He shares the ambition of so many frustrated authors. He usually sees well enough to enjoy movies from a front-row seat. He's a fan of novelist and screenwriter Michael Crichton and envisions his book made into a blockbuster starring Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford and Dustin Hoffman. Maybe Sharon Stone would play Reena. I've got to make some money here.
Magic costs a lot.
Magic is his latest passion, but it's easy to understand why school officials don't want him bringing his dice and cards to campus. But the son of Carol and David Rudes of Northridge doesn't need props to impress adults with the powers he possesses despite his physical limitations. Matt doesn't always use the wheelchair, but if he stands too long or walks too far he feels pain and could easily fall and break a bone. In recent months, painful spinal complications have caused periods of paralysis and the inability to speak. These frightening episodes may last minutes or more than an hour before passing.