Malori Maddox walked into the RIP Griffin Center Thursday night to cheer on the LCU boys basketball team and her boyfriend Tyler Rogers for the first time since November. It was a huge step in her recovery process and an emotional night for her family.
“We hadn’t seen her standing on that court since she played a game on senior day.” Malori’s mother Sarah Maddox said.
Three months ago after pounding head pain, Malori was taken to the hospital and doctors found her brain was bleeding. The road to finally coming home has been long, but it’s helped that LCU, and other churches, schools and business were supporting Malori through prayers and raising funds.
“Really West Texas, you know, just taking care of the little blonde girl that’s pretty special,” Malori’s boyfriend Tyler Rogers said.
Last night LCU gave the Maddox family a check for almost $9,000 during halftime of the men’s game. Malori is in good spirits now and getting stronger everyday. She’s working on returning to the court again this time for a game of her own.
“We ran a mile and a half yesterday. That’s more than I’ve intentionally run in about five years,” Rogers said.
Rogers and the Men’s basketball team have shirts with the Pray for Malori hash tag and have been some of the biggest supports for Malori in her recovery process. Malori knows the toll this took on Rogers and the rest of the team well.
“Sorry Coach Duncan about all the distraction I’ve given Tyler,” Malori said, “but thank you all so much for still being there for me.”
Last night was a dream come true for the family as they got to cheer on Rogers who scored the most points for LCU in their win over UTPB and Malori’s little sister, who’s just glad her best friend is home.
“I’m just so blessed to have her back. Malori was cheering I heard her, she was screaming the whole game,” Maci Maddox said.
Malori told me she’s going to keep on cheering her loved ones on and she’s thankful for all those who cheered for her.
