Michael Goulet of Saco died on October 14, 2010.
He was just 19 years old.
While Michael’s cause of death was described as complications from a grand mal seizure, his struggle began roughly six years earlier when he suffered a traumatic brain injury while riding a snowmobile in northern Maine.
Although Michael was wearing a helmet, he suffered a skull fracture because the helmet was not properly fitted.
Michael was on life support for five weeks, but he defied the odds and with the help of his doctors and a team of neuro researchers at the University of New England, he returned to an almost normal lifestyle.
He had a girlfriend and a driver’s license, and he graduated from Thornton Academy in 2007.
But Michael developed a seizure disorder that landed him back in the hospital. He underwent a rigorous rehab treatment and began new medications.
Again, Michael left the hospital and continued living a full life, beginning classes at St. Joseph’s College where he majored in psychology. He was also very involved in community and charity work.
“It was like we found our kid again,” said Brad Goulet, Michael’s father. “He was happy and optimistic, despite all the struggles and battles he had to endure.”
Michael then suffered another seizure while alone. He was again taken to the hospital, and remained on life support with multi-organ failure for several days.
And then it was time for Brad Goulet and the rest of his family to say their final goodbye to Michael.
Moving forward
Michael was the youngest of Brad Goulet’s three children. Although it has been more than 14 years since Michael passed, his father still tears up and struggles for words when asked about his son.
“I was lost and floundering,” he said. “But I knew we had to do something to honor Michael’s life and his service to others.”
The Michael T. Goulet Traumatic Brain Injury and Epilepsy Foundation was founded to raise awareness and funding for the prevention of traumatic brain injury.
To date, the non-profit foundation has provided more than 3,500 helmets for use in outdoor recreation, including cycling, skateboarding and snowmobile riding throughout York and Cumberland counties.
“A properly fitted helmet is not a panacea if you are engaged in risky behavior,” Goulet says. “But a properly-fitted helmet can make the difference between life and death”
Goulet says that even a properly-fitted helmet has an expiration date. According to federal standards, a helmet has an expiration date of five years.
The foundation, Goulet says, also provides scholarships for those suffering from a brain injury or epilepsy.
“A properly fitted helmet is not a panacea if you are engaged in risky behavior,
— Brad Goulet
but a properly fitted helmet can make the difference between life and death”
Where does the money come from?
The Michael T. Goulet Foundation is supported by volunteer students and faculty members at the University of New England.
Funding for helmets and the organization’s outreach efforts comes from a variety of sources, most notably an annual fundraising event that sets a high bar for a gala that is described as an evening “to remember.”
The eighth annual gala event will once again be held at The Landing in Pine Point on March 22, beginning at 7p.m. All the proceeds will go the Michael T. Goulet Foundation to support their ongoing advocacy and public awareness efforts.
The gala is described as an evening of sophistication and glamor.
“Prepare to be dazzled from the moment you arrive, as you make a grand entrance and have the opportunity to capture stunning photos. Step inside and be transported to a world of glamour and sophistication, surrounded by breathtaking decorations and enchanting live music that will set the perfect mood,” reads the website.
Tickets for the gala – which includes a silent auction and food from Black Tie Catering — are now available online by clicking on this link
“We work pretty hard to make it an exceptional evening,” Goulet says. “It really helps us keep moving forward as we continue to do our part in honoring Michael’s courage, optimism and generosity.”
To learn more about the Michael T. Goulet Foundation, go here
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THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 