“I was in a new tree stand that I had just hung. I remember being in the tree stand, and I remember thinking this does not feel very stable and I tried to get under the tree stand and the next thing I remember is waking up at Wesley on Christmas Day,” said Matthew Hague, a traumatic brain injury survivor.
Two weeks after the fall, Matthew came to Madonna’s Lincoln Campus to begin his recovery.
“I got to Madonna, we started therapy right away. I mean, I don’t even know what I would be like if I didn’t have the amount of therapy that I’ve had in two weeks. So where I’m at now, I’m testing within normal limits on everything, or mostly within normal limits. I’m not back to 100 percent yet, but I’m walking around by myself, I’m problem-solving by myself,” said Matthew.
“Getting those extra touches of therapy, started my recovery process. That’s what got things clicking, gets my brain working, my motor control. I don’t think that would of happened, I know that wouldn’t of happened as fast had I stayed, had I gone home and into outpatient treatment,” said Matthew.
“I’m a nurse manager, of a med surgical/post-surgical unit, a 24-bed unit, so I see what it’s like behind the scenes, helping with the nursing staff. This gave me an opportunity to be the patient, see what it’s like, and I’ve been very impressed with Madonna. They run a great team, run a great program here,” said Matthew.
“Be prepared for the intensity, but be excited about it! The intensity is really good, especially early in recovery,” said Matthew.
Learn more about Madonna’s traumatic brain injury program.