AMTRYKE Recipient: Matt Dawson
• August 19, 2022
amtryke recipients people weve helpedMatt Dawson's life dream was being a firefighter...he was with the Lubbock Fire and Rescue, Station 2, in Lubbock, Texas. He was living his dream and loved being a firefighter who serve whole-heartedly. Matt can be described as a gentle giant as he stands 6' 4" and he is known for his bear hugs.
On January 11, 2020, Matt was doing what he loved best working on a scene located on North Interstate 27. Matt, fellow firefighters and police were working the traffic accident scene when the unthinkable happened…a truck rolled and hit him, Lt Firefighter Eric Hill, and Lubbock Police Officer Nicholas Reyna. Matt was the only survivor, and his life forever changed.
At age 30, Matt was now on his long road for recovery. After reaching a stable point, he went to the Craig facility in Denver, Colorado. This facility specialized in TBI’s (Traumatic Brain Injury), and they are known as being a top facility for this type of injury. He and his family believed they were blessed to be going there. Matt was there for about 6-8 weeks having 5-6 hours of therapy Mondays through Fridays. It was important for his family to be there and be interactive during therapy, so they could be trained on how to care for him when he came back to Lubbock.
Since being back home in Lubbock, he has received his therapy through Moody’s and currently, UMC Team Rehab: Neuro and Pediatric Center. It was his physical therapist, Brandon Rix, at UMC Team Rehab: Neuro and Pediatric Center, who referred Matt to the Lubbock Monterey Chapter of AMBUCS for an AMTRYKE therapeutic tryke. Lubbock Monterey Chapter of AMBUCS along with their sponsors and their SummerFest Fundraising Event provide funds for AMTRYKE therapeutic trykes to be given to qualifying recipients at no cost.
On August 13, 2022, at the annual SummerFest Fundraising Event, Matt was presented his very own AMTRYKE allowing him to continue in his muscular strengthening and improving coordination while having fun and the ability of riding his AMTRYKE with his family. You see, each evening, his family makes a point of riding their bikes. Now, Matt will be able to join his family and ride along with them. Throughout Matt’s AMTRYKE fitting process, he always expressed how blessed and thankful he was in being a recipient to an AMTRYKE. The AMBUC members assisting in fitting his AMTRYKE, received thanks and bear hugs from him!
While Matt’s AMTRYKE was sponsored solely by the Lubbock Monterey Chapter of AMBUCS, it usually takes sponsors and the help of many people from the Lubbock Community for an AMTRYKE recipient to receive their much-needed therapeutic tryke. To become involved in the Lubbock Monterey Chapter of AMBUCS, you can DONATE NOW or become a SPONSOR. Come on out and JOIN US at our luncheon meetings and see what we are all about. We are the Lubbock Monterey Chapter of AMBUCS: Proud of our past…Engaged in our present…and, excited about our future. As it was in 1960…and as it still is today…We stand Shoulders Together!!
Matt Dawson with his family and the Masked Rider at the August 13, 2022, SummerFest Fundraising Event. This was taken the evening he received his AMTRYKE sponsored by the Lubbock Monterey Chapter of AMBUCS.
Lubbock Monterey AMBUCS
P.O. Box 53591
Lubbock, Texas, 79453
