From Matt

I wanted to pass along a note from my little brother, Matt.


Wanted to give everyone an update on my injuries since its been a while since I've written. As many of you know, I had close to 40 fractures total after my accident, but the most dangerous one were my neck fractures. Of the two in my neck, the worst was a partial internal decapitation. This injury is almost always fatal and there are only a few who survive. Up until a week ago there was a possibility of a major surgery on my neck to attach my head back to my body. Sounds gross, I know. In laymans terms, they would've taken a piece of metal, attached it to the back rear of my skull, then attached the other end to my shoulder to keep everything together. This would be a permanant surgery and would permanently take all the movement out of my neck. However, last week I saw my neck doctor again and he said that I do NOT have to have the surgery, that the fractures had finally began to heal on their own! He said that there is no medical explanantion as to why or how I survived, but to consider myself extrememly lucky. Thats probably the best news I've gotten out of this whole ordeal! I do have to have shoulder surgery and that will be scheduled soon. The downside about the shoulder surgery is that the Dr. said I will be lucky to get 80% of the movement back in my arm. That is not good news, but its better than nothing. And finally, my brain therapy and other physical therapies will begin in Kansas City in about a week. They will last for 3-5 hours per day, 3-4 days a week, for a couple months to begin with. I am hopeful that the brain doctor can get my memory working properly again so that I can get out of there sooner! Anyway, those are my major updates for now. I would like to personally thank everyone for their extremely kind and encouraging words, and your thoughts and prayers. This ordeal is not over yet, but we are taking it one day at a time, and if all goes well, in about 9 months I will be able to go back to work somewhere. Thank you again for all your support. You will never know how deeply I have been touched.

Sincerly,Matt GoldenDeputy, Benton County Sheriff Department, Benton County Missouri