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“Heidi had twins!” Madden joked, commenting on the fact that his wife has had to deal with his disability at the same time as the baby’s needs.
“That’s the big bet. Who’s going to walk first, me or Michaela?” Madden laughed.
Since then, an outpouring of support from the community has overwhelmed the Maddens. That support system is still going strong, while at the same time Madden works to get stronger himself.
The surgery, which was last November at New England Baptist Hospital, was planned to alleviate debilitating pain and back spasms Madden was suffering that limited his activity periodically, both at his job as an employee for Verizon, and as a soccer coach.
“When I talked with the doctors they said that the surgery would help. It would get rid of the back spasms and I’d be able to play soccer with the high school kids,” Madden explained. “So that was the route we took, and I was excited. I couldn’t wait to have it done, you know. When I woke up I couldn’t move my legs.”
The doctors, according to Madden, have been very supportive and “are keeping their fingers crossed” for recovery, but are still not sure what happened.
“They don’t know whether they hit something, whether something got pinched. They really don’t know. At least that’s what they’re telling me,” said Madden.
Erin McDonough, vice president of public affairs at the hospital, said the hospital and the doctors could not comment on the case.
So after spending time at Marina Bay Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, starting off in a wheelchair, he now has progressed to walking with crutches and braces on his legs. He goes to therapy three times a week at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, which he attends for an hour-and-a-half at a time. The sessions are intense but have greatly helped improve his mobility.
“I don’t use the wheelchair anymore,” Madden said proudly. “That’s how it is, you know what I mean? Like they’re trying to get me to get new braces instead of these, [motioning to the supports on his legs] that come all the way up my legs. That’s like another hurdle.
“I’ll be excited if I get to the new braces. … Each thing’s like a hurdle; each thing’s like something you pass, and it’s good because at least you see some sort of progress.”
Madden exudes a positive attitude, which may help during his recovery and hours of rigorous therapy. Also helping are the many friends who stop by with food, gift baskets, coffee and other thoughtful offerings. During this snowy winter, neighbors and friends even shoveled the walk.
“The shoveling was huge,” Heidi said.
Currently many of those people are in the process of planning fund-raisers to help the family. The first event, an evening social, will be held Friday, April 3, at the IBEW Local 103 Hall, located at 256 Freeport St. in Dorchester.
According to event Chairman Paul Panariello, the event offers a way to help the Madden family by buying a $20 ticket, making a cash donation, buying raffle tickets, or donating items for an auction that night.
The committee is also planning more events throughout the year to support the family, including a professional women’s soccer game featuring the Boston Renegades against the Washington Freedom on Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Brooks Field at Milton High School.
“People have been phenomenal,” Madden said about his friends planning the fund-raisers. “It’s
overwhelming. I tell people, kidding around of course, it’s like going to your own wake. You see all these people that you know would be around. It’s incredible, because I don’t think you realize how much you
do and then something like this happens. It’s
way overwhelming, because I sure don’t think I do enough to warrant what everybody’s doing, that’s for sure!” he laughed.
And he’s not exactly sitting around doing nothing in the meantime, either. Madden is still keeping an eye on the soccer world, and is looking forward to the spring high school season. He has gotten back to coaching another team of 14- and 15-year-old boys on the Eastern Massachusetts Football Club, and has been asked to be the head coach of the Bay State Games Southeast Team this summer.
“I’ll be busy,” he added.
He’s also hoping to return to his job at Verizon, which requires a lot of walking in downtown Boston.
“I love my job. I want to get back to my job,” he stressed. “So I really want to get to where I need to get to so I can get back to my job. So that’s a big bone to chase.”
Those who wish to help the Madden family can send a donation to Friends of Mike Madden, c/o Liberty Bay Credit Union, 350 Granite St., Braintree, MA 02184.
Tickets are available by sending a check for $20 per ticket, or a table of 10 for $200, to Friends of Mike Madden, c/o Paul Panariello, 3 Stonehill Lane, Milton, MA 02186. A stamped, self-addressed envelope should be enclosed with the order. Tickets will be available at the door.
For the charity soccer game on May 9, tickets will be available at the gate for $10 for adults and $5 for children.