Matthew Sweet has given an update after suffering a stroke in October while in Toronto, forcing him to cancel his cross-country tour.
His family and friends started a GoFundMe to help cover his medical costs as he does not have insurance and has lost income from being unable to tour.
He began by describing the frightening onset of his medical emergency: “I was colder than I’ve ever been and an icy sweat came from every pore.
Caring about others, caring about what can be done, caring about what happens.
I must just say thank you to you for giving me this help.” Despite the dire circumstances, Sweet said that he also has hope.
After having a stroke in October while in Toronto, which forced him to postpone his cross-country tour, Matthew Sweet has provided an update. In order to help pay for his medical expenses, his family and friends established a GoFundMe page. He lacks insurance and has lost money due to his inability to tour. Sweet wrote a note on the GoFundMe page over the weekend, thanking all of his supporters and sharing a personal update on his terrifying experience. He also stated that he has “lived through the day where I realized I may never play guitar again,” but he intends to try making music and art again.
The terrifying beginning of his medical emergency was described by him first: “I was colder than I’ve ever been and an icy sweat came from every pore.”. Then my eyes began to flutter like eggs in a pan, and I heard a deafening white noise in both of my ears that kept getting louder. “.”.
According to Sweet, he requested an ambulance and was told he was having a stroke while being taken to the hospital, which did not initially register with him. “I was alone in Canada to comprehend that I could only see double and that I was now numb on the left side of my body, along with my face, arm, legs, and feet,” he said, adding that he was unaware of what was happening to him at the time because he did not fully understand what a stroke was. According to the GoFundMe description, “healthcare is not free for Americans in Canada,” so Sweet would need to be flown back to the United States. “”.
Sweet wrote that in order to continue receiving medical care in Omaha, he had to wait ten days for his medical team in Toronto to approve his transportation. They wouldn’t allow me to return to the United States unless I was accompanied by a medical team, flew, and went directly to a rehabilitation facility. All of these items were already extremely expensive. What is humanity doing, he continued, “by not making these things available as part of our culture everywhere?”.
He admitted he had never truly understood the value of caring before, but he learned it during his stay at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital (he claimed to have been released in early December). He wrote, “I cried a lot at my terrible fate, but I was also so thankful for the fate I had in life, because it was a wonderful fate, and I was so lucky and found everything I wanted again and again, as I learned to walk, bathe, strengthen my legs, and learn what hard work really was.”. I guess not many people are able to state that. However, you have shown me the value of caring. caring about what occurs, what can be done, and about other people. I never really believed anything mattered, but I’ve come to realize that caring does matter. “.”.
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He added, “I’ve lived through the day where I realized I might never play guitar again, that I might never draw a straight line again, or that I might never enjoy the pastime that developed over just the last year of my life, coloring with dip pens and ink, and painting with fountain pens.”. “I now know what it’s like to have to reinvent oneself; when the person you were before is gone, you have no choice but to either quit or keep going. I feel compelled to continue, and I feel a heavy burden doing so with the amazing support that you, many of whom I don’t know, have given me.”. You have my sincere gratitude for this assistance. “.”.
Sweet stated that he has hope despite the dire situation.
“I’ll try my hand at music. I’ll do my best. I’m going to attempt creating art. In a life full of more sadness than anyone could possibly know how to handle, I will attempt to express myself because that is all I have ever known and what has ever made me happy. That’s life,” he said in closing. “Today, may each and every one of you discover a glimmer of love and hope, as well as a future to work toward, just as you have assisted me in finding it. “.”.
