14 DAY TRIAL // A freak motorbike accident which happened almost 20 years ago left an Army veteran unable to feel emotions like excitement or sadness.
Matthew Rhodes from Tarleton, Lancashire, was an army physical training instructor with the 1st Battalion, the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment. He served in Germany, Canada and Bosnia, but in the summer of 1995 he suffered severe injuries when his motorcycle was hit by a car, while he was stationed in Germany.
The 39-year-old man lost his sight due to brain damage, experienced long-term memory loss and was paralyzed down the right side of his body. He was in a coma for ten weeks, and when he finally recovered, doctors discovered that the part of his brain dealing with feelings was damaged in the accident.
Since the terrible incident, he has not been able to feel excitement, happiness or sadness. Moreover, doctors initially told him he would never walk again, but he managed to defy the odds and make a remarkable recovery.
“People say that I am very ‘one level, ’ especially in my facial expression. I’m never bothered by much, just very relaxed. I don’t get excited, ecstatic, or desperately sad - I just have one level now,” Rhodes said, as cited by Daily Mail.
Thanks to long and tiring physiotherapy sessions, the former soldier slowly regained some mobility in his limbs. Besides that, he made some remarkable achievements in his life: he married in 2000, has since had two children, Bethany, 11, and Harry, 7, and discovered a new passion for painting.
However, the saddest part in the whole story is that neither his wedding day nor the birth of his kids aroused strong emotions in him, as would have happened with any other normal person.
“It was a fantastic day and the weather was beautiful but beforehand I didn't have excitement for it,” Matthew said about his wedding day. “It’s just part of who I am now, to have emotions on one level,” he added.
The army veteran wrote a book about his experience, titled “Never Say Die,” and raised money for charity Blind Veterans UK, which helped him cope with the harsh situation, overcome his disabilities and express himself through painting.
“Blind Veterans UK has enabled me to lead a normal life. When I was introduced to them I was struggling to cope: I felt different and wasn't sure where life was going. Being a member made me realize I wasn't so different - their combination of practical and emotional support gave me the confidence to try new things,” he said about the charity.