I'm consistently getting stronger and more energetic.  I'm continuing to walk as much as the weather allows.  My balance and gait have made huge gains and it feels like its still on a slow, but sure, upswing.  I've had a ton of time with my boys and its going quite well!  I can still be dad, still travel and speak, still encoursage and mentor.  I'm a new man, but still able to be Matt!  :-)

A few weeks ago, I decided I was ready to walk a mile. I set the trip meter on my truck and mapped a loop around my neighborhood and this is my 4th week walking a mile 3 times a week! At first it was a struggle but I felt better today than I have yet and set my time record at 32 minutes! I'll keep lengthening my strides and trimming that time! This recovery process isn't over until they put me in a box and cover me with dirt! :-)

It's the end of April 2012, a little over a year since my neurological setback & a couple months past the 3 year mark since my avalanche:  Finally, the last 3 or 4 weeks have been positive as I've made strides of improvement in my walking and balance issues from the setback!

There is still a lot of uncertainty as it's difficult to diagnose something that won't show up on the scans. What we are thinkin now is additional cell death along the perimeter of my spinal cord. There are cells that were killed off in the original injury leading to the need for rehab from wheelchair, to cane, to walking. It's likely that additional cells were damaged and hung on initially, but their life span was shortened. Those cells may now be calling it quits. It's not yet been confirmed. I'm in the process of getting my records to neurologists at University of Washington Medical near Seattle. I want to be sure we get some good eyes on it and look at treatment options.

The neurological setback is still making it pretty difficult. I'm functioning and able to write, speak at events, and take care of my boys but at times my balance and coordination has caused me to fall, sometimes hard falls. So, I've sent my records to a neurologist in Couer d’Alene, Idaho and will meet with him May 25th to dig a little deeper and find the cause of the regression. Please pray that God gives us direction. Thanks!

AWESOME NEWS from yesterday at the pool!  I've been putting my left arm (bad arm) up on a small backboard to let it float on the surface and try to move it without the resistance.  No luck the first day but yesterday I could let it float out a little and then PULL IT BACK!  I did it a dozen or more times and even lightly bounced the backboard off my body a few times!  It was such a good feeling to see my arm MOVE FOR THE FIRST TIME since the accident!

I've had some regression in my spinal injury over the last few weeks.  I'm losing significant strength and coordination in my right hand, my good hand, and some struggle with left leg motor and balance as well.  Have a spinal MRI tomorrow, January 25, to see if we can pinpoint the problem.  Results soon.