Pittsburgh synagogue attack survivors talk about their friendship and healing journey : NPR

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STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It’s Friday, which is when we hear from StoryCorps. And we have reflections today on 2018, when a gunman attacked a Pittsburgh synagogue that included the Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Hadash congregations. Eleven people were killed, many others wounded. Dan Leger is a nurse and hospital chaplain who was shot while rushing to help others. Tim Matson is a SWAT officer who responded and was shot seven times. Leger and Matson met in the hospital afterward. And at StoryCorps, they talked about how their friendship played a role in their recovery. We should warn you – this conversation mentions suicide.

TIM MATSON: I remember the nurses telling me that you were down the hall. And then sometime later, I heard a walker clicking, coming into my room. And I remember thinking, that’s one tough old man. I can’t let him show me up.

DAN LEGER: (Laughter) You know, that was my physical therapy goal. I wanted to get to your room and thank you. But I saw that you were banged up really bad.

MATSON: Yeah – shattered right knee cap, shattered left tibia, shattered left elbow. A bullet went through my helmet and fractured my skull and jaw.

LEGER: You took some bad hits, and that just reinforced the fact that you didn’t hold back.

MATSON: Yeah.

LEGER: When the call came, you went. But the thing that really drew us together in the strongest way was when you sent the letter to me, along with your award that you were given – your Medal of Valor. That just blew me away, Tim.

MATSON: To me, you deserved it more than me because you were never prepared for that situation but still found a way to get through it. I signed on for a career knowing the risks.

LEGER: There’s a lot about the whole experience that still seems like it was a dream. I’m glad we both made it through ’cause there were moments when part of me was saying, I don’t know if I can hack this.

MATSON: Yeah. I was in hospital for 16 weeks, in a wheelchair for another six weeks. So when I got home, I realized my life’s changed and I’m in pain, and I don’t want to do this no more. And I’m like, I’m just going to end it. I’m going to take my life. And I went outside. I’m crying. And I walked by this plastic bucket. And at some point, one of my SWAT teammates weed-whacked my house, and this weed fell in the bucket. It rained, and it grew a root. And I looked down at this weed. And I thought, man, that’s one tough weed. Somebody tried to kill it. Nobody cared about it, and it found a way to survive all on its own. And then I took that weed and I planted it in some potting soil, and I kept that weed on my porch. And that weed kind of pushed me to rehab harder. When I moved, I put it in the passenger seat and put a seat belt on it. And every year, it grew except this year. That beat me up a little bit ’cause that was my motivation, but I realized I don’t need it anymore. It did its job.

LEGER: I’m so glad that weed was there that day. I am so grateful. Love you, my friend.

MATSON: Love you, too.

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INSKEEP: Tim Matson and Dan Leger. Their interview is archived at the library of Congress. If you or someone you know is in crisis, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is 988.

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