BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Tears, smiles and applause greeted New York State Sergeant Station Commander Sam Mattina this afternoon as he was released from the Erie County Medical Center following what doctors call a "remarkable recovery."
ECMC staff lined the hall to send him off with great fanfare.
Outside, a line of state troopers waited to greet him as he left the hospital after 26 days. On his lap - his young daughter, dressed from head to toe in a state trooper's uniform, just like her hero dad.
Below you can hear the voices of the doctors who cared for Mattina.
"He plowed through it all..like a trooper, which he is," said Dr. Mary Welch, Chief of Medical Rehab Services at ECMC.
"This is what we do here," said Dr. Jeffrey Brewer, Chief of Surgery at ECMC. "It's a massive team effort...this is why we spend a lot of our lives manning this hospital."
Sgt. Mattina was critically injured on September 13 in a collision between his state police motorcycle and a vehicle in the Niagara County Town of Porter.
The 10-year veteran of the force suffered multiple fractures, internal bleeding and damage to his organs.
"The tribulations from being at the hospital were nothing compared to what could have been," said a family member in a statement sent to 7 News. "Let it be a strong reminder that tomorrow is not promised."
He has more recovery ahead of him, but doctors say in a few months he'll be walking and back to normal.
His family wants people to know they appreciate all the support, community members donated more than $30,000 to support Sgt. Mattina.
Sgt. Mattina's Trooper family hopes he returns and puts on a uniform once again.
