Astoria, OR – An Astoria man is recovering in the hospital after a serious car accident on Monday night, which left him with multiple life-threatening injuries. Matthew Weatherman, who was driving home from Portland, hit a patch of black ice on Highway 26, causing his truck to lose control and crash into a tree.
According to reports, Weatherman was airlifted to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, where he was treated for a fractured pelvis, five broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a lacerated spleen. He received 16 units of blood in the emergency room and was stabilized, but doctors informed his family that surgery would be necessary.
Weatherman’s two mothers, Colleen Carette and Susan Carette, were by his side as the medical team prepared him for surgery. Susan Carette, who described herself and Colleen as “the moms” to Matthew’s friends, said their focus was initially on ensuring their son was safe. But soon after, their attention shifted to a more urgent matter: the fate of Matthew’s dog, Bravery.
Despite being sedated and intubated, Weatherman’s family said he was visibly trying to ask for his dog. “He kept trying to get up, we knew he was trying to say ‘Where’s Bravery?’” Susan Carette recalled. “He was helpless. He wanted to find her, but he couldn’t.”
The Carettes were determined to find Bravery, believing the presence of the dog could play an important role in their son’s recovery. After the crash, first responders were unable to locate the dog, leaving the family concerned for her well-being.
While Matthew remained unconscious, his family began making efforts to locate Bravery, knowing how much she meant to him. In the midst of the medical crisis, they remained hopeful that bringing the dog to their son would aid in his recovery.
As of now, efforts to reunite Matthew with Bravery are ongoing, with his family and friends working together to ensure the dog’s safe return. Meanwhile, Weatherman is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days as doctors continue to monitor his condition.
The Carettes, who have supported their son through this harrowing ordeal, remain focused on both his physical healing and his emotional well-being, knowing how important Bravery is to his recovery.
