Surfs Up!

Tomorrow is the big day where Matt will surf for the first time since his accident!

He has his custom Cole long board all waxed up and ready to go.

Matt and Cole the amazing surf board shaper who carved out a sick custom long board for Matt to get his surf on.

Matt is meticulously applying his favorite root beer scented surf wax to his brand new board.

Matt plans to paddle out tomorrow at around 10:00am.  He and anyone who wants to join will be at Doheny Beach in Dana Point.  Look for Matt near lifeguard tower 13.  He has a beautiful Foush Followers banner that will be hung on an easy-up so it will be easy to find him.  Everyone is encouraged to bring along a surfboard, snacks and some beach chairs and hang out for the day.

This lovely Foush Followers banner will mark the spot where everyone will be.

Can’t wait to see you all there!

 

Best Day

“This was the best day of my life”

This is what Matt had to say after spending the day with friends Saturday, August 9th, 2014.

from left to right: Dave Hada, Peggy Scanlon & Satya, Marina Beerling & Lacy, Nick Beerling & Rylee, Ryan Aguilar & Bodhi, Nancy Nguyen, Matt Foushee, Debbie Foushee, Leslie Drosman, Ari Drosman & Gavin, Phong Nguyen & Kai, Ryan Selway & Emma

Matt’s friends/fellow surfers Ryan Aguilar, Ryan Selway, Ari Drosman, Phong Nguyen, Nick Beerling and Dave Hada invited him over for a Barbecue. Matt showed up thinking this was just a fun day with friends and family, which it was, but with a twist.  Matt’s friends decided to take a group photo to capture this fun day.  After the photo, which was taken in front of a closed garage door, it was suggested a photo be taken of Matt with the board he was going to borrow from his friend Ryan Aguilar for his first surf session on the anniversary of his accident. So the garage door was opened to get the board and this is what happened:

This was the most amazing day for all who were involved.  Matt was completely overcome with gratitude and it was contagious because in turn those who surrounded him were overcome as well. Before the accident Matt was like a sleeping volcano filled with joy.  This accident a year ago has shaken him, awoken him. When he emerged from the coma it was like the top burst open and joy flows from him, spreading to everyone who is near him, spilling out happiness, love and gratitude.  Not only have we all been gifted with his second chance on life but we are gifted with his endless smile and infinite outpouring of positivism.

Matt’s mantra is “Others see my accident as a tragedy but I see it as a blessing.”  Matt says his life is so much better since the accident.  He cherishes life and its fragility. He truly is happier than he has ever been.

Matt, as well as his friends and family want to extend a big heartfelt “thank you” to Cole of Cole Surfboards.  Cole and Matt’s friends hooked him up with a killer custom board to get him back in the line-up. They put one of Matt’s favorite quotes on the board.

You’re never too old, never to bad, never too late and never too sick, to start from scratch once again.  -Bikram Choudhury

Matt continually rubbed his hand over the freshly sanded board, letting his fingers slide over the words as tears slid down his face.

Cole, who typically shapes short boards, is Matt’s favorite board shaper.  He has ridden Cole boards for many years and has come to know Cole personally.  It meant the world to Matt to have this custom long board to ride for his very first surf session.

Matt had planned to surf on the anniversary of his accident at San Onofre State beach but due to the crowds at this particular beach, there is concern not everyone will be able to get in through the gates.  The new date is September 7th at Doheney State Beach.  Matt tentatively plans to paddle out at around 10:00am.  Friends and family will be there all day and everyone is invited!  Matt is looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces as well as new faces of supporters he has never even met.  

 

SHAKA!

THANK YOU AGUILAR, SELWAY, COLE, PHONG, ARI, NICK AND DAVE! Matt will cherish your generosity and friendship always.  We all look forward to many more BEST DAY’S together.

Swim, Paddle, Surf!

Since the earlier update a few months back Matt has progressed considerably physically and mentally.  He continues with his classes at school and is enjoying them very much.  In regards to his school he says, “I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be.”

Several months back Matt decided to set a goal for himself.  He wants to be back in the water surfing August 31st which is the one year anniversary of his accident.  Matt is getting stronger and stronger day by day.  He has been taking long walks and even doing pull ups conditioning his body.  Anyone who knows Matt knows that he has two passions in life (besides the love of his life Nancy of course!).  Bikram yoga and Surfing.  Matt is most at home when sweating in a hot yoga class or shredding up the waves of the ocean.  While more time must pass before he is cleared to get back into the “hot room” for yoga, he is able to work on getting back into the ocean.

Swim….

In preparation for his August 31st goal, he has been swimming in a pool regularly working on his endurance.  On June 29th, 2014 Matt spent the day in San Clemente at the beach and did a practice swim in the ocean.  It was the first time he had been back in his beloved ocean since the accident.

All suited up!

Matt and his sister Ashlee as he prepares to get in the ocean for the first time.

Matt, Aguilar and Debbie supporting Matt while he walks to the water.

This was such a special day, his closest friends and family watched him walk into the water and he was easily able to swim all the way out to the end of the pier and back with one of his best friends, Ryan Aguilar, at his side.

Aguilar and Matt getting in the water.

Matt said it was one of the best days he has ever had and the laughter between these two friends out there in the water could be heard by his family who spectated from the pier.

Matt and Aguilar floating in the sea.

See those two little specks out there? They swam out super far!

After the long swim he stayed in the water for several hours just letting the waves crash over him.  He said he loved feeling the salty water hitting his face.  Matt’s mom Debbie, sister Ashlee and girlfriend Nancy watched with pride as he completed this maiden voyage.

Paddle….

A month later on July 27th, 2014, Matt paddled out on his surf board along with his two best friends Ryan Aguilar and Ryan Selway.

 

Matt, Selway, Aguilar and Debbie walking to the water’s edge with Matt.

Aguilar, Selway, Matt and Ashlee posing for a pre-paddle pict.

Matt said it felt so good to be out on his board and he couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone other than Selway and Aguilar.

They paddled out to the end of the San Clemente pier and just hung out, floating in the water talking and of course laughing a lot as these three friends always do.

They just floated for a while, cracking each other up.

After his paddle Matt went back out into the water and splashed around in the waves with his sister Ashlee.  Matt’s sister, brother-in-law and nephews, his mom Debbie, best friends Aguilar and Selway and girlfriend Nancy all were present for support.

Surf….

Since Matt woke up after the accident, besides being the most delightfully positive and enthusiastically optimistic person ever, Matt exudes a forward momentum that is almost tangible.  Next stop on his journey is SURFING August 31, 2014.  The plan is to surf at San Onofre State Beach, a.k.a. “Old Mans”, but Matt wants to be sure everyone who wants to be there is able to attend so the location is subject to change. A confirmation of the location will be updated soon.  Matt ordered a special helmet for surfing to protect his brain which is still healing from the trauma.  He can’t wait to get out in the water with his friends and ride some waves.  Matt welcomes anyone who would like to attend.

Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

Unstoppable

Matt continues to move onward in his recovery with an unstoppable forward momentum.

Matt has spent the past several months attending Winways (a special facility for individuals with brain injuries) for rehabilitation and has made some astounding progress and he continues to attend one day per week.  At Winways he works on speech, occupational and physical therapy and has progressed in leaps and bounds.  Over the past few months Matt moved from a walker to a quad cane to a standard cane and can now walk unassisted with his standard cane.  He even recently began swimming preparing himself for his goal of getting on a surf board this summer.  He says getting in the pool and moving around in the water feels amazing.

Last month Matt, along with many of you Foush Followers, attended Coastline College’s 8th Annual Walk for Brain Injury Awareness to raise money for the specialized program they have available for people with brain injuries just like Matt.  Matt set and attained the goal of completing the walk and was able to finish on his own with his friends and family surrounded him, cheering him on.  As he approached the finish line supported by his girlfriend Nancy, he released her hand and in a very emotional moment took the final steps across the finish line walking without any assistance.  It was such a beautiful moment.  Nacy’s brother Vu had beautiful custom shirts made for everyone on Matt’s team which read “The Foush Followers” on the front.

Matt is pictured here with girlfriend Nancy as he releases her hand to walk through the finish line on his own.

 

Here he goes, walking across the finish line. Could you possibly be any more amazing Matt?

Having just started school at Coastline College Matt describes the opportunity to attend as a second chance.

Look at Matt go- pictured here on his first day of school.

Matt is now beginning his second week of school.  He said, “The first week I was really wiped out but now I think I’m getting used to it.  This is my next step in recovery.  My school overlooks the ocean and I feel so at home, I know I’m taking a step in the right direction. This is the perfect place for me right now.”

Matt is taking several classes at Coastline College;  Psycho-Social for one hour, Computers for one hour,  and Cognitive for two hours.  He also takes a smart device class on Thursdays where he is learning to use his i-pad.  His schedule is quite busy between school, swimming at the gym and continued therapy at Winways on Fridays.

Recently I was able to have dinner with Matt and he constantly laughed and joked and in-between shoveling enormous amounts of food into his mouth he grinned from ear to ear with that contagious smile of his.  I remember telling Matt that he looked good, that he looked happy, I mean really happy.  He replied:

“I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.   Some people see what happened to me as a tragedy but I see it as a blessing. Physically I have a long way to go but mentally I am a much stronger person since the accident.”

Then we both cried.  Then we laughed.  Then cried a little more.

 

Matt’s fund-raising page can be viewed here:

http://www.gofundme.com/4ow29w

Yoga Fund-Raiser 12/18/13

Just a reminder:

Matt’s big yoga fund-raiser is tomorrow, 12/18/13.  The first yoga class begins at 6:00am and the last class starts at 8:30pm.  Stop by anytime!

Please help spread the word, all proceeds will be donated to Matt to pay for his rehabilitation.  At this fund-raiser you will have the chance to bid on this autographed jersey from Ryan Dungey and gloves autographed by Tito Ortiz.

Autographed items from amazing athletes,Ryan Dungey and Tito Ortiz! Thanks Ryan Dungey!

 

Thanks Tito Ortiz!

***There will also be a raffle for a 4 day 3 night vacation at one of 200 resort locations!***

Vacation package donated by Jay Yadon of www.roamba.com. Thank you!

Stop by eat some yummy food, do some yoga if choose and check out the autographed items.  This is a good opportunity to score some unique Christmas gifts or just donate for a great cause.

Matt is making lots of progress in his therapy which is wonderful!  It is proving to be very costly though and the medical bills continue to pile up.  Matt also has a fund-raiser page for anyone who cannot make it to the event tomorrow but wants to donate.  http://www.gofundme.com/4ow29w

A big THANK YOU to Megan White, Patrice Simon and Lauren McCoy for organizing this cool event for Matt.  And thanks also to Ryan Dungey, Tito Oritiz and Jay Yadon for their generous contributions!

Thanks!! Hope to see everyone tomorrow at Bikram Yoga at The Camp!

2937 Bristol Street- Ste A-200

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

714-429-7900

Thankful

Thanksgiving is upon us and this is the perfect time to reflect on some of the things Matt and his family are grateful for and thankful for this year.

There is this:

Matt is ALIVE and doing so well! Thanks for being such a fighter Matt!

It is important for everyone to know how much they are appreciated.  Every person who has read this blog, every person who has kept Matt and his family in their thoughts and prayers, those who have donated time and money and helped spread the word of Matt’s story, THANK YOU.  And thank you to the friends and family who stayed by Matt’s side when he was at his worst, holding his hands, rubbing his feet, caressing his arms, and even restraining him when he was trying to rip his trach out and yank his neck brace off.  Each one of you have been such an important part of his recovery.  Matt is beyond thankful.  Matt’s family is beyond thankful.

There are several people who have been at the heart of Matt’s cheerleading team.  We will begin with Matt’s mom Debbie.  Matt talks non-stop about how thankful he is to have her.  She has rarely left his side since his accident and has provided him with a level of support that only a mom can.  Debbie Foushee, Matt is a lucky man to have you as his mom. The unwavering dedication to your son has been a vital key to his astounding recovery process.

Matt’s siblings.  Russ, Amy and Ashlee.  All three have taken time away from their busy families, with small children, driven many miles and spent countless hours at Matt’s side. Russ, Amy and Ashlee, Matt is so thankful to you three, he knows how much you all have worried about him and how you’ve been there supporting him.

Fred Foushee, Matt’s dad has been very supportive and in the tough position of living out-of-state.  Matt has looked forward to and really enjoyed his visits and phone conversations with his dad.  Fred’s hiking buddies have all been incredibly supportive as well.

The kindness of strangers has also been remarkable. So many have reached out asking what they can do, offering prayers, and donating money.  Matt’s friend Lauren McCoy has brought several strangers to the picture who have gone far above and beyond.

Tito Ortiz, world-famous MMA fighter and a friend of Lauren’s, has been a fan and supporter of Matt during this time.  Tito has taken time away from his very busy schedule to sign posters for Matt with encouraging words, he called Matt in the hospital and even made Matt a video.  Tito- who is one bad ‘A’ fighter and athlete said that Matt was an inspiration to him.  His words and support have made a huge impression on Matt and really helped him through some of the toughest moments he will ever face.

Dustin Penner hockey player from the Anaheim Ducks has also taken the time to autograph and write a personal message on a poster for Matt. Dustin always asks about him and has offered a great deal of support and has some hockey tickets waiting for Matt when he is ready.

RVCA clothing (a totally awesome clothing brand that Matt happens to love!) has also been a huge supporter.  Matt’s friend Lauren showed up at the hospital with a supply of clothing the owner donated to him as soon as he heard about his story.  This was such an uplifting and generous gift.  Thank you RVCA!

A nurse at Matt’s second hospital is friends with WCT Dream Tour pro-surfer Brett Simpson.  She told Brett Matt’s story and he also gave him an autographed poster.

Matt’s friend Lauren McCoy has offered a great deal of time and energy to Matt and his recovery, often spending the night at the hospital at his side as well as providing emotional support to his family.  Matt’s friend Megan White has also been a support to Matt and his family spending nights at his bedside, helping promote his fund-raising page to many news outlets such as surfline, surfing magazine and others, and organizing a yoga fund-raiser for him. A big thank you to Nancy Nguyen as well for all of her time, dedication and friendship to Matt.  Nancy provides Matt with a strong sense of comfort and she has been incredibly generous with her time.

Thanks to:

Patrice who owns Matt’s favorite Bikram Yoga studio. Dr. Meister who connected the Foushee’s to Dr. Wheeler- the oral surgeon who went waaaay above and beyond for Matt and did an amazing job. Carrie and Shawna and Paul, thank you!  Thanks to the entire Selway family, and the Aguilar family.  Ryan Selway and Ryan Aguilar, your friendship and deep connection to Matt has seen him through some dark days; he is thankful for you two.  The Bolen family (Dawn you’ve been an incredible support to Debbie!), Pops and Olga, Uncle Ben and Toni and Toni’s family.

There are so many to thank, so many who have offered and continue to offer love, support, prayer, and friendship to all of the Foushee’s.

Last but most certainly not least, thank you to Matt.  You have been an inspiration to countless people.  Thanks for being so strong, for being such a fighter, for taking this second chance at life.  We need you in our lives, Matt, you are here for a reason.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!  The Foushee Family is thankful for you!

(p.s. I am posting this from out of the country and we are having computer issues at our location so none of the great pictures I have of Matt with many of the above mentioned people can be added to this post. Sorry!  I will add them when I return!)

Home

Home sweet home.  These three words are frequently found printed on coffee mugs, needlepoint pillows made by Granny, or maybe a magnet on the fridge.  They are words often taken for granted, commonly finding their way very casually into daily conversation.

Today those three words were immensely powerful for Matt and his family, the significance of which will never be forgotten.

Matt got to go home today for the first time since his accident.  Yesterday, when he was asked, “What is the first thing you will do when you get home tomorrow?”  He was very quick to answer, “I want to see the doggies!”

Matt had a happy reunion with his family dogs. They missed him so much!

This homecoming is another milestone Matt’s family hoped and prayed they would be able to experience with him again.  After the accident no one knew if this day would ever come.  Not only did Matt have a happy reunion with his dogs, but he also had a happy reunion with his surf boards!  He was so happy to see them and to be in his own room.

Matt got a little taste of what it will be like next week when he gets to move home to his old room.  He can’t wait to paddle out on that board again!

The activities for the day were kept mellow.  He was able to chill out on the couch and watch a movie.

Kickin back at home, watching a movie.

Matt said, “It’s nice to sit and watch a movie with my Mom and Nancy and eat popcorn.”  He enjoyed a delicious home cooked meal prepared by family friend Dawn Bolen.

First meal at home. Thanks Dawn!!

This was the trial run before Matt comes home for good in a few days.  They all had a really great day.  Matt’s mom Debbie lovingly joked that Matt had better be on his best behavior or they’d send him on back to the hospital.  Matt got a good laugh about this and agreed.

Matt eating his first meal home with his friend Nancy.

Congratulations to the entire Foushee family on this momentous occasion!

Thanks to all you Foush Followers for the continued support, prayers, well wishes and for sharing his story.  Matt knows you ALL have been a huge part of him doing as well as he is.

Matt will still require long-term specialized rehabilitation, most of which is not covered by insurance.  Thanks so much to all who have so generously donated! Donations in any form and amount help so much.  And thanks to those who have taken the time to share his story and fund-raising page.

Thanks to everyone for also spreading the word about Matt’s yoga fund-raiser at Bikram Yoga at The Camp.

The Camp | Yoga Fund-Raiser 12/18/13

Great news for all you local Foush Followers! There is to be a Fund-Raiser 12/18/13 which was organized by Matt’s friends at his favorite Bikram Yoga studio at The Camp in Costa Mesa. (see Bikram Yoga at The Camp on Facebook) See below for details submitted by Matt’s friend Megan, who is a Bikram Yoga teacher and one of the fund-raiser organizers.  Thanks so much to studio owner Patrice Simon for hosting, to Megan White for organizing and Lauren McCoy for all the help. What an incredibly generous gift of time, money, use of facility and amazing contacts!  All proceeds will be donated to Matt to help pay for his rehabilitation.

Please forward, forward and forward again so we can spread the word to as many people as possible about this awesome fund-raising event.

Here are the details:

All Day- Yoga Fund-Raiser For Matt Foushee- 12/18/13

Location: Bikram Yoga- The Camp, 2937 Bristol Street Ste A-200, Costa Mesa, CA 92626   714-429-7900

As most of you know, on August 31st, 2013, our dear friend and fellow yogi was hit by a truck in Mexico! He sustained extensive injuries from head to toe! Including a traumatic brain injury which kept him in a coma for a month. Matt is now in a rehabilitation facility where he receives rigorous speech and physical therapy daily. His progress thus far has been astounding! He does as much as he can as soon as he can! Unfortunately, he still has a long way to go, and his insurance does NOT cover MUCH of the rehabilitation therapy he NEEDS!

Therefore, Bikram Yoga The Camp is having an ALL DAY CHALLENGE for Matt! All funds will go towards Matt’s rehabilitation!

 SAVE THE DATE- WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 2013!

Please come and participate! It will be an AMAZING day- full of hot classes, awesome energy, delicious and healthy food, a special auction, and more to come! You do NOT have to participate in the challenge to donate. You can visit Matt’s Fundraising Page at: http://www.gofundme.com/4ow29w

Or leave a donation at the desk! EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS, HELPS, AND IS APPRECIATED BEYOND WORDS!!!

The fact that Matt not only sustained such a devastating accident- but is STILL FIGHTING his way back- is a TRUE MIRACLE!!! And- the power of people coming together- can create miracles! So lets come together and do our part to help Matt in his recovery- he is most definitely doing his part!!!

“You never know how strong you are- until being strong is the only choice you have”

Let’s all test our strength- In honor of Matt!

Keep Climbing

Matt’s friend Lauren put together this collage of Matt. It’s amazing to see how far he has come.

A lot has happened this week for Matt.  He has done really well at St. Jude and they are almost ready to release him to his next phase of treatment.

Matt is gaining more independence every day.  He is now considered to be a level 6 on the Rancho Scale, keep climbing up that ladder Matt!

Some very exciting news is that he will be permitted to go home with his mom Debbie for a day this weekend for a trial run to see how he does.  One can imagine what a big deal this must be for both Matt as well as his family.  The plan is for him to be released permanently from the hospital next week. He will live with his mom Debbie as he continues to recover.  The Monday following his release from St. Jude he will begin an intense rehabilitation program during the day at a facility called Winways in Orange.

Right now Matt’s schedule is really busy as they have been loading him up with tons of rehab therapy.  There are small windows of time to visit and he can be pretty wiped out by the evening so it is best to call ahead these days to verify when he is available.

There are some really sweet videos on Matt’s Facebook page of his co-workers sending him well-wishes.  It was so nice of his friends to put that together for him!  https://www.facebook.com/#!/CanyouFeeltheSpirit.YEAH

Matt takes every chance he can get to express his gratitude for all of the support he has been receiving.  Thanks to everyone who has been sending prayers and sharing his story.  Here is a link to Matt’s fund-raising page.

Matt hangin with his dad Fred

Settling in at St. Jude

Matt is getting settled nicely into his new temporary home at St. Jude.  He is expected to be at St. Jude for approximately 2-3 weeks while he builds up his endurance in therapy.  After St. Jude, the goal is for him to enroll in a day program at a Post-Acute Rehabilitation Facility for individuals with brain injuries, where he will be participating in 6 hours per day of various therapies.

Matt being silly in his new room at St. Jude. Hang loose!

A full time attendant sitting with him is no longer required because he is doing so well.  His room was actually moved closer to the nurses station, the new room number being #266.  So far St. Jude has been an awesome place for Matt to be.  They are very scheduled and rather strict, which is exactly what Matt needs right now.  They are pushing him hard and his days are jam-packed with his various therapies in which he is progressing nicely.  He is often assigned “homework” and is learning to hold a pen.  He is given assignments to trace lines on paper, working on fine motor skills.  As he is getting stronger he enjoys being able to sit up straight for longer periods of time.  

Matt and his sister Ashlee having some fun.

The blended food phase is finally over for Matt and he is now eating “real” meals!  His feeding tube was removed on Thursday and he is elated to no longer  be hooked up to any external devices.  Go Matt!  He is eating lots of food now, he actually orders and eats TWO meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Now that he is eating more he has a lot more energy and he is happy to not be hungry all the time.  Matt has always loved coffee and yesterday was able to drink his first cup since the accident.  He drank two regular coffees and three decafs, trying to make up for lost time I guess. 

Matt is doing really well with his memory.  Past memories can sometimes be a little patchy, and he still does not remember anything about his surf trip to Mexico.  He is doing really well remembering everything current.  He remembers his nurses, visits he has had with friends and family and is becoming more aware of the day and time.  He still has some moments of confusion, especially early in the morning when he first wakes up or if he wakes during the night.

He is becoming more and more independent, which is what St. Jude is really pushing him to do.  He is required to do most things, or at least attempt most things, on his own.  If he needs a nurse he is required locate and press the call button all on his own without the help of anyone who may be visiting.  He brushes his teeth himself and shaves mostly on his own, just getting a little help on the right side.  As long as he has someone to supervise, he is now able to get out of bed and push himself up into his walker all on his own.  The hole in his throat where the trach was removed is healing and may take a few weeks to close completely.  

Matt is progressing quickly.  Not only is he hungry to eat, but he is also hungry to learn and he is retaining all of the information he is given.  Matt continues to amaze us all every day with his ability and ambition to learn and improve.

This week Matt’s dad, Fred from North Carolina, is in town.  Matt had a really fun visit with his dad and brother Russ, sharing a lot of laughter and jokes.  They took a walk down memory lane, recalling funny stories and jokes from childhood. 

In this photo: Matt’s brother Russ, Matt’s dear friend Nancy, Matt, and his dad Fred.

Thanks to all who are following Matt’s amazing story and for all of the support!  You can view Matt’s fund-raiser page here.