Over the past few months, we all know those who are facing major challenges and tough situations following all the natural disasters in our country. Many of our CoSIDA members are in communities which have been affected.
At the same time that we are watching, reading and assisting those in need, within our own organization we have three CoSIDA members who are battling major medical and health issues. All three of these individuals - and their situations - have come to light in the last few weeks.
The CoSIDA Board is asking that each member take a moment to read about the challenges facing Pam LaFosse, Assistant Sports Information Director at Division I McNeese State, located in Lake Charles, La.;
Mark McGee, the Senior Publisher/Media Relations Director at Division I Lipscomb University in Nashville;
and Jon Wallin, Sports Information Director for Division III member Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas.
LaFosse, a McNeese graduate who played baskeball at her alma mater, has spent the last 20 years as the assistant SID. She is now battling cancer for the third time. Pam is taking treatments for colon cancer at the renowned M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston.
McGee, the long-time media relations director and communications department instructor at Lipscomb, suffered serious heart issues this spring, resulting in open-heart surgery. He is recovering and doing intensive rehabilitation at Nashville's Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital.
Wallin, 40, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on Friday, May 20. There was no clot, no aneurysm, just significant bleeding in the brain which caused significant damage to the left side of his body. He currently is undergoing rehabilitation at the Scott & White Center for Rehabilitative Medicine in Waco, Texas. Wallin has served as MHB's SID since 1999 when he became the first full-time SID in the Cru athletic department’s history.
The CoSIDA Board of Directors unanimously voted to extend aid to LaFosee, McGee and Wallin, contributing $500.00 to each as they continue to battle their medical conditions.
Below are ways for CoSIDA members, CoSIDA colleagues, associates and friends to assist each of these three in their times of need. Below are addresses where you can send a message, card, note or donation to these CoSIDA individuals. We know that each of them would appreciate hearing from fellow CoSIDA members.
On behalf of the CoSIDA Board of Directors, thank you.
Pam LaFosse
See online:
McNeese athletic staff get haircuts in support of colleague, by Louis Bonnette
See online:
Hair-razing show of support, via americanpress.com
See online:
McNeese fans support Pam LaFosse with billboard messages
In the photo (below), McNeese athletic staff members had their heads shaved by (seated) local barber Jimmy Fontenot in support of the cancer battle LaFosse is facing. Pictured (left to right) Associate AD Ryan Ivey, Director of Marketing/Ticketing Nathan Fontaine, Athletics Director Tommy McClelland, men's head basketball coach Dave Simmons and 
baseball assistant coach Bubbs Merrill.
“This is not so much about us shaving our heads as it is about us showing support for Pam who is now undergoing her third bout with cancer,” said McClelland.
“She’s an amazing person and an amazing employee,” McClelland said. “We talked about how we could bring attention to this horrible disease that affects so many people across the country, and how could we tell Pam’s story? By doing what we did today, in a weird and silly way, has brought attention to a serious matter.”
LaFosse, who has served as the full-time assistant SID at her alma mater since 1994, is currently getting treatment at M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston for colon cancer. In 2001 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and in 2002 with breast cancer. She underwent treatment for both cancers and had been cancer free for nine years until the colon cancer was found in March.
She is now receiving radiation and chemothraphy treatment (five and one-half weeks), will have surgery and then will have five and one-half more weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatment.
Her sister – Marie Boudreaux – had died of colon cancer a year ago and her father had past away from the same disease in 1997.
LaFosse said that she would like to have anyone wishing to make donations in her behalf in the battle against cancer to send it to the local Ethel Precht Foundation.
Donations can be mailed to the McNeese State athletic department at: Donations for Pam LaFosse, 700. E. McNeese Street, Lake Charles, LA 70607 with checks made out to “The Ethel Breast Walk.”
People also can donate online at:
www.ethelbreastcancerwalk.org.
In another show of tremendous support, AdSource and account executive Rock Hardy recently
placed three billboards around Lake Charles that feature a supportive message for Pam. The billboard message was:
McNeese fans love Pam LaFosse. Praying for a quick recovery.
Mark McGee
McGee continues to be hospitalized and is undergoing treatment for a serious heart episode. He is slowly recovering, and has been out of work since April. On May 18, Mark was moved to the Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital in Nashville where he is undergoing lots of therapy and daily work.
Below is a message from Lipscomb Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson about Mark, his recovery,
and how people can help Mark and his family in their time of need.
A Message from Philip Hutcheson RE: Mark McGee
Dear Friend,
As a friend of Mark McGee, I hope you won't be offended by this sincere request. As you probably know, Mark has spent the past seven weeks in St. Thomas Hospital undergoing treatment for a serious heart episode. We are thankful that after several very difficult weeks, Mark is showing signs of sure improvement and was moved (May 19) to Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital.
As you can imagine, his expenses are staggering.
We will trust insurance to handle the majority of the medical bill, but we hope to surprise Mark and his parents with assistance to offset several incidental expenses that have presented themselves -- a crashed air conditioning unit and a ruptured water heater in his home, new eyeglasses to replace his missing pair, gas money for his parents in their daily drive to-and-from Shelbyville, and much more.
If each of us pitches in a little, together we will take an enormous load off his parents and free them to concentrate on his recovery.
If you're in a position to write a check or drop in a few dollars, please do it now. You may bring it to our offices or mail to:
Lipscomb University Athletics
c/o Mark McGee Fund
1 University Park Drive
Nashville TN 37204
Unfortunately this is not a tax-deductible contribution (we asked the accountants here), but we hope that you will consider it anyways. We will prepare a large card with the names of all who help with this special gift, and whether you are able to help or not, I would ask that you continue to keep Mark and his family and friends in your prayers as he continues on the road to recovery.
Thank you again for your consideration on this, and please let us know if there is anything we might do to serve you in the months to come.
Sincerely,
Philip Hutcheson
Director of Athletics
Lipscomb University
Jon Wallin
Read the blog being kept about Jon and his progress by Brenda Wallin, Jon's wife: http://www.jonwallin.blogspot.com/
At the Center for Rehabilitative Medicine in Waco, Texas, Wallin (pronounced wall-EEN) is undergoing rigorous daily speech, cognitive, physical and occupational therapies in his recovery efforts from the hemorrhagic stroke. After spending several days in a local hospital ICU's unit, he was moved to Waco to begin his daily therapies.
His wife, Brenda Wallin, is writing a
daily blog on Jon, his progress and their family (two young sons).
A trust fund for the young family is being prepared. Until then, those who wish to donate to Jon and and his family's fund can do so by sending donations to:
Ben Ship
Vice President for Athletics
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
900 College Street
Belton, TX 76513
Here is the Center for Rehabilitative Medicine address for those who might want to send a card or note to Jon:
Jon Wallin
Center for Rehabilitative Medicine at Hillcrest
Room 3367
3000 Herring Avenue
Waco, TX, 76708
Last year, Wallin and his MHB staff were recognized as the
top American Southwest Conference media relations office of year.
Here's a
story on Wallin and his contributions as SID from July 2010 from the
Temple Daily Telegram entitled "Wall-to-wall info: Need answers on UMHB sports? Modest SID Wallin is the man."