As a Vice-Chancellor I am lucky enough to meet people on a
daily basis who inspire me. They might be a student who has overcome
significant hardship to be accepted into university and go on to top their
class, a staff member who thinks of an innovative new way to do something, or a
member of the community who is doing their bit to help others.
Every now and then however you will come across someone who
complete blows you away. Someone who’s story is so powerful it makes you look
deep within yourself to see if you to have those same qualities. For me that
happened when I had the pleasure of meeting Matthew Ames.
Matthew is
a husband and father of four (as well as the brother of one of our lectures Dr
Kate Ames), who just over a year ago suffered from a severe illness, whereby
the only way to save his life, was to amputate both arms and both legs.
Afterwards he was in a coma for three weeks and spent almost two months in
intensive care. In the year since his operation, Matthew has made a recovery
that has amazed everyone who has shared his journey, powered by love and
support from his family, a positive attitude and focus on what he can do,
rather than what he can't.
Matthew is without a doubt one of the nicest and most remarkable people I have
ever met. His bravery and resilience in the face of such adversity is nothing
short of amazing. To see what he has achieved in only one short year since his
illness makes you really believe that nothing is impossible.
Everyone at CQUniversity was lucky enough to have the
opportunity to attend a guest lecture with Matthew and I know that every single
person who went along would have come away a better person because of it.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Matthew,
and also to your wonderful wife Di.
If you would like to learn more about Matthew and his story
please go to http://renovatingmatthew.com/
Me with Matthew and his wife during their recent visit to CQUni Rockhampton
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