Those Who Inspire

On March 24, 2005 Matthew Pollard’s life course was dramatically altered. Matthew wrecked his 2004 GSX-R 1300 motorcycle which left him in a coma for the following three weeks. The accident also punctured one of his lungs, broke four of his ribs, shattered his t5 vertebrae, broke his t6 and t7 vertebrae, and it also resulted in a brain injury. The brain injury would affect Matthew’s memory for the next month. Matthew stated, “I had no memory for the first month after I woke up”. He would then spend the next several weeks in ICU and ABI before completing rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Almost three months later Matthew returned home with two titanium rods, “a few screws and clips”, and “a piece of hip in my back to support me”. Due to the accident, Matthew was now a t5 paraplegic but he did not let that stop him from accomplishing the dreams he had set forth for his life. In August of 2005, he returned to school and graduated the following year from Warner Robins High School. Graduating High School was a huge accomplishment in his life but the next years would prove to be a tough and trying time for Matthew.

After High School Matthew admits he became “depressed and overweight”. These feelings would continue until he was at a point where he “contemplated suicide”. Most people did not know this because Matthew didn’t show it on the outside. To the outside world Matthew was a cheerful and happy guy. On the inside, he did not feel that others could relate to him. He credits his initial life change to a car that his father purchased for him. Matthew stated that it “allowed me to be mobile” and “to get around”. He would use his new car as motivation and he quickly obtained his Associates Degree in Psychology.

Shortly after Matthew obtained his Associates degree, life would run its course again. He would soon have another setback. Matthew developed a “decubiti on (his) sacral area that was 7 inches long by 7 inches wide” and it went “seven inches deep” into his skin. He was forced to have another procedure that left him on bed rest for the next six months. While many would have given up Matthew would not be deterred.

Recovery behind him, Matthew set his eyes on a Bachelor’s degree and he took action to obtain it. He wanted to become a psychologist so that he could help those that had “suffered from catastrophic injuries” like he had experienced. He also began contemplating the creation of a website called Strong Wheeled. The website would help individuals who previously experienced “catastrophic injuries”. He took action and searched the internet for websites where individuals with wheelchair related disability could relate to each other and share positive inspiration. He found several websites that were “help me or fix this websites” but could not find any “look what I have done” sites. He wanted to provide inspiration through action. With a sketch of a logo, Strong Wheeled began.

Matthew’s idea for his website, Strong Wheeled, was a site where the disabled world could get all the support they would need. Forums, chat rooms, photos, blogs, and groups were all envisioned for the newly established site. Strong Wheeled is “meant to show the more positive aspects of being disabled”. He continued, “Strong Wheeled is not only for those who use wheelchairs for reasons such as MS, CP, Spinabifida, Spinal Injuries, or Amputees but for anyone who wishes to become enlightened about the lifestyle”. The world is now a place where individuals in a wheelchair can do the same things everyone else does. They go about doing the same things “just a tad bit different”.

While developing Strong Wheeled, Matthew began volunteering with different wheelchair events. He began volunteering with the “Houston County Sharks”. The Sharks team is comprised of individuals in grades 5–12 who have disabilities. They play handball, basketball, and football throughout the state of Georgia. Some of the individuals who have played with the Sharks have “gone onto get college wheelchair sport scholarships” and some even play “internationally for pro-wheelchair teams”.

If Matthew is not spending his time with the Sharks, he volunteers with “Life Rolls On”. Life Rolls On is a program that “hosts an awesome surfing event throughout the nation”. Through his volunteer work Matthew has bonded with the founder Jessie Billauer. Matthew says “Jessie Billauer is an awesome person who enables this event in which beaches are made wheelchair accessible”. Pollard attended the event in Jacksonville, Florida with hundreds of other volunteers. Those with disabilities “catch a few waves” and he even admitted he gets his own toes wet every once in a while.

With the Strong Wheeled website established, Matthew turned his thoughts back to school. This time he would set his sights on another major accomplishment. He was accepted into Mercer Law School and is now a “2L” with the program. His passion includes helping individuals “who have never been taught or shown” the right way of life. He hopes to use his law degree to continue to help those with disabilities.

The day to day struggles for Matthew are no longer as much as an issue as they were in the past. He states, “I got over it and now I am on the path to being an attorney in one year”. When asked what advice he would give people, he provided, “don’t let your circumstances define you. Sure it is okay to have a bad day every now and again” but “damnit, get up and make life happen”. He provides a valuable and unique outlook on each of our problems. Matthew further stated, “remember there is someone that would always love to have your problems”. Your legs hurt, “someone else would love to feel or even have their legs”. You’re broke, “someone would love to know what it felt like to not be broke”. You’re lonely, “someone wish they knew what love was”. If you think something is bad, someone will always be willing to switch spots with you.

Over dinner, I asked Matthew about complacency and how he feels about it. He responded, “We are all entitled to time off, but after you have rested, go get it”. If you want to travel the world, buy fancy cars, donate millions of dollars, Matthew says “if there is a will there is a way”. Anything is possible, “disability or not”. While he addresses that walking would be easier, he notes that he doesn’t spend time worrying about it because he can focus on what he can do from his chair. Matthew has a profound outlook in stating “don’t waste opportunity”, and continued with, “time is the worst thing to waste, as it is finite with no refund policy”. His advice is simple, “do not get stuck on the cannot’s and whys” but “rather you should focus on the how’s and nexts”.

Strong Wheeled will continue to progress and the website’s founder does. Matthew hopes that Strong Wheeled will be more commonly known to those with a disability so that they do not feel alone. Within the next decade, he hopes that Strong Wheeled will reach a financial level where it could donate a wheelchair each year to an individual in need. Strong Wheeled “wishes to remove the stigma associated with the disability because quitting was never an option…”