lucky that I have sensation in my feet and legs. Over the week I have felt all the muscles in my legs starting to function in a coordinated and systematic fashion that will eventually allow me to walk.

    The first step however is to stand. Hence, this week I have been concentrating on the muscles in my legs that are necessary to stand. While I am concentrating on the specific leg muscles working together your body goes into what is described as a tremor. To start with tremors feel very foreign and awkward as your body flinches and starts to move about. Your body isn't sure how to process these tremors. By day three I was experiencing tremors and was able to control them to help me build new neuro pathways. Maybe in future updates I'll add a video of me in tremor but at the moment I think you would find it rather different to anything you had seen before. To start with I think the progress will be evidence enough that this truly is the way forward for me.

    I have added a video of me carrying out an exercise which I am doing very slowly and deliberately. The purpose is to build the neuro pathways that my body needs to remain sitting and stable. This helps engage the whole body.

    While the video is a little embarrassing it does show the immense concentration and focus that goes into every movement that is practiced. It was while I was doing this movement that I experienced very strong tremors. Somehow my body managed to stay balanced on the seat while my arms and legs moved about.

    Crazily, Ollie, my instructor was able to easily place me on a huge range of gym equipment by himself. I was able to balance and sit like any other person. This is amazing considering my level of injury and the fact is I shouldn’t be able to do any of this.

    I've learned that it is going to take an incredible amount of focus, determination and time to build the many thousands of neuro pathways that are necessary to stand and then walk. Just like it takes a child many years to put together all the necessary steps and connections to walk. This is not going to be an overnight quick fix. But I am absolutely certain that I will firstly stand and then walk.

    This week has changed all my thinking of how the human body works and operates. It is quite simply a game changer. I was firstly determined to walk again but now I have a concrete pathway to achieve this goal and this is totally thanks to you all and your generosity. Please feel free to share these updates.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • What an incredible day

      17 May 2017

    Usually I would only update once a week but today has been an incredible day. It began last night with my right foot beginning to move from the ankle. At first I thought this was just another spasm. However, with more focus I realised I could move my ankle on my right foot deliberately and purposefully.

    My left foot was soon to follow suit. While it wasn't as dramatic as the right foot it was certainly moving.

    To top off last nights developments today was my first visit to the Neurophysics rehab centre. This is what all your kind donations have gone towards.

    Our session began with a conversation about Neurophysics. Basically it's about retraining your bodies neurological system to open new pathways as the old ones are blocked.

    We started using light weights to focus my concentration on my hands and my body. I need to learn to relax and focus completely on what my body is doing. After a period of complete focus your body starts to flinch and then shake. These are called tremors.

    Tremors are a sign your body's neurological system is starting to reactivate pathways. It's a strange experience. When I opened my eyes at the end my whole body was buzzing.

    Olly, my instructor, was amazed to see that my tremors involve my arms and legs moving in a coordinated fashion. He said he had only seen this before in people who had never had a spinal injury.

    How amazing is that!

    He started to ask further questions about my injury as if to clarify that I really had a C5 and C6 neck injury. He was going to let another colleague start my treatment next week as he was away but now he has asked me to wait for him to return.

    His eagerness has certainly motivated me even further. He is given me some tasks to work on over the next week, which involved my focus, relaxation and visualisation.

    I would like to thank you all again for your generous donations as they have made this treatment possible and have given me further hope that I will walk again. Thank you!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • I CAN write again.

      15 May 2017
    Main image

    What a week of contrasts.

    Last Wednesday I discharged from the Auckland Spinal Unit ,where I have been for the past three months, to another rehab facility called Laura Fergusson in Auckland.

    It was a pretty daunting move and the first couple of days were rather traumatic. This injury never stops throwing pretty big hurdles my way. The change in location was confronting as I went from having 24 hour nursing care to a far more independent care and that was scary. However, after having a weekend to sort myself out and get my mind in a more positive space my body has responded!

    Last week my right had was generally paralysed with limited hand function. It could fold half way down, but today all that changed.

    When my body starts to turn a new part on again it starts by sending these strange little electrical pulses. They don't hurt but are like a little buzzy feeling. They generally come in groups of 2-3 randomly during a day. To start with I didn't know what they were but I now know it is my brain trying to send messages that are just starting to get through. I first learnt what these were when my toes started to work again.

    On Friday and over the weekend theses started in my right hand and in my little finger of my left hand.

    Today my hand really started to turn on. My middle finger and ring finger bent right down which is the start of a grip. But the amazing news is my index finger and thumb started a pinch grip.

    For the first time in four months I could hold a pen and write. This is massive for me. I CAN write again! Admittedly slowly and just, but I can now say with absolute certainty I will be able to write again.

    What a fantastic week.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Goal one done!

      7 May 2017
    Main image

    Another great week at rehab. My manual chair arrived and I am getting the hang of moving around in it. I'm very happy with how small and light it is. The catch phrase they say is 'We want to see you and not the chair'. I did smile as I'm pretty sure we can all see the chair.

    As far as the body goes I had a couple more improvements.

    My right hand Index finger is starting to move which means I'm almost back to holding a pen. Only a week ago my OT was thinking I should start learning to write with my left hand...I politely declined.

    My legs are also doing a little more. This week I started moving my legs outwards when lying down and pulling my knees up a little more.

    I am moving to another rehab facility called Laura Ferguson on Wednesday and will be there for 4 months. I'm happy to be moving on but also very grateful for the care and rehab I have received at the Auckland Spinal Unit.

    This week I will also be starting the new rehab treatment at Neurophysics. I start with an assessment on Thursday. The next step is about to start! Excuse the pun...!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Starting point before Neurophysics rehab

      30 April 2017
    Main image

    I would like to give people an update every couple of weeks to show my progress but before I do I thought I should outline what I can currently do so you can see where I've come from. And yes you are right a video would be better....ha ha. I'll work on that for next time.

    Arm/shoulders

    • I can move my arms freely but strength is weak

    • Triceps work but are weak- push down 18kg combined

    • Biceps work but are weak- lift like 2kg

    • Shoulders are working but can only lift arms weight

    • Can just lift arms above head

    Left Hand

    • Can just fold hand into fist

    • Thumb and index can do a weak pinch grip

    • Can move thumb and index

    • Can move little finger a little

    • No controlled movement of middle/ring finger

    Right Hand

    • Can just fold hand half way down

    • Can move thumb

    • Can move little finger a little

    • Can just move middle finger

    Left foot

    • Can move big toe

    • Can push a little through foot

    Right foot

    • Can move all toes a little

    • Can push a little

    Legs

    • Can move both with a little-twitch from thighs

    Thanks so much for your support.

    Mattxx

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment