Matt's emotional farewell to rehab teams who helped him walk again
Matt pictured back row, fourth from the left, with his rehab team and patients whom he has become friends with.
Putting one foot in front of the other – a simple action we all take for granted every day.
For Matthew (Matt) Haylett, it took almost six months to achieve what had been the unimaginable after a regular trip to his local beach at Mullaloo turned to devastation.
Unknowingly diving headfirst into a sandbank, Matt's life changed in an instant.
"As soon as I went into the water my whole body just froze – I couldn't move at all," Matt said.
"At first my friends thought I was joking but then they quickly realised it was serious with one of my friends and a stranger helping pull me out of the water and onto the beach."
The 18-year-old was paralysed from the neck down and underwent spinal surgery at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) where he spent a month recovering on the trauma ward.
He was then transferred to the Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) State Rehabilitation Service (SRS) to begin his rehabilitation journey.
"I was initially bed bound and then wheelchair bound so it was all about getting my legs stronger – using the reformer machines and doing lots of squats and weighted leg presses.
"I spent every day in the gym, which is something I used to do before the accident, but I had a different purpose this time. I was motivated to get on my feet again."
FSH Spinal Rehabilitation Clinical Nurse, Monique Carbone, said Matt surprised so many of the SRS team with how far he came in such a short space of time.
"Matt came to us from RPH bedbound in a collar with a very high-level spinal injury," Monique said.
"With his 'can do' attitude, Matt was very committed from the start and it was these traits that set him up to achieve the best possible clinical outcome.
"He quickly became an inspiration to a lot of other patients as he was always socialising and encouraging others on the ward during their rehab experiences."
There were emotional scenes last Friday when those same patients and staff were there to support Matt with cheers and tears as he walked through the doors on his own.
While he's now been discharged, Matt will continue with his physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions as an outpatient from home through the FSH Spinal Outreach Service.
Matt was only a few months into an apprenticeship with Western Power when the accident happened. He says his employer has been extremely supportive and he's hoping he can get back to his new job as soon as he's physically able to.
"I've been away from my family and home for so long - I'm just looking forward to getting back to some sort of normal," Matt said.
"I used to really enjoy playing rugby, soccer and basketball so it would be good to get back into my sports again too.
"I spent my 18th birthday on the spinal ward, and while the staff helped make it feel special, it will be great just to celebrate my next birthday with family and friends at home."
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