Correctional Officer Matthew Mann of Marion Correctional Institution in Florida was involved in a very serious car accident. Below is the letter he sent in to CPOF explaining what he has gone through since August of 2023.

On August 8, 2023, I was involved in an automobile accident in which I was rear-ended. For several days I ignored the pain and tried to go to work. I began losing mobility while experiencing increasing lower back pain. I went to the same ER twice and only received pain medications. I returned to work until the unbearable pain and loss of mobility and then began experiencing loss of bowel and bladder continence. I went to ER for 3rd time and was immediately admitted on 8/15/23. For 2 weeks I was heavily medicated in an almost incubated state on dilaudid and fentanyl. I don’t remember much of those 2 weeks. However, the doctors, nurse and my wife confirmed that during those 2 weeks, I had a mild stroke on my left side, a mild heart attack, tested positive for 3 types of mersa, developed pneumonia, tested positive for Covid and my whole body turned septic, and tried to shut down. 

During a procedure my right lung was punctured, and a chest tube was placed in it. That tube failed so another one was placed in the same lung. My left lung began to fail/collapse. They placed a tube in that lung as well. I also learned that the accident caused my L1-L5 (lower back) disks and my S1(tailbone) to become herniated. The accident also caused my spinal stenosis (wasn’t aware I had this) to be worsened and swelling of the spine. 

After the initial 2 weeks I began to come out of it and was taken off the dilaudid and fentanyl. I began to be semi-coherent and able to communicate. I remained in ICU for a total of 6 weeks while on 3-4 IV antibiotics and other fluids, causing my body to weep fluids from my pores. I developed bed sores from the back of my heels all the way up to the top of my buttocks. Every bandage change was like skinning a catfish causing me excruciating pain. I had lost all mobility in my arms and legs and was bed ridden. Every touch and every attempted move caused severe pain. They eventually removed all chest tubes. 

After surviving the initial 6 weeks, I was moved to a step-down facility for a month where they continued some of the antibiotics and focused on healing my bedsores and beginning physical therapy. 

I was then moved to an inpatient rehabilitation center to regain the use of my extremities and learn to walk again through intense physical and occupational therapy. While there I was sent back to the hospital for a week for a blood transfusion due to extremely low hemoglobin counts. I spent 100 days in inpatient rehabilitation. I was then allowed to go home. However, I had to receive in-home OT and PT twice a week and a nurse visit once a week for 3 months. Slowly but surely, I have learned how to walk again, resembling a toddler and I regained use of my arms and hands, continence in my bladder and bowels, the ability to dress & shower myself along with being able to use a normal toilet and drive. 

I haven’t been medically cleared to return as a Correctional Officer. I’m still weak and have challenges ahead of me to get back to where I was before the accident and subsequent illnesses. I have exhausted the amount of sick leave donations I can use and currently not receiving any pay. I hope and pray that I will be back to work within the next 2 months. 

However, all in all, as the infectious doctor stated, I got a second chance at life, I’m lucky. 

I prefer to think of it as “I’m a walking miracle.” 

Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely, 

Matthew Mann

Correctional Officer 

Marion C. I. 

Correctional Peace Officers Foundation’s Catastrophic Assistance Program is proud to be there for the Mann family during their difficult times.