Last December, Tempe High School senior Malik Fitch thought his playing days and NFL dream were over. They’re actually just beginning.

 

Fitch was diagnosed with scoliosis during junior year, which meant surgery and possibly the end of his career. This news was a big blow for Fitch and his family.

 

“The situation was kind of devastating, not because I might not play football again, but because of the pain and worrying I was putting my mother through,” Fitch said.

 

This was the second misfortunate event to happen to the family. Malik’s father Steven, who has been really sick since the start of the year, suffered a stroke in August. The stroke completely paralyzed Steven.

 

With the hospital bills starting to pile up after the stroke, money became a struggle.

 

“When he [Steven Fitch] got sick I started to sell everything,” Liza Bulerin-Fitch said.

 

When Steven’s former employer and friend got word of how sick he was, he stopped by the hospital and gave him a visit. That friend was Mike Tyson.

Steven Fitch was part of Tyson’s entourage during the 90’s and early 2000’s. Tyson now helps take some of the financial load off the family.

 

The recovering process was long and painful, but it helped shape Malik Fitch into the man he is becoming. While he was healing, Fitch didn’t want to take any pain medications or prescriptions. He wanted the healing process to be as natural as possible. The only medicine he wanted was his faith. Fitch called his pastor almost every night for support to help him through the pain.

 

Fitch credits his belief and love for God for his success in overcoming incredible odds and getting back to the game he loves.

 

“Ever since the first Sunday of his release from the hospital, he has been to church every Sunday. It’s usually him now begging me to go to church,” said Liza Bulerin-Fitch, Malik Fitch’s mother.

 

With the 2017 season just starting, Malik is using football as an outlet for distraction.

 

“Football takes away the pain and struggles of life,” Fitch said.

 

This is a big year for Fitch and he knows that. He is playing for his mother, who has been his backbone his whole life; his father, who is still recovering in the hospital; God, who he believes gave him a second chance; and himself, it’s the last year to prove himself to colleges and scouters to give him a scholarship.

 

“I know I have to give it all.”