Brief
A student from the University of Alabama is recovering after a serious accident during a family trip to the Dominican Republic. Matthew Polaski was on holiday when he fell and sustained multiple skull fractures and other injuries.
According to a GoFundMe page set up for him, what was meant to be a joyful vacation turned into a nightmare for his family. They were enjoying their time together during Matthew’s winter break from college when tragedy struck on December 28. Following his fall, he was taken to a local hospital, where doctors performed emergency surgery to reduce swelling on his brain. Currently, Matthew remains critically ill and is in a medically induced coma.
After initial treatment in the Dominican Republic, he was transferred to Miami for further care. His GoFundMe page describes Matthew as a hardworking young man passionate about gymnastics, who recently started his journey at the University of Alabama and joined a fraternity.
An update from the GoFundMe campaign revealed that he has suffered injuries including skull fractures and damage to his pelvis and lower back. Thankfully, he has shown some signs of improvement, such as responding to stimulation from his family.
The campaign has gained support, as the family’s medical expenses have exceeded $75,000, with international medical transport costs estimated between $35,000 and $55,000. Unfortunately, insurance covers very little of this international care, adding to the family’s financial burden.
Matthew’s father, who previously served as the chief of the Robbinsville Police Department in New Jersey, has been receiving lots of support from the community during this challenging time.
