Tay: Hi my name is Tay. Matthew, I wanted to let you know that your song “Hope Returns” has really helped me and I wanted to share my story with you. I have FSHD Muscular Dystrophy and a lot of the time I have trouble doing daily tasks and get a lot of hurtful words said to me. I know that if I keep believing, God will help me get through it.
I lost a friend not very long ago and your music, along with Casting Crowns, has really helped me get through life. I lost my friend to suicide and it is really hard.
I was wondering if you could make a song for that reason? A song for people who need encouragement through tough times, and if they hold on a little bit longer it could all be worth it.
My disability has caused me to be in a wheelchair and also to have weaker arm strength, so doing my hair or pushing my chair is a lot of work. When I push my wheelchair uphill or up ramps and I have a lot of struggle, a lot of people sit there and stare or laugh and they don’t help. They don’t realize how hard it is to do daily tasks. Then when I get up to walk, a lot of people tell me I don’t need a wheelchair and I am faking my disability. I am going through all of this as a freshman in high school. Doctors have basically told me I can’t use a manual chair and that I need to be using an electric wheelchair instead, but I believe in the power of prayer, and the more people praying we can all prove the doctors wrong.
