On September 8, 2013 Oklahoma City police officer and UFC featherweight Matt Grice was off duty idling at a red light when he was hit from behind by a distracted driver going 65 MPH. The then 32-year-old underwent brain surgery that night; the procedure included the removal of part of his skull to relieve pressure.
Grice is a highly respected both for his profession and for his exciting fighting style. UFC president Dana White said following Grice’s last fight – a Fight of the Night winning split decision loss to Dennis Bermudez at UFC 157 – that the way to not get cut in the UFC is to fight like Grice.
Grice brought that warrior spirit to his recovery, and has been called the miracle patient by his doctors. For weeks Grice showed no movement, but he finally began to respond to verbal cues. After nearly two months of hospitalization, Grice returned home, and began a long rehabilitation process.
Before and after images from the reattachment of his skull in December show the dramatic improvement.
Now his recovery Facebook page reports that he is back on the job!
He’s back! Wow, what a ride. After over a year Matt is back to work at the Oklahoma City Police Department! He’s been working hard to be able to return to work. Bittersweet day!
“For the time being, he is doing office work to ease back in to police work until they can find a permanent spot for him in the next few months,” said Grice’s wife Caroline in an email to Dave Doyle for MMAFighting.
Mrs. Grice charted the extraordinary recovery on Facebook.
9/8/13 The Jeep in the accident. Matt suffered head trauma and was rushed to OU where he had emergency brain surgery. He suffered a brain bleed and would remain in a coma for weeks until “waking up”. When he woke up he was disoriented, unable to walk, talk and had many cognitive disabilities.
Matt spent 25 days at OU ICU. His initial prognosis was grave. Our family, friends and community rallied around him and we were lifted in constant prayer.
Although Matt woke up a different man he still had the fighting spirit in him.
Photos were placed in his rehabilitation room so that he would remember his family and friends, as well as himself.
Second day of Rehab at Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation. Matt would be pushed every day with Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy. At this point Matt wasnt able to walk. His speech was still a bit garbled at times. He was agitated easily – typical for Brain injury recovery. His memory was very short term. Matt was “awake” but not himself. HIs memory of the kids and being married would come and go.
Matt working with his Physical therapist. Once his boxing was incorporated into his therapy “the lights came on”. He was more determined than ever.
Because Matt was unable to walk and a fall risk he spent a lot of time in a vail (tent) bed.
This picture brings back hard but happy memories. The week prior to this picture the girls’ had their first visit with Matt since the accident. During that visit Matt did not realize that the girls visiting him were his children. Tough day, so happy that was short lived.
Matt worked daily on puzzles to work on his cognitive functioning.
Although it is inconceivable, Grice has even spoken of a return to the cage.
