Matt Davis was in a severe motorcycle accident that left him with life-threatening injuries. At the time of the crash in July 2011, he and his wife Danielle Davis had only been together for a year. While entering a highway, Matt collided with a car that was parked illegally, causing extensive damage to his body and brain.
The injuries were critical. Matt suffered multiple broken bones, including his femur, jaw, ribs, collarbone, and skull. His liver was severely damaged, and he sustained a major brain injury, leaving him in a coma and reliant on life support. Doctors gave him only a 10% chance of ever waking up, and just a 5% chance of recovering. Given the severity of his condition, medical professionals advised Danielle to consider taking him off life support.
Despite the grim prognosis, Danielle refused to follow the doctors’ recommendation. In a TV interview, she revealed that the doctors had told her if it were them, they would cut the cord. Danielle, however, had unwavering faith, believing that God could guide them through this challenge. She made the decision to keep Matt on life support, trusting in the possibility of a miracle.
Danielle and Matt’s relationship had been brief but profound. They had only known each other for two months before marrying. Matt was 23, and Danielle was 24. Just seven months after their wedding, the accident occurred, leaving Danielle to make difficult decisions about Matt’s care. His mother, too unwell to care for him after losing her husband in an accident two years earlier, couldn’t take on the responsibility, leaving Danielle in charge.
When Matt eventually woke up, he had no memory of his wife. Due to the brain trauma, he couldn’t recognize Danielle, but he was still grateful for having married her. In an interview with ABC News, he shared his gratitude, saying, “I’m sure glad I married her.”
Danielle and Matt moved in with her mother, who helped care for him as he began the long road to recovery. For the first three months, Matt remained in a coma, but slowly, signs of progress emerged. He started tracking people with his eyes, and Danielle recalled wanting to give him the best possible environment for recovery. She told her mother that if Matt was going to be bedridden, they should make sure he had a beautiful view.
The small victories in Matt’s recovery were significant to Danielle. One particular moment stands out: when Matt reached out and grabbed a toy motorbike during a rehabilitation session, it felt like a miracle. After nearly three years, he even took his first steps again, though his journey to physical recovery was far from over. His cognitive recovery, especially his long-term memory, proved to be more challenging.
Matt’s inability to remember his life with Danielle before the accident meant they had to rebuild their relationship from scratch. It was an arduous process, and the financial toll of rehabilitation was immense. To support his ongoing recovery, Danielle set up a GoFundMe page, explaining that insurance would no longer cover therapy. In her post, she highlighted the ongoing need for rehabilitation for individuals with traumatic brain injuries, as they can continue improving even years after the injury.
Over time, Matt began regaining his sense of humor and fun, small but heartwarming indicators that his personality was still intact. One such moment came when he requested a spicy chicken wrap from Cheddars, his favorite meal from before the accident. It was a sign to Danielle that her husband, despite the challenges, was still the same quirky person she had fallen in love with.
While the Instagram account shared by Matt and Danielle hasn’t been active since 2017, their story remains an inspiring testament to resilience, faith, and love. We hope that their journey continues to be filled with hope and progress.
