MATT LONG UPDATE

Friends of Matt,

HE HAS MOVED! Matt has finally made it through the first transition to the next stage of his race, like going from the swim to the bike in the Ironman. He is still in the NYU Weill Cornell Medical Center at 68th and York but is now in the rehab facility. Great news. Lots of thanks for all of your prayers, cards, food, DVDs, and gifts and positive karma that all helped keep him in the race.

REAL IMPORTANT: That with all of this great news our job as his friends is that we still need to put self-control and self-restraint at the forefront of our thoughts about Matt. He is in a transition stage that can be tricky right now, from a hospital bed with machines helping him along and wires and tubes all over, to a much less busy environment. The environment is a very serious one though and he definitely needs a couple of weeks to settle in to his new temporary life situation, so please do not go to the hospital looking to see him right away. I understand that the rehab center is more accessible than the ICU, (of course) but there are also 30-odd other people sharing the area with Matt and they also deserve some consideration. Part of the problem is that so many people want to see him and he may not be 100% ready to see those people, based on a person by person basis. I have not gone down to the rehab yet and am waiting for the OK to lend Matt a hand however I can. Right now it means giving him some space. His family is his shoulder to lean on and they are there for him every minute possible.

That brings me to REAL IMPORTANT #2: (Even his family must abide by the following rule.) The rehab center has visiting hours are that are STRICT. 4PM to 9PM NO EARLIER, NO LATER. We have to think of it as a job for him with the idea that you would not go and see him while he was rescuing someone from a fire. That would in no way help him and may disturb the others who are also trying to get a job done. Give it a couple of weeks, for his sake, so he can find a comfort level. Also when that time comes remember two things; A. It may be a tough spot that day, so feel the situation out if you do get the go-ahead to see him and B. Plan on keeping the visit short like a quick hit and go from there. As it is they are working him out pretty fervently and he is sore and tired which only adds more thought to his very busy mind.

I apologize for being so blunt sometimes but since I am a point of information for Matt, and am in the know, I do not mind if I seem a bit rough around the edges. For me it is all about Matt and what is best for him and what he wants based on the conversations that I have with him or info I get from the family. Let's all keep this in mind.

Thanks for everything.

TERRY BRENNAN