An Autobiography Detailing the Trials and Transformation Following Severe Brain Injury
BIGRED Publishing
"LIFE AFTER NEAR-DEATH"
by Matt Stepien
Matt Stepien was born in 1956, the fourth child and second son of Matthew and Rosemary Stepien. He would eventually be one of eight siblings, five boys and three girls. Matt was born in Cleveland, Ohio, raised in East Cleveland, and attended high school in Brecksville, Ohio. He was quite famous for his frugal savvy and once lent his oldest sister the down payment for her first car with money saved from his paper route. The family lived in Southern California during the 1976 -1977 school year, and relocated back to Ohio in a little over one year. Having already transferred to a California college, Matt decided to stay in California and graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where he received his degree in civil engineering. He worked for various engineering firms in Southern California, prospered and enjoyed the good life.
During the late 1990’s and the early part of the 2000’s, he and his wife Esther traveled often, with Hawaii a favorite destination. He currently lives in Mission Viejo, California with his wife and enjoys multiple family ties, with one of his great joys in life being “Grandpa Matt” to six grandchildren.
In late-2004, he was struck down in the prime of life at age forty-eight by a sudden, unexpected, life-threatening, life-altering brain bleed, as a result of a virus. His road to recovery was long and painful, taking the better part of two years to accomplish. He has permanent neurologic damage to his lower right leg, especially the right foot, plus neurologic damage to the balance portion of the brain. He is currently living independently at home with his family, wears a foot/ankle brace, drives a car, walks with a cane, and works as a civil engineer. During this recovery process he has undergone a profound transformation, complete with a reprioritization of most aspects of his life, and is moving on with his life in a positive direction. He has never written a book before and is discovering heretofore unknown talents.
During the late 1990’s and the early part of the 2000’s, he and his wife Esther traveled often, with Hawaii a favorite destination. He currently lives in Mission Viejo, California with his wife and enjoys multiple family ties, with one of his great joys in life being “Grandpa Matt” to six grandchildren.
In late-2004, he was struck down in the prime of life at age forty-eight by a sudden, unexpected, life-threatening, life-altering brain bleed, as a result of a virus. His road to recovery was long and painful, taking the better part of two years to accomplish. He has permanent neurologic damage to his lower right leg, especially the right foot, plus neurologic damage to the balance portion of the brain. He is currently living independently at home with his family, wears a foot/ankle brace, drives a car, walks with a cane, and works as a civil engineer. During this recovery process he has undergone a profound transformation, complete with a reprioritization of most aspects of his life, and is moving on with his life in a positive direction. He has never written a book before and is discovering heretofore unknown talents.
