Matthew Nagle only lived 27 years, but his example of encouraging disabled people to strive for a better way of life by participating in experimental treatments for Quadriplegia lives on.

Matthew died of a blood infection on July 23 at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton. He had been in a coma for nearly a week prior to his death.

“I can’t imagine how he got through each day, but he had empathy for other people in need,” his father Patrick, a retired Cambridge police sergeant, said while standing on a patio deck built by his son Michael for Matthew’s convenience.

Matthew became totally disabled from the shoulders down following a stab wound to his neck on July 3, 2001.

He suffered the injury while attempting to break up a fight at Wessagusset Beach between his friends and a group of young men after a fireworks display.

Weymouth resident Nicholas Cirignano was charged with assault with intent to murder. He is serving a 9 to 10 year sentence at the Bay State Correction Center in Norfolk.

Matthew was left without any use of his body from the shoulders down after being stabbed and had to use a Ventilator to breathe during the past seven years.

He spent months in Rehabilitation hospitals in Boston, Atlanta, and Braintree before returning to live at his home on Rustic Avenue.

Matthew lived in his parents’ home for nine months until his medical needs required around the clock care at New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton during the past five years.

Matthew’s disabilities did not permit him to dress himself or take care of his basic needs without assistance, but he managed to visit his family every Sunday by riding to their home in a van equipped with a wheelchair lift.

“Matthew would come home every Sunday for dinner,” his mother Ellen said. “He came home on July 15. It was a beautiful, sunny day. We talked for two hours, and Matthew spoke from his heart. He said, ‘I’m so tired, Mom. There is no search engine out there that could say how much I appreciate you.’”

Ellen said that Matthew had a smile of love and resignation while he talked with her.

“He’d say, ‘Can I have a hug?’” she said. “I tried to encourage him by saying that we still have stem cell research and the Brain Gate experiment. We never had a talk like that, and the smile he gave me was different.”

Patrick said Matthew was quite resilient while undergoing rehabilitation.

“He went through a bout of Depression after he was hurt,” Patrick said. “He would say, ‘I know you think I’m a tough guy, but I don’t want to go through with this any more.’”

Patrick said Matthew eventually pulled out of his depression and participated in medical experiments with hopes of improving the quality of life for himself and others.

 “He supported stem cell research,” said Gerry De Lillo, a friend of Nagle’s and a co-coordinator of the Miracles for Matthew Spinal Cord Injury Fund.  “He supported whatever could be done to make the lives of people with spinal chord injuries better.”

Matthew participated in the BrainGate project with Dr. Jon Mukand, a lead researcher with Boston University.

The experiment allowed Matthew to control his TV and send e-mail by mental command through an implanted computer chip in his brain.

The device posed medical risks, but Matthew was not deterred.

“As the first human being to have this implant, he was a brave pioneer and deserves recognition for his role helping people with disabilities,” Mukand said. “The most important thing he did was give people hope.”

Mukand is writing a book about Matthew’s participation in BrainGate.  

Ellen said that before he died, Matthew agreed to donate his corneas, heart, kidneys, liver, and skin for patients to receive by transplant.

“He is the gift that keeps on giving,” she said. “A 46-year-old local woman received one of his kidneys.”

Patrick said that Matthew explained his decision to donate the organs by comparing it to a football player who is standing on the goal line and in need of help.

“It’s like someone’s standing on the goal line, asking, “Is anyone going to help us?,’ and Matt comes running on the field with his heart in his hands,” Patrick said.

Ellen said that the family wants to carry on Matthew’s legacy of helping to improve the lives of disabled people.

“Dr, Mukand wants to donate portions of the profits from his book to Matthew’s Spinal Cord Injury Fund,” she said. “We’d like to carry on for Matt by helping people who have spinal cord injuries.”

Ellen said that her family is grateful for the donations and support they received following Matthew’s injury.

“Christopher Reeve sent a nice letter to Matthew,” she said. “We feel it is our purpose to carry on for Matt.”

Since the Matthew Nagle Spinal Cord Injury Fund was established in 2001, it has donated various amounts to people to help them cover medical expenses for treating spinal cord injuries.

“A little girl in Roxbury who is paralyzed from the waist down after being hit by a bullet during a drive-by shooting received funds,” Ellen said.

Donations to help people with disabilities are being accepted by the Nagles in Matthew’s memory.

 Donors should address checks and mail them to Miracles for Matthew Spinal Cord Injury Fund c/o Quincy Municipal Credit Union, 380 Washington St., Quincy, MA 02169.