The Klamath River Festival was a huge success and a great time!  We raised enough money to cover the mobility conversion for our new van and enough to pay for some therapy in San Diego!!  A huge thanks to all who attended, donated and helped out.  I'm honored and feel blessed to have this amazing support!  Check out the pics and more to follow!

​Big news!  We're getting a new van and it's a Sprinter!  As it turns out a Sprinter set up for a wheelchair costs the same or less than setting up a minivan for a wheelchair.  It's also going to be set up for camping...yay!!!  When it's all said and done we will have saved a few thousand when compared to a minivan and we have a much more useful vehicle!  Oh, and it'll be set up for me to drive!!

I'm 99% done with my MS in Civil Engineering and I've started the job search.  It's a slow process, but it's going great and its just a matter of time.  I'm hoping to find a position doing some kind of hydrologic and/or hydraulic engineering involving rivers.  I can't even begin to tell you what an awesome organization Swim With Mike is.  They've paid for my entire Master' program, which has definitely opened up some doors for me and has been long time goal of mine!   

Many of you have asked what my plans are.  Right now I'm taking a break from therapy and working on getting a home program going.  I had to take a break from the therapy because I can't afford to do therapy and replace my van.  My plan is to finish school, find a job, establish a routine for therapy at home and take periodic trips to San Diego for additional therapy.    

Even though I'm not doing therapy I still have large fundraising needs.  A new wheelchair van cost about $70,000.  I'm also raising money to get a a Functional Electrical Stimulation bike (~20,000) for home therapy and for a making a trip to San Diego for therapy in November.  Thank you so much for your support!!  

If you are inspired by my story and would like to support me on my journey please consider donating once or on a monthly basis.  To donate click on the button below.

We are all moved and settled in Medford, Oregon.  It feels great to be back in the State of Jefferson, but we miss our friends in San Diego.  The move in no way means I'm giving up on therapy we just needed to regroup and raise more support.  The main reason we moved was to save money to purchase a new wheelchair accessible van, which will cost around $60,000.

Hello friends!  First, I just want to thank you for your ongoing support!

This Spinal Cord Injury stuff is a long, hard road to travel and your perseverance gives me the strength and fortitude to continue on!  I am honored and grateful to have your amazing support! 

Married life is great!  We're having fun and living life.  I am truly blessed to have found someone who is just awesome!! 

The Klamath River Festival is just around the corner on Labor Day weekend.  It is an absolute blast with awesome beer, food, music and great people!  There will be whitewater races on Saturday and ALL skill levels are welcomed!!  For more details go to:  Klamath River Fest

Last week I started working out at Strides SCI and it has been awesome! My trainer Josh left PW for greener pastures, so I'm working out with him at Strides! We have been working together for over 3 years and it's great to be working out with him again!  I'm no longer going to Project Walk for rehab, but have found a perfect rehab combo in two new facilities near us in Southern California.  In addition to Strides, I am also now going to a place called VIP NeuroRehab.  VIP has some really cool equipment that nobody else has and the staff is awesome!  Project Walk was great, but what made it great were the trainers!  I don't want bash PW, but if you're curious why I left shoot me an email.  

I don't know if you know, but I'm currently in grad school to get my MS in Civil Engineering through Colorado State University.  I have only one more semester to go!!  It has gone by so fast and would you believe that I've gotten all A's...crazy uh?!  An amazing organization, Swim With Mike (Injured Athletes Scholarship Fund), has made it all possible!  Please consider supporting them!  They are one of the rare non-profits that actually give out support.  They give out 90 cents of every dollar donated, which is mind blowing!!  

Thanks to your support I got an arm exercise bike for home!  Now I can get some cardio training in without having to go anywhere!  Time to shed some .lbs!!!  

Life is going great and I have no complaints...other than the not walking thing of course!  ;)  

I continue to persevere and I'm keeping my eye on the finish line! Thanks to your support and the loving support from Melissa I'm able to stay positive and keep charging ahead!  

Love you all!! 

Many of you already know this, but in case you haven't heard I got Married!!!!  To one Melissa Schenck!  It was an amazing day and if you were there thank you for being a part of our special day!  If you didn't get invited...sorry, but we were trying to keep it small!  We could have very easily invited 500 people and we are so blessed to have so many friends!!  If you were not invited we still love you and appreciate your friendship!  We will be doing a love tour in August up north so stay tuned for upcoming dates!  I hope all of you get a chance to meet Melissa!  She's amazing!

Many of you know that I've been attending Project Walk in Carlsbad, CA and have been making great progress.  Well, I'm no longer going to Project Walk, but now I'm going to place called VIP NeuroRehabilitation.  Unfortunately there have been some changes at Project Walk and it was time for change.  VIP is amazing place with great people and some specialized equipment.  My favorite piece of equipment is the Lokomat, which allows me to walk on a treadmill.  There are only a few Lokomats in the country and I'm very lucky to have access to one.  Then I'm also working out at home for now and getting a lot of standing in.  

It has been 4.5 years since my injury and I continue to make daily progress.  Recovery is a slow and tedious, but I'm making progress and I will not give up.  All of the progress I've made so far is thanks to your support!

Grad school is going really well and I'm 5 credits away from having MS in Civil Engineering!  It has been a lot of work, but amazingly rewarding on many levels.  It has been refreshing to focus on something other than physical therapy.  A huge thanks to Swim with Mike, which is the organization that gave me a scholarship covering all my tuition.  Please consider supporting this organization my behalf by clicking on the following link.   
https://swimwithmike.org/fundraisers/Matt-Thomas-fundraiser/pledge

Well, that's it for now.  Thanks for checking in and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

So I know this sounds familiar, but I'm sorry this has been a long time coming.  Grad school and Project Walk has kept me very busy.  It's no excuse and I'm sorry.  Many of you are generously supporting me and I could at least keep you updated. 

I'm finishing up my first year of graduate school and it has been awesome!  Two classes are completely done and one to go, which means one more paper and a spreadsheet model and I'll be half way done with my MS in Civil Engineering!  Yay!!  A huge thanks to the Swim With Mike organization who are generously paying for all my tuition through their Physically Challenged Athlete Scholarship Fund!  This organization is amazing!!  Please consider making a contribution to support on my behalf at https://swimwithmike.org/contribute/sponsor-a-participant/ you can then select my name fro the drop down list.  Having the opportunity to attend grad school has been a huge psychological benefit!  I get to focus on something other than recovery!  I almost feel like a real human!  I got straight A's last semester for the first time ever!  I'm taking this opportunity seriously!

Progress at Project Walk has been awesome!!  I've also started using a machine called a Lokomat, which is amazing!  Check out the video!

Finally, the 5th Annual Klamath River Benefit Bash is in the works this year!  Labor day weekend!  It's going to be awesome!  We've got 2 bands!  There will be food and drink!  Raft, Kayak, and SUP races and a friendly float!!  DO NOT MISS IT!!!!   Check out the details:  Klamath River Festival 2013


Check out a little video from last year!

The new year is in full swing and I'm back at Project Walk!  2012 was an amazing year filled with moustaches, good friends, physical progress, studying and a cute little blonde girl!  Now I'm back at Project Walk for hopefully another year and the next semester of grad school is about to get under way.

I was able to get back to Project Walk after only a few months off.  I was worried about regressing after being gone for several months, but I was able to pick up right where I left off!  I continue to make progress day by day!  It can be slow, but I'm more determined than ever!  My legs have been having lots of energy and some increased burning sensations during my work outs.  I still can't feel anything, but they're changing....and change is good!!

I'm starting the 2nd semester in my pursuit of a graduate degree in Water Resource Engineering through Colorado State University.  It's an online program, which allows me to continue working out at Project Walk.  The first semester was a lot of work, but I came out if with A's in both classes.  I was a little worried at the beginning, especially after not understanding a single word from the first lecture, but thankfully I was able to pull an A from both classes in the end.  It felt really good to be able to focus on something outside of recovery and blow the cobwebs off my brain.  Thanks to scholarship from Swim With Mike I'm able to pursue this dream!

Melissa and I are still going strong!  I'm truly blessed to have her in my life.  She's an amazing girl with a huge heart and has been a daily encouragement to me!  

God has truly blessed me and other than the not walking thing life is going pretty awesome.  I'm fulfilling a long time goal of going to grad school, I've got an amazing girlfriend, and have the most amazing group of friends and family!  

Do want to be part of an inspiring story?  Do you want to give and know that you're generosity is having an impact?  Go to my donate page and for less than a cup of coffee a day you can support my pursuit of regaining my mobility!!  Sign up and support my dream for the next year! 

THANK YOU!!  THANK YOU!!  The support I continue to have is overwhelming and if you're reading this then that means you!!

To make sure we're all on the same page...I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON PROJECT WALK!  I'M PLANNING AN IMMEDIATE RETURN!!  SO I NEED YOUR SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER!!

The crazy looking guy to the left here is me after 10 straight days of studying!  That's right!  Studying!  Grad School is kicking my butt!  So what's been going on with me and what am I doing?

• New web-site!  Thanks Melissa!
  
• Going back to Cali - Project Walk
  
• Grad School, Klamath River Benefit Bash and what not

Just launched the new web-site!  What do you think?  Matt Never Gives Up is looking somewhat official, but don't let that fool you it's still just me.  Thanks to my lovely girlfriend Melissa for putting this together!  It's still a little rough, but it's coming along.  Keep checking back as we edit and update it...feel free to comment with suggestions.

The above video was taken my last week at Project Walk and it may not seem like much, but this is huge!!! It's a major breakthrough in my therapy, which is why I'm very anxious and excited to get back to continue this amazing progress!!  As long as I keep making progress, and there are people to support me, I want to keep going to see how far I can make it!!  Never give up!

So what will it take to get me back to Project Walk?  Money is the only limiting factor...unfortunately.  I need 250 people to commit to giving me 25$/month for the next year.  I'll be launching a new campaign called 
25 2-Fiddy here real soon.  With it's success I can continue Project Walk and my Mom could stay home with my Dad.  My parents have sacrificed so much already, and I'm stuck between not wanting to be a burden to them and desperately needing their help.  If you want to support a cause where every dollar helps immensely then click the button below...its really easy and it feels so good!  :)  If you have already donated then let me say thanks and that I'm truly blessed to have your support.

The Klamath Benefit Bash was a huge success!  We raised $5500 and a great time was had by all!  It was great to see everyone!  Thank you for coming out and supporting me!  Love you guys!!  Thanks to all the sponsors for their generous support!!  I'll be adding a sponsors page soon.  Next year's event is already in the works...

I've been staying at my parents house in Etna while I regroup and figure out my return to Project Walk.  Their house is a little less than accessible, but thanks to some very generous people there is now a roll-in shower and concrete parking pad.  Thanks Larry Neil, Mike Theofanides, and Don Miller for the stellar concrete work and thanks Myron Johnston and Bill Sheaffer for the shower!!!  They are awesome and help so much!!

I started Grad School online through Colorado State University.  Let me tell you this studying thing is tough!!  I love it and it feels great to be focusing on something in addition to therapy.  I'm able to do this thanks to an amazing organization http://swimwithmike.org/ who is paying for all my tuition.  I can't afford to actually work yet so I'm preparing myself for when I can work again. 

Last, but not least t-shirts will be available soon!!  Details coming soon so check back!!  All the cool kids will be wearing them.

Check out the photos of the home modifications and Klamath Benefit Bash!