In January, Arik Matson was a man on the brink of survival, someone for whom things like taking confident steps, things like being a parent or husband again, were hazy and uncertain waypoints.
He and his family-his wife and his two daughters-haven't been in the same room since April. As he participated in an intensive brain injury rehabilitation program at QLI, their only conversations happened through tablet screens and phone calls.
Among police officers, the code phrase "10-19" serves a simple purpose. It means "Officer Returning to Station," a simple sign-off that means a situation is normal or otherwise under control.
Perhaps it is sheer coincidence that October 19 is the day Waseca police officer Arik Matson discharged from the intensive brain injury rehabilitation program at QLI. Empowered by clinical experts, Arik spent most of the year in isolation, making huge physical and cognitive gains after a near-fatal gunshot wound.
On this day, Arik and his family reunited to begin a new chapter. One in which an officer returned to his station and a man, a husband, a father, returned to life.