Matt Isbell and his wife Barbara live on a 17-acre farm. He still mows it with a large tractor, chops and gathers firewood and enjoys scotch. According to Matt, “If you can hit the 90 year mark, you’ve already accomplished a lot health wise.” Now at age 92, Matt is looking back on an accident that threatened his independence just nine years ago, and how Sam Swope Care Center’s Rehabilitation Center changed his mind about the benefits of therapy.

In April 2017, Matt was focused on spring cleaning. He was pressure washing the second story of his home’s exterior when the ladder he was standing on fell and left him dangling by his fingertips. He still remembers thinking the ground wasn’t that far away. “I decided to just let go,” said Matt. When his right leg hit the first patio step, his femur shattered.

After a hospital stay, and battling a bout of pneumonia, he wasn’t keen on facing additional medical care. His daughter, Rachel Hunt, worked at Sam Swope Care Center and convinced her dad that rehabilitation treatment would help him get back to his home and the things he loved.

“When I got the call my dad had fallen and shattered his femur, I was working as a hospital liaison for Sam Swope Care Center,” said Rachel. “I knew the odds were against him and the orthopedic team at The University of Louisville were concerned that my dad may not walk again.”

A veteran and a 32^nd degree Mason, Matt firmly believes attitude is everything.

“Changing an indifferent attitude can make a huge difference in your life, and that’s what I had to do with physical therapy,” said Matt.

“When I started rehab, I was told I may not be able to walk or walk without a limp. The staff was great and instilled in me the mental capacity to keep going. I walked out without a limp.”

Matt kept up with his rehab exercises at home, and even today, will seek more therapy to keep up his mobility.

“I’m an advocate for rehab. I tell my friends if they need therapy they should go,” said Matt. “It will do you good.”

Now nine years later, Rachel is still in awe at her dad’s ability to keep going. “This past fall and winter he chopped his own wood and loaded it up in his tractor to build a fire every morning,” said Rachel. “He would not be able to do any of this without the help of rehabilitation therapy and the team at the Care Center. They set the tone for his life after suffering a traumatic fall.”

She added, “They also told him to stay off ladders.”

Matt listened and while he said he could climb a ladder, he doesn’t. He is looking forward to another season of gardening and enjoying time on his tractor. Watch Matt’s story below.