Moving Forward

The Wounded Warriors were greeted at the airport in Orlando by a huge supportive crowd of well wishers!

Matt is now SSG Matt Lammers (Retired)! As of the end of October Matt has returned to civilian life. He returned to Olathe to live until he is able to resume rehabilitation in Oklahoma. Matt recently was awarded a trip to Orlando from the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes which included his parents and his two daughters . We all attended the Road to Recovery Conference and met up with many old friends and made some new ones. Matt has accepted a position with the Coalition and American Airlines which will allow him to continue his own quest to walk again and give him a chance to begin to give back to all of those who have supported him and his fellow wounded warriors. Matt and his daughters were taped for a Sesame Street segment focusing on the families of wounded soldiers which should be aired this spring.

On the "beach" at the conference.

Sesame Street set

Homecoming!

Matt is due to be discharged from the army on October 29! He will be moving back home to be near his family! It has been a long time coming. Welcome home, Matt! We will surround you with our love.

Anniversary

Thank you, everyone for all of your prayers and support.

Matt has decided to leave the military. He is elligible for full medical retirement. The process for leaving the army will take some time. Matt has determined that this in not the best time to continue to pursue walking. He is due for a rest! He will continue to live in San Antonio for the time being in an apartment with his friend, James Orlowski.

Matt's one year anniversary was this past week. Many of his family joined him in Texas to celebrate his life. His sister, Windy, and her family were able to be with Matt for the first time since before he went to Iraq. All of us were with him in spirit if not in person.

Meeting Kolby, Windy's son. At the coast near Corpus Christi

The gang at the beach house in CC

Matt demonstrating his new wheels.

This is the iBot chair...look it up on the internet. It is amazing!

Please Say an Extra Little Prayer for Matt

Matt is struggling with some major decisions. Please say a few prayers for him and for all of those wounded by this war.

Matt Receives Award for Senator Bob Dole

On Friday, May 2, 2008, Matt was honored to receive the Bob Dole Humanitarian Award for Service to the Disability Community for Senator Dole who is the first recipient of this award presented by the Special Education Department of the University of Kansas on the occasion of the department's 50th Anniversary.
Matt was asked by Senator Dole to accept the award for him because he was unable to attend the Gala. The university brought Matt and his friend and fellow soldier, James Orlowski, to Lawrence for the presentation.

Legs

Matt has been up on his C-legs but we do not yet have a picture!

Just for fun!

Thanks, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Wayne!

The First Photo Speaks for Itself!

Matt thoroughly enjoyed his first bike ride since he was injured. He actually rode almost 80 miles over three days. He hopes to enter more rides in the future.

Here are some links to sites that have lots more information and links to video and photos of the ride:

http://www.kiiitv.com/home/16715926.html?video=YHI&t=a

http://www.caller.com/news/2008/mar/16/wounded-warriors/

http://soldierride.blogspot.com/

Matt also has some other great events coming up. In April his unit will be returning from Iraq. Matt, Angel and Terry, Jr. all plan to meet the troops when they return to Fort Riley. It will be the first time since their injuries that all three of these guys will be together as well as be with their unit.
In May, Matt will be receiving an award for Senator Bob Dole at the University of Kansas in honor of the anniversary of the special education department. Senator Dole will not be able to attend and has asked Matt to be there for him. Matt said he would be honored to do so.

Matt is an uncle, again

Matt has become an uncle again. His sister, Jessica, delivered a precious baby girl (who was not due until mid-June) on March 6. Matt's newest neice weighed in at one pound and twelve ounces. She must have Matt's fighting spirit because she is doing very well!

A bit of news...

Matt hopes to participate in an arm bike race to Corpus Christy (fifty miles?!) in March!!!! He is swimming every day; does 6-8 laps to warm up; is able to dive to the bottom to retreive objects. He tried surfing on the wave machine which was cool, but made him very sore.
Matt has passed the base driving test, but hasn't yet taken the DMV test. He gave back his crutch this week and has been walking without one, using the stubbies. He is expecting his C-legs in the next few weeks and has a friend who is going to take him to buy his first pair of shoes, so we are all still eagerly waiting.
June 10 will be one year after his injuries and Matt said he thinks he'd like to have people around.
C-leg

A Lot Has Happened

Several things have happened in the last few weeks which have been pretty difficult for Matt but things are beginning to look up!
Matt ended up in the hospital with a bleeding stomach ulcer last Wednesday. He was released from the hospital on Friday, 2/1, and is doing well.
All of the events of this past year have really taken a toll on Matt's family. Matt and Tessa have decided to live apart. Matt is now living in the barracks.
We, Matt's parents, were able to visit him this past weekend and help him to arrange his living space. It is small but should be comfortable for Matt.







The address that was posted on the first page will no longer work for reaching Matt and will not work for Tessa or the girls in a few weeks.

Please keep Matt and his family in your prayers.

New Photos

I have posted new photos of Matt's legs as they are healing. To view these photos you can click on http://mattslowerlimbs.blogspot.com/ to get to SGT. Matt Lammers, Photo Page .
Unfortunately, Matt was not able to get to New York to see his friend. Hopefully, John Blakesley will be able to get to Texas to see Matt.
Matt is back into regular therapies and has gotten a replacement leg for the one which he broke while visiting KC. He has not yet gotten his full legs. Soon, very soon...

Great Start to a New Year

Matt's family has enjoyed a wonderful visit with him and his wife and children over the holidays. Thanks for making the trip, you guys!
Matt got to thank Pat Kerr, State Veterans Ombudsman and Operation Outreach, Missouri Veterans Commission, in person for all that she has done for him and his family. Pat and some of her family were traveling through KC and took time to come to visit with Matt. Pat got to try out the chairlift for which she was instrumental in getting funding.

Pat and Matt meeting in person, 1/1/08

Matt will be traveling to New York to visit with an old friend, John Blakesley, who was with him in Iraq on Matt's first tour. Matt will then be returning to San Antonio for rehab and hopefully his next legs which will have knees.