As we celebrate Veteran's Day we have an update to a story we first brought you 8 years ago. It's a story of courage, love and sheer determination. In 2004 Army soldier and Sylvania native Matthew Drake was critically injured when a bomb exploded in Iraq. 13abc's Lissa Guyton has been covering his remarkable recovery for years, and she spent time with him today before he spoke to students at a Sylvania Junior High School.
Lissa says it is amazing to see how much progress he's made since the last time she spoke with him. From the very beginning, Matthew's dogged determination has proved doctors and textbooks wrong.
He has a quick wit, an infectious smile and his story should make you proud to be an American, "No one comes home without scars both inside and out."
Matthew's world changed on October 15, 2004. He was driving an armored humvee that was attacked by a suicide bomber. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and the four other soldiers riding with him were killed, "Recovery from my wounds has been the toughest battle of my life. I was trained to be tough and I'm not about to quit."
Matthew spent several weeks in a coma. At first doctors didn't know if he'd live, let alone walk and talk again. Our cameras were with him in 2005 as he was going through his painful recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D-C. We also went to Omaha, Nebraska in 2007 as Matthew went through what's called post acute rehabilitation. His mother Lisa Schuster says the center taught her son to really live again,"There's surviving and then there's living and at first I thought my son had just survived, but now I know he's going to live, really live and be happy and I thought we'd lost that."
It's hard for most of us to imagine the painful and often difficult road he's traveled in the years since then but today he has two part time jobs and lives in the Ann Arbor area, "I am here, I'm doing a lot better and it feels great."
He speaks to groups about his experience and he's never lost his infectious smile and optimism,"Sometimes it's hard not to be able to do what I used to do and sometimes it's hard to admit that I have to ask for help but it's just the way it is."
As Matthew speaks to people about his life he says his most important message is to encourage all of us to never forget all of those who serve,"God bless America and God bless you."
Matt and his mom Lisa just came back from "The Stand up for Heroes" event in New York City.
They say it was an amazing experience to not only meet all kinds of famous people but to spend time with others who are going through the same things Matthew has been through. All of us at 13abc thank Matthew and all those who serve.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-05-26 02:11:18 GMT
Monday is Memorial Day, but the Glass City got a head start on celebrations by holding it's holiday parade Saturday morning. Memorial holiday weekend is a time to remember the men and women in the armed
Toledo honored the men and women in our armed forces during their annual Memorial Day holiday parade Saturday morning.
Saturday, May 25 2013 12:48 PM EDT2013-05-25 16:48:21 GMT
Thousands of guests had a chance to ride attractions all night long at Disney parks. Three Disney world parks stayed open for 24 hours yesterday -- to kick off the memorial day weekend. Guests pulled
Thousands of guests had a chance to ride attractions all night long at Disney parks. Three Disney world parks stayed open for 24 hours yesterday to kick off the memorial day weekend. Guests pulled all nighties at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland and the Disney Adventure Park in Anaheim California.
Saturday, May 25 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-25 16:39:57 GMT
One woman is without a home this morning after the duplex that she was living in caught fire. It happened just before 1 a.m. at a duplex on Vance street. Firefighters say when they arrived the upper
One woman is in the hospital after an early morning fire. The fire started at a duplex on Vance street. Investigators say the home might need to be demolished. When crews arrived on the scene flames were shooting from the roof. The cause is still under investigation.
Saturday, May 25 2013 11:54 AM EDT2013-05-25 15:54:24 GMT
We are following breaking news, Toledo Police say the man found shot inside of a car on North Reynolds near Dorr Street has died. Police say Kenneth Collins, 20, was found unconscious inside of a car
We are following breaking news, Toledo Police say a man found shot inside of a car on North Reynolds near Dorr Street has died. Police say Kenneth Collins, 20, was found unconscious inside of a car on North Reynolds early Saturday morning.Investigators say a passerby flagged down a trooper who found Collins inside of the car. Collins later died at the hospital.
Saturday, May 25 2013 11:54 AM EDT2013-05-25 15:54:24 GMT
We are following breaking news, Toledo Police say the man found shot inside of a car on North Reynolds near Dorr Street has died. Police say Kenneth Collins, 20, was found unconscious inside of a car
We are following breaking news, Toledo Police say a man found shot inside of a car on North Reynolds near Dorr Street has died. Police say Kenneth Collins, 20, was found unconscious inside of a car on North Reynolds early Saturday morning.Investigators say a passerby flagged down a trooper who found Collins inside of the car. Collins later died at the hospital.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:03:53 GMT
A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up. 13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.
A man was filling up his tank when he noticed the pump kept running, even after he finished filling up. 13abc went looking for answers to see what drivers can do if they've been overcharged.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:11 PM EDT2013-05-26 02:11:18 GMT
Monday is Memorial Day, but the Glass City got a head start on celebrations by holding it's holiday parade Saturday morning. Memorial holiday weekend is a time to remember the men and women in the armed
Toledo honored the men and women in our armed forces during their annual Memorial Day holiday parade Saturday morning.
Saturday, May 25 2013 6:33 PM EDT2013-05-25 22:33:46 GMT
The weekend that begins the unofficial start to summer brought a record-breaking freeze to some parts of northeast Ohio this Saturday morning. Record lows were shattered in Akron and Cleveland. Youngstown tied its record.
The weekend that begins the unofficial start to summer brought a record-breaking freeze to some parts of northeast Ohio this Saturday morning. Record lows were shattered in Akron and Cleveland. Youngstown tied its record.
Saturday, May 25 2013 12:48 PM EDT2013-05-25 16:48:21 GMT
Thousands of guests had a chance to ride attractions all night long at Disney parks. Three Disney world parks stayed open for 24 hours yesterday -- to kick off the memorial day weekend. Guests pulled
Thousands of guests had a chance to ride attractions all night long at Disney parks. Three Disney world parks stayed open for 24 hours yesterday to kick off the memorial day weekend. Guests pulled all nighties at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland and the Disney Adventure Park in Anaheim California.
Saturday, May 25 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-25 16:39:57 GMT
One woman is without a home this morning after the duplex that she was living in caught fire. It happened just before 1 a.m. at a duplex on Vance street. Firefighters say when they arrived the upper
One woman is in the hospital after an early morning fire. The fire started at a duplex on Vance street. Investigators say the home might need to be demolished. When crews arrived on the scene flames were shooting from the roof. The cause is still under investigation.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:00 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:00:44 GMT
A late season frost was observed around the area on Saturday. Temperatures dropped down to 36 degrees which was cold enough for some patchy frost to develop in areas. The late season frost comes with a
Near record lows were recorded on Saturday one year after record highs were observed with highs in the low 90s.
Saturday, May 25 2013 9:54 AM EDT2013-05-25 13:54:50 GMT
A Bloomville man could spend 84 years behind bars. He's charged with allegedly having sex with a minor. The Advertiser-Tribune reports that Torrance K. Norman II, 36, appeared in Seneca County Common
A Bloomville man could spend 84 years behind bars. He's charged with allegedly having sex with a minor. The Advertiser-Tribune reports that Torrance K. Norman II, 36, appeared in Seneca County Common Pleas Court on Friday.
Saturday, May 25 2013 9:49 AM EDT2013-05-25 13:49:22 GMT
The National Weather Service released an area map showing this past winter's snowfall. Most of the viewing area ended up between 5 to 20" below normal. Snow amounts were near normal for the southern part
The 2012-13 winter season ended warm, wet, with few big storms.