Man who helped save animals from flooding shelter now needs help of own after paralysis

WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) -- It's been more than a year since Heartland Animal Shelter in Wheeling reopened after a devastating flood from a water main break.

Their building was badly damaged, but their animals were saved thanks to the quick thinking of a garbage truck driver.

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But the roles are now reversed, and Heartland's hero needs a hero of his own.

"Is this the way I'm gonna be? Is this the rest of my life?" Tony Maticic said.

Maticic says what started as regular back pain quickly progressed to an emergency surgery on his spine.

After a setback during rehab and another surgery, the father of three and grandfather of nine received devastating news.

"They said I'm paraplegic, and I can't feel from basically just a little above my belly button down," Maticic said.

Maticic's wife Cassandra has been there every step of the way, spending hours on the phone coordinating logistics just to get him to the doctor, where, unfortunately, they still face the unknown of Maticic's ability to walk.

"They have no answer. They don't know. They don't know if it's ever going to happen," Cassandra Maticic said.

"You're hopeful one day. And all of a sudden, you know, the air is let out of your balloon," Tony Maticic said.

Getting Maticic to and from his numerous medical appointments is a process. For now, he's using a county transit service. But his friends have a more custom solution in mind.

"He's part of the family. Him and his wife, whether they like it or not, they're really part of the history of this organization," said Jenny Schlueter, executive director of Heartland Animal Shelter. "People still talk about him all the time. How about our hero? Tony? How is he doing? Have you heard from him?"

Nearly two years ago, on his route as a trash collector in Wheeling, Maticic noticed something was wrong at Heartland and called 911. It turned out his quick thinking likely saved the lives of dozens of pets. The shelter was under 2 feet of water after a pipe burst.

"I just did a simple thing for these animals and everything. And they are paying it back, like a millionfold. It's, it's unbelievable," Maticic said.

When Heartland learned of Maticic fight, they immediately shared a GoFundMe started by a friend of the Maticics'. It's now almost halfway to a $60,000 goal, with the idea of using the money to buy Maticic an accessible van.

"They shared it and told the story. And it's been, it's amazing how many good people are out there. It's truly amazing," Cassandra Maticic said.

"I hope he can come back here in a new van and visit because he loved coming here," Schlueter said.