About Us

Livin Life With A Mattitude is a state of mind, a way of life, a mantra! The idea behind a Mattitude is simple. It’s a life full of possibilities, purpose and passion.  

Here’s my story and how I came to Live Life With A Mattitude…. My name is Tricia. I’m the lucky sister to a remarkable little brother. My wonderful parents laid the foundation of a life with possibilities, and my amazing husband encourages my drive to be a steward of goodwill.

Imagine a beautiful sunny Sunday morning in June of 1982. A mother and her two children were joyfully traveling to church. One minute they were singing along to the radio and the next, they were in the hospital.

That was my Mom, my little brother and I. Our vehicle was struck broadside that morning by on oncoming driver. That was the day that changed everything.

Matt, my little brother, was only 18 months old and I was just 7 weeks shy of turning 5. My Mom was only 27. All three of us suffered severe injuries, but Matt’s were unimaginable. That sunny Sunday morning is the day that Matt went from a spunky, playful toddler to an unconscious quadriplegic on life support.

There have been many times in my life where I have taken great pause to think about that day. I have no memory of it, but I think of what that must have been like for my Mom, waking up from a coma to find 2 of her 3 babies in the hospital.  What that must have been like for my Dad and older brother, who weren’t with us that day. I’m now in my 40’s and can’t imagine the fear, stress, worry, and a million other emotions that they had to deal with.

Matt’s injuries included significant damage to his spinal cord, leaving him without the use of his body. The common misnomer for quadriplegics is that they can’t use or feel anything below the neck. In Matt’s case, his spinal cord was not severed, but rather stretched and as a result he could still feel his body. He just wouldn’t be able to use it. I’m not sure what’s worse.

That day, my parents made a decision! Matt WILL have a life full of possibilities.

Immediately following the accident, Matt spent a short stay at St. John’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. However, the care and rehabilitation that he would need could not be fulfilled there. They didn’t have the experience with a pediatric, ventilator dependent toddler. So, Matt’s journey took him to DT Watson in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. This is where he would stay for the next 2.5 years. 

This was the start of something new; finding new ways of doing conventional things.

That idea of possibilities is what lead to our family motto; If Matt can’t do something, then we don’t do it. It was a commitment to never leave him behind. We have always been united as a family for him, and for each other.

The team of therapists, doctors, and innovators showed us that there was life after disability, and that the only limitation was lack of determination.

The possibilities are endless if you believe they are. Faith and a lot of prayers help too.

It was there, at DT Watson, where Matt learned to talk again, as he lost that ability after receiving a trache for his respirator. Anyone that spent any time with Matt since then knows that he loved to talk! We learned how environmental controls could give him life back. Things like voice activated switches that could be added to his toys. He learned what it felt like to stand by way of a standing device. As a quadriplegic, he was always in the seated position. Standing is essential as it is the ultimate pressure relief that promotes skin health and prevents pressure sores. 

All of this sounds so scary, but honestly it was our way of life. There was no other way!

DT Watson provided us with so many wonderful people that laid the foundation for the life that Matt would have, that WE would have.

Matt and I have been inseparable our entire lives. I’m not sure if our bond was strengthened as a result of being in that accident together, but he and I have always shared a sixth sense. That said, he has inspired me everyday of his life.

He has lived more life in 33 years than most others will do in a 80 or 90 years.

He broke all the boundaries of “disabilities” and only knew the “possibilities”. He was one of the first children on a respirator to be mainstreamed in public schools. He went on to graduate from High School, maneuvering his way across the commencement stage all by himself with a power wheelchair that was controlled by his head movements.

The ingenuity of my Dad and determination of my Mom created one of a kind opportunities for Matt including:

• Snowmobiling and off-roading in a customized Arctic Cat Prowler up-fitted with head restraints and safety harnesses, similar to a race car, to allow Matt to safely take to the trails with the rest of the family.
• He never missed out on a day on the water, whether that be traveling by boat on Lake Erie or Lake Huron for vacation, or a beautiful day of duck hunting on Lake St. Clair. Modifications were made to allow his wheelchair to safely and securely be in the boat.  
• There was no way he was going to get out of doing chores. We would attach a leaf blower to his wheelchair and his job was to blow the grass clippings off the driveway. He took that job serious. There wasn’t a single blade of grass to be seen on the driveway.

Traveling has been a major part of our lifestyle and we said “if Matt can’t do it, then we don’t do it”. Well, I don’t think there was a time where we didn’t “do it”. During summer vacations to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, he and I would ride the Jr. Gemini rollercoaster over and over again as kids (imagine a quadriplegic on a roller coaster). Matt’s bucket list trip was a cruise through the Caribbean. It took a lot of planning and a lot of faith, but we did it – as a family! His 30th birthday was celebrated on the Carnival Dream.

Matt would not be defined by his wheelchair or his respirator. He embodied a "can-do attitude”. He didn't see himself as disabled. In fact, his “abilities” helped and inspired others.

There was never a time that he didn’t have a purpose in this life.

One of my proud sister moments was when he won Macomb County Volunteer of the year, not once, but twice for his work at Evangelical Nursing Home where he assisted the Activities Director with games and outings with the senior residents. He was passionate about his time with others, motivating and inspiring people to know their purpose. He woke up, and showed up, everyday with the attitude that “today is a good day”. I have spent my whole life with him and am still in awe of that kind of optimism.

He also spent time as a Meijer Greeter. A role he took great pride in. Being a quadriplegic and on a respirator, he could not be alone. He needed someone to be his arms and legs. He always had someone on the job with him; a family member or one of his amazing homecare nurses. He let you know that he was the boss though! On his watch, there was no such thing as a dirty shopping cart, a wet cart or even a cold cart. That said, he directed us to do the cleaning, drying and warming up for him. The role might seem trivial to some, but to the person doing the job, it’s everything. Remember that the next time you see a greeter at the store.

Pop quiz: What do you think a biker magazine and a quadriplegic have in common?

It’s an accomplishment made possible by a good attitude. Also, a little innovation, a lot of creativity, and countless amazing people.

As I said at the beginning, I’m a lucky sister. I get to brag that my little brother made the centerfold of The Horse Backstreet Choppers Magazine, with a 3 page spread in the December 2009 issue. The story featured Matt, a Hardcore Biker, with a relentless passion for life. The story  included a 230 mile ride home from northern Michigan. His Harley Davidson was customized to include head restraints and a safety harness to hold him securely in the side car, a trunk for his respirator, and a pretty awesome driver, my Dad. 

The story is amazing, but my favorite part is this quote; “When you look at a problem with the attitude that giving up isn’t an option, you will surprise yourself at what you can accomplish.”

Think about that, giving up isn’t an option!

Matt embodied a can-do attitude. He made others think of the possibilities. He has inspired me to live with a purpose. Although he passed in 2014, he left a legacy of a “MATTITUDE” and I live that legacy everyday to help others realize their possibilities, purpose and passion.

Grab some Mattitude to inspire possibilities, purpose and passion in your life today!!  

50% of our net profits are donated to human services non-profit agencies that enable children and adults to live life with possibilities beyond  disabilities.

RIP Matt

December 1980 - June 2014

"Today Is A Good Day"