The family of Mayville State quarterback Matt Donovan is looking ahead amid his hospitalization after suffering a severe brain injury in a game last month.
“We spent a lot of today finalizing plans for Matt’s next step,” Matt’s father, Terry, shared via Facebook on Monday, October 6. “The ICU team at [Fargo, North Dakota’s] Sanford [Medical Center] has done an absolutely incredible job. They saved his life, cared for him through some incredibly difficult days, and have helped get him to the point where he now needs a more specialized level of recovery care.”
The Donovan family will determine where exactly Matt is headed in the coming days.
“We are excited about this next step because of the work these places do with severe brain injuries,” Terry said. “They will work with Matt on stimulation, wakefulness, movement, breathing, and eventually a whole lot of therapy. There is a long road ahead, but that road is starting to take shape.”
He added, “I look at Matt lying there and all I want is to have one of our conversations. We have had some pretty deep ones over the years about never being satisfied with where you are, always finding a way to make yourself better, and continuing to chase the things you want out of life. Matt has always done that, and I believe he is going to do it again.”
Matt was airlifted to Sanford on September 19, after being involved in a helmet-to-helmet hit during a game against Simpson University.
Matt underwent surgery upon arrival, at which time doctors removed part of his skull in an effort to release the pressure from his brain.
Terry later revealed that Matt had been diagnosed with pneumonia while in the ICU, leading to the removal of his breathing tube.
“Some days really test your patience. Today was one of them,” Terry shared via Facebook on September 28. “Matt is being treated for pneumonia. His provider feels comfortable with the treatment plan and told us pneumonia is common for patients in the ICU, especially after time on a ventilator. It is still scary for us. We want to share the struggles along with the good. The plan is to remove his breathing tube and place a trach tomorrow.”
He further explained, “We had hoped he might be ready to take that step on his own, but we are hopeful the trach will make him more comfortable and give him the best chance to keep healing.”
Matt’s journey has not been without some positive developments, which Terry shared last week.
“For the first time since two Saturdays ago, Matt opened his eyes on his own,” Terry wrote via Facebook on Thursday, October 1. “His nurse and I both got to see it. His eyes were open for probably around 20 seconds. Then they closed down to about a quarter open for another 30 seconds or so before he shut them again.”
He added, “Matt is not fully awake or conscious yet. Opening his eyes today does not mean he has suddenly recovered or that we are out of the woods. But it may be another sign that he is beginning to work his way toward wakefulness, and after everything he has been through, that was an incredible moment for us.”
