Matt Lange's Life Story
March 11th, 2007
My name is Matthew Lange and I am a quadriplegic. I have lived in Gardner, Kansas my entire life. My earliest memories revolve around sports. I was involved in nearly every sport offered by Gardner Parks and Recreation and later the Gardner School District. The four main sports I was involved in were baseball, basketball, football, and track. There are still some track records held by me at Wheatridge Middle School (formerly Nike Middle School). My freshman year in high school I was awarded the most outstanding offensive back in football.
All of that changed November 21, 1997. I was in a single car accident that left me paralyzed. I spent 3 months in a rehabilitation hospital. After I was released I spent much of my free time doing various types of out patient therapy. I can safely say therapy was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Returning to school was another thing I had to adjust to after my accident. Over the years I have grown to be a very independent person, so it was hard asking for help with things that used to come easily to me such as getting things out of my school bag. Even with all the obstacles I had to deal with during high school, I was able to graduate with my Gardner High School classmates in the spring of 2001.
An award I received my senior year in high school and will always cherish was the “Duck Martin” award. It is given to the most loyal and active sports fan at Gardner Edgerton High School.
Sports were not only a source of entertainment and exercise for me, but they also were a very helpful teaching tool for the future that awaits me. I learned the importance of teamwork, working with others, picking and executing a plan, and overcoming obstacles.
In the fall of 2001 I enrolled in classes at Johnson County Community College. While a student at JCCC, I was on the Dean’s list for a couple of semesters. After receiving my Associates Degree at JCCC, I transferred to Washburn University in Topeka. My experience at Washburn was so amazing. The atmosphere, classes, teachers, and students made the transition from a Junior College to a University so easy.
2006-2007 is very busy for me. I received my degree in finance and management with a GPA of 3.3 on December 15, 2006. I am now looking for a job. On January 22, 2007 after numerous hours of “driving therapy” with the Kansas Rehabilitation Institute I earned my Kansas driver’s license and I will be getting married on March 18, 2007.
In this year alone my life has changed dramatically. I always go by the sayings that “Change is good” and “Things happen for a reason”. I am here today and have achieved everything because I never gave up and kept fighting even though I’ve had many obstacles thrown my way.
With all the changes occurring in my life, being independent has become more important to the quality of my life. For years I’ve had to rely on other people to take me places and do things for me. Finally I decided to drive again for the first time in over 9 years. When I was behind the wheel I felt so alive, independent and in control.
The only hurdle between me and my independence is the expense of a van specially equipped and modified for me to drive.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:27 AM Hello, I would like to set up an interview with you possibly by phone for next week. Please contact me at 785-242-1220 at your earliest convenience. Tug Quint Operations Manager KOFO Radio, Ottawa Kansas.
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