Southern California man shares story of near-death experience after bug bite
Matt Stepien was a healthy, happily married, 48-year old, in good health, with a good job, and grandkids. On December 15th, 2004 he was taken by ambulance to a trauma hospital where he went into a coma. Without having been out of the country, it was determined that he got a virus from a bug bite that caused a brain hemorrhage. He suffered permanent neurological damage, 3 major surgeries, 6 months in hospitals, and almost 2 years of physical therapy.
Three weeks later, he woke up from the coma but found himself paralyzed – he could not move any portion of his arms or legs - not a finger or a toe. After several months of therapy, Matt was able to use a walker and after a total of 5 months in medical facilities, was released to go home and continue his therapy on an outpatient basis. He would continue with this physical therapy for another year-and-a-half.
But his recovery was not to be easy. A side-effect of Matt’s brain injury caused an unusual bone disorder called Heterotopic Ossification. Soft tissue near joints were turning to bone. It affected both of Matt’s hips, to the point where he was bent over 40 degrees at the hips and experiencing severe pain and discomfort while walking and sitting. He had to have hip surgeries to remove the excessive bone growths.
After two-and-a-half harrowing years, Matt comes to realize that he will almost certainly remain permanently handicapped, with nerve damage to his right leg and foot and damage to the balance portion of his brain.
All from a bug bite.
Life After Near Death
By Matt Stepien
List $14.95
195 pages trade soft cover
ISBN 978-0-9817540-1-7
The book is available on Amazon.com or you can get more information at
www.lifeafterneardeath.com
His new book “Life After Near-Death” describes his ordeal and the recovery and trauma he went through. The book is a physical, mental, and spiritual rollercoaster ride -- part documentary, part mystery, part comedy, and part love story. It is a deeply personal true story about achievement in the face of unimaginable adversity – 100 percent real life drama and inspiration.
It's time for another smiley story contest!
