Newspaper Article

Advocates for Injured Athletes

On Saturday "Advocates for Injured Athletes inspired by Tommy Mallon" will launch our first fundraiser. The fundraiser will take place at the Santa Fe Christian Varsity Football Game at SFC @ 2:00p.m. The Santa Fe Christian Boosters and the BBQ Company Holy Smoke will be donating all proceeds from the BBQ to Advocates for Injured Athletes. We are on our way to making a difference for athletes that suffer traumatic injuries! We are waiting for our 501c3 status so until then donations will not be tax deductible but will still be helpful to athletes and athletic trainers. If you cannot attend the game and eat a delicious BBQ sandwich but want to make a donation you may mail a donation to :
Advocates for Injured Athletes
3830 Valley Center Drive Ste.705-523
San Diego,CA 92130
THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Tommy Update 10/21/09

Hello friends,

What a week.......THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! Last week on Tuesday Tommy went in to see Dr. Taylor to have an infected halo pin site evaluated. Dr. Taylor decided based on the healing progress Tommy has made in the halo it could be REMOVED!!!!! Tuesday morning Tommy transitioned out of the halo and into a Cervical Thoracic Brace( as seen in photos). We were thrilled!!!! Early Wednesday morning Tommy was in severe pain and admitted into the emergency room. After repeat xrays and CT's nothing had changed.... gratefully no setbacks. Some patients can experience pain when transitioning out of a halo device. Tommy was discharged and has been stable since! Thankfully!!!!!

His next CT will be in 2 weeks. There is STILL an outside chance Tommy may NOT need surgery......so please keep up the thoughts and prayers that the ligament is intact and the bones continue to heal.
Tommy's best friend Matt came home to surprise him this past weekend. All of you continue to help carry him through this process....THANK YOU. Tommy is being a good sport( even though he looks grumpy) about letting me photograph him.....it is important to all those family members (especially my mom and Pat's mom )who have not been able to visit him to at least see him in photos!!!!
Love to you all

Monday October 5th

Tommy and Rikki ( the Athletic Trainer ) pose very reluctantly!!!! The National Athletic Trainers Assoc. will run a story on Rikki and Tommy in their National Magazine. I will let you know when the story goes to print. Rikki's professional training combined with her firm decision to immobilize Tommy saved his life and saved his neurological function. We are forever grateful and we hope this story will highlight the value of having a Professionally Trained and Certified Athletic Trainer on every high school field across the country. Tommy had a great weekend with a surprise visit from Kelsey Huff who flew in from Oklahoma! And Patrick and Alex were home from UCLA for the weekend . Thank you to ALL college freshman that continue to stay in touch with him via skype, phone, text etc. We are in month 5 from the date of the accident....Tommy continues to be the most inspirational person I know.....EVERYDAY through his attitude alone he helps me and those around him put the "small stuff" in perspective.