July 6, 1990-August 28, 2006
Even though Matthew (Matt), has been gone for almost three years now, his mom, Marsha wrote to me and shared pictures of her sweet dog. Like Frankie, he suffered a spinal injury at the age of five, but was able to walk again.
Marsha, a retired police officer loved her little Matt with all her heart. When he went down it was a difficult thing to adjust to. Marsha said, “My whole life changed and it just evolved around Matt and his care.” Marsha was single and lived alone. As a police officer she worked midnights on the road.
Marsha luckily had a lieutenant with a big heart. He offered Marsha the opportunity to work the front desk and told her she could bring Matt to work with her. “It was a dream come true,” Marsha said.
Initially when Matt was in the hospital recovering, which was 45 miles from Marsha’s home, her lieutenant sent an officer every night to sit with her at the vet’s office and keep her company. Marsha said, “Then one night an officer arrived with a card and $250 they collected to go towards the vet bills.” Marsha said she cried like a baby and will remember that moment for the rest of her life.
When Matt was well enough to go home, every evening after that Marsha would pack him in a clothes basket and was able to do his physical therapy right on her desk while at work. Marsha said, “I never left him for a moment. Not even to take a break or get something to eat.” She was so lucky and had a team of officers who helped her out. They would come into the office and offer her a break so she could get a bike to eat. “I’d come back from my break and would find the guys with Matt on his back doing the bicycle movement on his legs just like I did for him during his physical therapy.” She went on to say, “Matt was the Kendell Station mascot and everyone pitched in to help the little dachshund who was so hard to resist.
Matt had a great attitude during his whole ordeal, and never gave up hope, even though Marsha did at one point. Marsha read through the paperwork to order a dog cart for Matt. But she never had to because Matt decided he wanted to walk, and walk he did.
It wasn’t an easy road for Matt, but his super-hero attitude is what made him so determined. Marsha said, “He never flinched at anything and acted like he was the same as the rest of the dogs.” Matt had lost a lot of muscle tone in his rear legs and he would sometimes fall to one side when attempting to walk. Ramps were put up around the house, but Matt was determined to climb the little step, just like the rest and did not want any special help.
Every year Matt participated in helping raise money through “Walk for the Animals.” Marsha said, “The walk was too far for him, so we pushed him along in a stroller.” No doubt he brought smiles to many.
“I know this is a traumatic thing to most people, as it was to me,” Marsha said. “It’s a hard decision to make because not everyone can afford or have the time to take care of a dog with this injury. But if they come through this with no pain, you can still help them live a quality life.”
Just like I have learned through Frankie, Marsha learned from Matt, to never give up and to have the courage to make the best of a difficult situation. Marsha said, “You know, before Matt, I would always be negative and think of the glass half empty, but now I think of it as always full.”
In August 2007 Marsha met a woman at her local vets office whose dachshund, named Goldie was in a dog cart and just had surgery. She asked the woman if she could take Goldie home for three months and see if she could help her walk again. The woman did not know how to care for Goldie, so she was relieved and grateful for the help. Marsha hung Goldie’s dog cart in the garage and after three months returned Goldie to the woman walking again. What a testament to the lessons Matt taught Marsha, and she in turn, paid it forward.
I have no doubt Matt looks down from heaven with immense love for Marsha and is her constant guide. Another beautiful example of how dogs can impact our lives profoundly. Sweet dreams little Matt…
