Board Member Makes Diving Magazine!

[NauticalbutNice]

Hope this is in the right forum - mods feel free to move it.

From this months "Diver" magazine (supposedly Britain's best-selling diving magazine):

"An American who has debilitating muscular dystrophy is determined to succeed in his quest to go diving - with the aid of a ventilator specially developed at a cost of some $200,000.

And Matt Johnston may be able to raise the money required to achieve his dream, because any unit developed could be further exploited as a new type of life-support machine for use in diving applications...

Johnston says he'd be happy just to get under water, even if for 10 minutes at a time and to only 2 or 3m in depth.

You can follow his fortunes by visiting his website, www.scubadivingdream.com"

[This is an edited version - I'm at work and I don't have the time to type up the full article right now! Sorry Matt.)

Yay for you! This means that the UK's diving community is now aware of your cause, hopefully bringing you more donations. A little closer to the dream, perhaps?

Good luck to you mate!

Nauticalbutnice :fruit:

 

[pilot fish]

Hope this is in the right forum - mods feel free to move it.

From this months "Diver" magazine (supposedly Britain's best-selling diving magazine):

"An American who has debilitating muscular dystrophy is determined to succeed in his quest to go diving - with the aid of a ventilator specially developed at a cost of some $200,000.

And Matt Johnston may be able to raise the money required to achieve his dream, because any unit developed could be further exploited as a new type of life-support machine for use in diving applications...

Johnston says he'd be happy just to get under water, even if for 10 minutes at a time and to only 2 or 3m in depth.

You can follow his fortunes by visiting his website, www.scubadivingdream.com"

[This is an edited version - I'm at work and I don't have the time to type up the full article right now! Sorry Matt.)

Yay for you! This means that the UK's diving community is now aware of your cause, hopefully bringing you more donations. A little closer to the dream, perhaps?

Good luck to you mate!

Nauticalbutnice :fruit:

What a great thing. Thanks for bringing to our attenion.

 

[Matt the Aquaman]

Hi nauticalbutnice, how are you doing? Thanks for posting that about the article, I didn't even know it was out yet! I bet it's not quite in the USA yet. Thanks again for your support! Take care and of course, safe diving!
Matt

Click here to greet a new member! :happywave
No experience needed and it feels great!​

 

[NauticalbutNice]

Hi nauticalbutnice, how are you doing? Thanks for posting that about the article, I didn't even know it was out yet! I bet it's not quite in the USA yet. Thanks again for your support! Take care and of course, safe diving!
Matt

No problem mate! I nearly fell of my seat when I read it. Glad that people are giving you publicity.

Nauticalbutnice :fruit:

 

[Matt the Aquaman]

Hello to all of my friends. Just wanted to share this, and say thanks again for all the support. Everyone on Scuba Board is just awesome! Take care and safe diving. I look forward to joining you all soon.
-Matt-

DIVER magazine UK
February 2005 Issue

Terminally Ill Man Hopes to Dive the Dream

An American who has debilitating muscular dystrophy is determined to succeed in his quest to go diving – with the aid of a ventilator specially developed at a cost of some $200,000.

And Matt Johnston may be able to raise the money required to achieve his dream, because any unit developed could be further exploited as a new type of life-support machine for use in diving applications.

Johnston, from Woodbury in Minnesota is 27, and people with his condition are rarely expected to survive beyond 30. His degenerative condition incapacitates voluntary and eventually involuntary muscles including the diaphragm and heart. Johnston also has scoliosis, an extreme curvature of the spine.

His urge to dive was given added impetus last year with the death of his nurse and close friend, Michelle Zimmer. “She always said to me: ‘Live your dream out’”. Johnston told Nancy Yang of Pioneer Press newspaper.

Project Innerspace, a non-profit health aid development agency based in Rhode Island has agreed to fund at least the early development of a ventilator re-packaged to work when submerged.

“I think this can develop a new life support system” said board member Mike Lombardi, who is also an exploration diver. “It will be operating at an increased pressure, so the way the system functions is going to change completely.”

One possible unit for adaptation is the HT50 ventilator from Newport Medical Instruments, which has already been used in hyperbaric chambers at up to 2.1 bar – equivalent to a diving depth of about 10m.

Johnston says he’d be happy to just get under water, even if just for 10 minutes at a time and to only 2 or 3m in depth.

You can follow his fortunes by visiting his web site.
www.scubadivingdream.com

Click here to greet a new member! :happywave
No experience needed and it feels great!​

 

[suthnbelle]

Matt,

Congratulations! That is great that they are running an article on your quest. I really hope it helps and reaches out to the right people who can help you.

Mel
:cheering:

 

[Matt the Aquaman]

Mel, Hello there and thanks for the kind words...Hopefully this article will touch
more people out there. I appreciate you and all scubaboard members for your
continue support in my quest to join you all under the sea. I clicked on your link
below and is it ok if i join the site and hook-up with the forum?

Take care and safe diving!

-Matt-

Click here to greet a new member! :happywave
No experience needed and it feels great!​