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patient-story2022-05-05 12:00:00Leer esta historia en español. Spring 2022 Because of Spaulding, patients like Matt Fitzgerald have a second chance at life. On Father’s Day 2019, Matt was driving to visit family in Rhode Island and experienced a terrible car accident. Thrown from his vehicle, Matt sustained extensive injuries—including severing his spine. He was paralyzed from the waist down and was told he could die from significant complications from a massive surgical wound. Matt was determined to live. He was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital for continued acute care, then came to Spaulding Hospital Cambridge to begin his long journey of recovery. Matt spent more than two years healing at Spaulding Cambridge and Spaulding Brighton. “I made friends and family for life at Spaulding,” says Matt, which aided his extensive healing. Surgeries to remove necrotic tissue from his body left him with a wound that needed continuous inpatient care to heal. At the same time, Matt needed physical and occupational therapy to address his spinal cord injury. It was a slow, delicate balance, made more complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In time, Matt’s wound healed and he was able to head home. He is now focused on returning to his everyday life and activities with support from Spaulding

Meet Matt

patient-story

May 5, 2022

Matt and his daughter, who's sitting on his knee.

A Journey of Healing, and Hope for the Future

Matt with his eldest daughter, during his recovery.

Leer esta historia en español.

Spring 2022

Because of Spaulding, patients like Matt Fitzgerald have a second chance at life.

On Father’s Day 2019, Matt was driving to visit family in Rhode Island and experienced a terrible car accident. Thrown from his vehicle, Matt sustained extensive injuries—including severing his spine. He was paralyzed from the waist down and was told he could die from significant complications from a massive surgical wound.

Matt was determined to live. He was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital for continued acute care, then came to Spaulding Hospital Cambridge to begin his long journey of recovery. Matt spent more than two years healing at Spaulding Cambridge and Spaulding Brighton.

“I made friends and family for life at Spaulding,” says Matt, which aided his extensive healing. Surgeries to remove necrotic tissue from his body left him with a wound that needed continuous inpatient care to heal. At the same time, Matt needed physical and occupational therapy to address his spinal cord injury. It was a slow, delicate balance, made more complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In time, Matt’s wound healed and he was able to head home. He is now focused on returning to his everyday life and activities with support from Spaulding outpatient therapy. Matt is especially heartened by advances in rehabilitation research, and their promise for him and others with spinal cord injuries.

By helping us invest in leading-edge rehabilitation technology, training on innovative clinical approaches, and groundbreaking research, donations to Spaulding have an impact on our patients today and for years to come.

“I’m thankful for having such a great team across Mass General Brigham, and especially at Spaulding,” says Matt. “They saved my life, and it truly was a team effort.”

Matt’s youngest child was born just weeks after his accident, and he is finally reunited with his now-two-year-old daughter. This Father’s Day will be an especially meaningful holiday—one for making new, happy memories. “I spent years in hospitals,” he says. “I’m just excited to enjoy family life and everyday experiences again.”

Spaulding donors help make impossible recoveries possible. Just imagine what you will make possible for patients like Matt—and their families—with your generous gift today.

Imagine the Possibilities

At a time when scientific advancements can help make the impossible possible, an investment in rehabilitation medicine has never been more necessary — or more promising.

Your gift to Spaulding can make a real difference... starting now.

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