Renovating Matthew Ames – an amazing story

For those of you who missed it on television last night, channel 7’s Sunday Night program featured an amazing story on a family that is pivotal to my community, so while it isn’t a story for or about over 60s, I felt it was important to discuss it today.

Fifteen months ago Matthew Ames, a 38 year old engineer living in Brisbane felt the symptoms of “man flu” and took a few days off work to get over it.  Feeling no better after several days and numerous doctors, his family in frustration took him to the emergency ward.  Just hours later he was in a coma suffering from toxic shock that was caused by Streptococcus A (Strep A), a bacteria most of us carry in the back of our throats harmlessly.  When it gets into your blood stream it is deadly.

Over  the coming twenty four hours Matthew turned critical.  They removed one of his arms hoping the amputation would stop the spread of infection.  But it didn’t.  He was getting worse and worse, most had given him no hope of survival.  I remember the day the kids came home from school (our kids were in the same classes as his kids) and said “Luke’s dad has only one percent chance of living through tonight mum.  They left school today to go and say goodbye to him just in case”.  The next day people in our community were critically aware that Matthew had just had his remaining three limbs removed, and everyone awaited news of any hope at all.  When he went into the amputation he was given just a 1% chance of living.  His wife Di was given the choice to do the amputation or not, and she personally chose to take the action that we know now saved his life but also thrust him into a life of permanent disability that is greater than most.

With four beautiful young children under nine years of age he had plenty to live for.  But Matthew wasn’t to know until he woke up three weeks later from the coma that his limbs were gone.  It started a journey for Matthew, Diane and the Ames family that most families would crumble on.  Matthew has undergone many operations to rebuild his stumps to a length on which they can handle prosthetics and 15 months of rehabilitation and “renovation” that makes him into the stronger person we see today, both physically and mentally.  He has an ambition to have four bionic limbs attached, over coming months at the enormous cost of $500,000 and amount no family with four kids can afford.

So if you missed the special, you can watch it online here.

My kids came home from school the day after Matthew had the major amputation with stories from the Ames boys that would break your heart but give you incredible strength.  They had described the future for their dad as being amazing.  He would have no arms and legs until they attached robotic arms and legs, something they spoke of as though it had been done thousands of times before.  This week he took his next step in the journey, attaching metal rods that will one day enable his arms to connect with the future limbs that will give him some independence back.

And if you are keen or able to donate to the fund set up to renovate our friend Matthew Ames, you can do so on his blog, following his future journey at renovatingmatthew.com.  Or if you know a way to help them, contact us.

A terrific special by Sunday Night, and a great tribute to an amazing family.  Did you see it?  Could you have done what Di did?