In Memoriam: Matthew Nagel
Donation protected
On January 13th, 2018, Matthew Nagel committed suicide.
Matt was 27 years old. He had a miraculous fighter's spirit that literally saved his life. In 2007, when he was just 17 years old, Matt was struck by a passing car while he and his brothers walked to their high school bus stop. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, one that he bravely battled in multiple hospitals over the course of several months. Then, Matt championed through the uphill battles awaiting him again: he fought through neurological rehab and extra high school courses. He somehow still managed to juggle a normal teenager's social life -- he lived for the laughs he shared with his best friends: his brothers.
As time passed, Matt still battled. Now, though, his war was internal. Matt attempted to receive professional help several times, and he had the support of his loved ones in each attempt he made to continue to fight against his demons. He remained hopeful when his stay at a facility was cut short by a need for another patient. He pushed on when a great job opportunity slipped between his fingertips for the second time. He was a fighter, and we were all rooting for him.
We will never know any more than this. We can hope, as I suspect Matt would have hoped for anyone else, that our fighter is at peace. In Matt's case, peace might be goofing off in his mom's backyard with his brothers while she sneaks snapshots to savor those little moments.
These are the imges we're left with. The memories. The legacy of life. Of a candle so bright, a candle blown out far too quickly.
We need to make sure Matt's legacy lives on. We need to take care of the loved ones he left behind. We need to help them! So if you're reading this, donate. Even if it's a penny, donate. Anything for this grieving family will be instrumental in helping them through this tragedy.
Come on, guys, let's do this for MATT!!
Matt was 27 years old. He had a miraculous fighter's spirit that literally saved his life. In 2007, when he was just 17 years old, Matt was struck by a passing car while he and his brothers walked to their high school bus stop. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, one that he bravely battled in multiple hospitals over the course of several months. Then, Matt championed through the uphill battles awaiting him again: he fought through neurological rehab and extra high school courses. He somehow still managed to juggle a normal teenager's social life -- he lived for the laughs he shared with his best friends: his brothers.
As time passed, Matt still battled. Now, though, his war was internal. Matt attempted to receive professional help several times, and he had the support of his loved ones in each attempt he made to continue to fight against his demons. He remained hopeful when his stay at a facility was cut short by a need for another patient. He pushed on when a great job opportunity slipped between his fingertips for the second time. He was a fighter, and we were all rooting for him.
We will never know any more than this. We can hope, as I suspect Matt would have hoped for anyone else, that our fighter is at peace. In Matt's case, peace might be goofing off in his mom's backyard with his brothers while she sneaks snapshots to savor those little moments.
These are the imges we're left with. The memories. The legacy of life. Of a candle so bright, a candle blown out far too quickly.
We need to make sure Matt's legacy lives on. We need to take care of the loved ones he left behind. We need to help them! So if you're reading this, donate. Even if it's a penny, donate. Anything for this grieving family will be instrumental in helping them through this tragedy.
Come on, guys, let's do this for MATT!!
Organizer
Danny Nagel
Organizer
Bethlehem, GA