Matt Johnston celebrated his 33rd birthday with a party at the Museum of Diving on Tuesday evening, Jan. 12. Attended by local dive business folks, museum staff and friends, and some of Johnston’s friends from home, the festive party marked another milestone in an unusual life. </p><p>First, no one expected Johnston to reach the age of 33. Second, no one ever expected this quadriplegic from Minnesota to have any interest in scuba diving, let alone to become a certified diver. But people who have known him for any length of time have come to expect him to accomplish things no one thought he could do. </p><p>“He doesn’t see himself as handicapped,” said Frank Fabio, a longtime Johnston family friend and “the muscle” (Johnston must be lifted in and out of is chair) behind many of his exploits. </p><p>Johnston has suffered from the Duchenne’s variety of multiple sclerosis since childhood. He lost the use of his legs around age 7 and his respiratory system shut down by age 17. His life expectancy was 30 years, but that has never stopped him from pursuing his dreams. </p><p>Johnston said he has had a passion for the ocean since he was 5 years old. He calls it “the place where God shows off.” </p><p>He was in his late 20s, bound to a wheelchair and breathing with the help of a ventilator, when he decided to learn to scuba dive and started making inquiries over the Internet.</p><p>When Capt. Gary Mace, owner of Conch Republic Divers in Tavernier, first encountered Johnston’s online queries, he thought it was some kind of joke. But Johnston’s persistence soon convinced Mace he was genuine, so he flew to Minnesota to meet him. </p><p>“Matt kind of grew on me,” Mace said. </p><p>Drew Gerling, a dive instructor in Minneapolis, was also taken with Johnston’s determination, but did not think diving would be possible for a quadriplegic who depends on a ventilator to breathe. </p><p>Johnston’s determination convinced him to try it, and the pair met up at the aquarium at the Mall of America. The main problem, Gerling said, is keeping Johnston’s tracheotomy dry, so a special ventilator was necessary. </p><p>For the next year and a half, Johnston and Gerling met weekly at a pool fitted for wheelchair entry. They developed a system of communication underwater using eye blinks and movements. Eventually Johnston was ready for a certification dive in a Wisconsin lake. A special certification was devised for quadriplegics and Johnston was the first to receive one. </p><p>Then Susan Long, owner of Diving Unlimited International in San Diego, Calif., was convinced by divers who got to know Johnston to build a special dry suit fitted out for his ventilator. Plans were made for Johnston to come to the Keys and dive with Mace and Conch Republic Divers. </p><p>The first day out in the Keys was fraught with equipment problems and jitters and Johnston stayed under for only seconds, but he was determined to try again. On day two Mace took Johnston and company out to Hens and Chickens reef. All went well and Johnston achieved his dream by making a 15-minute dive. A film crew from NBC came along for the trip and the story aired on “The Today Show.”</p><p>Fast forward two years and all those who helped him achieve his dream have assembled at the History of Dive Museum to help him celebrate his 33rd birthday and to show him the exhibit based on his dive experience. </p><p>Once his dive was complete and Johnston headed back to Minnesota, he donated his specially made dive equipment to the museum. He said he wanted others to see what is possible with a little determination. An exhibit was designed with a mannequin sporting his equipment, a plaque explaining his story, and a screen showing “The Today Show” segment of Johnston’s story on demand.</p><p>After introductions of those who worked with Johnston on the dive were made (all seated with him in the front row), dive instructor Gerling told those assembled that “it was worth it” to work with Johnston. “It was a dream for you, but an honor for all of us,” Gerling said. </p><p>Mace looked at Matt and added: “You are a hero to me and the whole front row here.” </p><p>The assembled party headed inside to unveil the exhibit to Johnston. He made humorous wisecracks through the presentation and smiled broadly as “The Today Show” video was played. </p><p>“There’s that barracuda,” Matt said as the video showed him underwater at Hens and Chickens. Once back inside the meeting room, refreshments were served and Mace brought a birthday cake over to Johnston. “Happy Birthday” was sung. After Johnston blew out the candles, he said: “I’m going to make it to 60.” </p><p>When asked what was next on the agenda for him, Johnston replied: “Vegas!” He has been invited to a convention of the American Respiratory Association in the city.