NBC Profiles Scuba-Diving Vent Patient
January 24, 2007
AARC Times readers learned all about Matt Johnston, a 29-year-old ventilator-dependent man from Minnesota pursuing a lifelong dream to go scuba diving, in the July 2006 issue.
We found out about Matt from AARC member Gene Gantt, who learned about the young man and his diving aspirations via his company’s web site, VentWeaning.com, and subsequently helped him with some of the equipment he would need to make the dream come true.
Gene checked back in recently with some good news about Matt’s progress, and we have a follow up coming in our February issue, letting everyone know Matt fulfilled his dream of diving in the ocean last November.
But NBC’s Today Show has beaten us to the punch.
The show did an extensive piece on Matt and his dad – who works from home so he can help care for his son – during the Thursday morning telecast on January 18. Watch the inspiring video online to see just how special this young man is – and why he isn’t about to let a little thing like a ventilator stand in the way of his dreams.