Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Discuss anything and everything relating to Bobcat Football here.

Moderators: rtb, kmax, SonomaCat

Joe Bobcat
Member # Retired
Posts: 2981
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:43 pm

Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Joe Bobcat » Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:00 pm

It’s been on my mind to post about this situation for 8 months now and have to admit I’m ashamed that I waited so long to post about it but here it goes. Former Bobcat player Ty McDonald #45 2004-2007 along with his family are in the fight of their lives and literally the fight FOR the life of their son Lyam.
Check out this video to get a small glimpse of what they are dealing with.
https://www.ktvq.com/news/local-news/fi ... infant-son
Many of you may have already been aware of this but I want all of Bobcat nation to know. Please keep this family in your prayers and if you have any thought or knowledge of where they might get the help they are so desperately seeking do what you can.
Ty played for the Bobcats from 2004-2007 and wore number 45. You won’t find his name in any individual records list but his dedication and impact to the team go far beyond that as indicated by a small write up about him in the Bobcats by the numbers.

Ty McDonald (2004-07)

Other #45 Notes: It's an obvious over-simplification to say that Treasure State products have been the backbone of the Bobcat football program for the century-plus of its existence. The Bobcat program began to really take off early in the 21st century, though, when non-scholarship and low-scholarship players from Montana began matriculating to MSU in larger numbers, and staying their entire careers. One of the greatest examples is Ty McDonald, a Montana High School Heisman winner who picked up the nickname "The Bus Driver" when that's the role a new assistant thought he held in the program on the trip to Great Falls for the Triangle Classic because he was attired in blue jeans and boots rather than team sweats or shorts. McDonald was a solid special teams contributor and reserve tight end, and coming from an agricultural family near Geyser his MSU heritage was strong. Away from the football field is where McDonald really made his mark. He won the University's Torley Award as the senior male who most exemplified the spirit of community service and involvement, he earned an International Stockmen's Education Foundation Travel Fellowship to the 2007 International Livestock Congress in Denver, a Val Glynn Award for leadership and scholarship, was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi agricultural honorary, interned for former U.S. Senator Conrad Burns in Washington D.C., and traveled to Taiwan to study international grain use in the spring of 2006. Ty McDonald was a favorite during his time at MSU, and remains a sterling example that college athletics provides opportunity far beyond the playing field…


If you're looking for someone with a little authority, I'm your man. I have as little as anyone!

User avatar
Cledus
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 5468
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:18 pm
Location: Billings Heights

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Cledus » Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:07 pm

This campaign has been up for three months and until just now, nobody has donated.

Gofundme:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight


UM is the university equivalent of Axe Body Spray and essential oils.

User avatar
MTCowpoke22
BobcatNation Letterman
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 12:25 am
Location: NE Montana

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by MTCowpoke22 » Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:35 pm

I knew Ty before college during our days in 4-H, and he is my wife's cousin, so we've been following this since before Lyam was born. They have a Facebook page "Baby Mac's Heart Fight" which I believe is public to keep everyone appraised of what is going on. It explains everything much better and in more detail than we could post on here. Like his folks, Lyam is a fighter. If you look at the pictures, he's alert and active when awake.He's had multiple heart surgeries over the past 8 months and they've run out of options in Denver. If you know of any hospitals or doctors who would be willing to try any other options, they need to know where to go. He need both a heart and kidney transplant, but can't get put on the transplant list due to his multitude of issues. I don't know that they are really asking for money as much as they need more options for Lyam. It's truly heartbreaking to see such a wonderful family having to deal with this.


There's the truth, and then there's what's reported in the papers.

User avatar
grizzh8r
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6897
Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:23 pm
Location: Billings via Livingston

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by grizzh8r » Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:32 am

Ty is as genuine as they come, he advised us on how to work out the details on passing the family ranch on to the next generation. Hopefully Lyam can get connected with a treatment plan that will correct all of his health issues. As the parent of two heathy young boys, I can't even imagine what the McDonald's are going through right now. Has to be agonizing...


Eric Curry STILL makes me sad.
94VegasCat wrote:Are you for real? That is just a plain ol dumb paragraph! You just nailed every note in the Full Reetard sing-a-long choir!!!
:rofl:

ilovethecats
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6509
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:12 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by ilovethecats » Sat Aug 08, 2020 10:18 am

Well our fall just became wide open! What can we do for this Bobcat family?



Cataholic
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6694
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:09 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Cataholic » Sat Aug 08, 2020 11:46 am

ilovethecats wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 10:18 am
Well our fall just became wide open! What can we do for this Bobcat family?
Let’s go help them out. I already made my donation.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight



ilovethecats
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6509
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:12 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by ilovethecats » Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:22 pm

Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 11:46 am
ilovethecats wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 10:18 am
Well our fall just became wide open! What can we do for this Bobcat family?
Let’s go help them out. I already made my donation.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight
I will too.

If all the people that travel to Bozeman multiple times every fall take a little bit of that cash saved and donate, we should shatter this goal in no time!



User avatar
BleedingBLue
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6185
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:00 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by BleedingBLue » Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:59 pm

Does anybody have any idea how something like a kidney transplant works? Can the little guy live if he gets one good kidney? Or do you have to have 2 good ones?



griztasteslikechicken
BobcatNation Letterman
Posts: 315
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:56 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by griztasteslikechicken » Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:40 pm

Thank you for posting this. I had no idea that the McDonald family was facing this challenge. Folks, this is a solid gold family!!!! Please reach in your wallets and give a little to help them out. If you can drop $300 to $500 for a weekend trip to Bozeman to watch a Cat game you can certainly pony up a few bucks to help this family. Best of luck to the McDonald family....you're certainly in my thoughts and prayers!



Cataholic
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6694
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:09 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Cataholic » Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:02 pm

Over $2,000 in 48 hours! Great job Bobcat Nation!!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight



Joe Bobcat
Member # Retired
Posts: 2981
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:43 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Joe Bobcat » Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:07 pm

BleedingBLue wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:59 pm
Does anybody have any idea how something like a kidney transplant works? Can the little guy live if he gets one good kidney? Or do you have to have 2 good ones?
Oh absolutely you can live with only one kidney. There are people who are born with only one and in general you wouldn't even know it unless told.
I have a brother in law and a friend who were born with only one, and a girl from my high school class that is living with one kidney donated from her sister about 20 years ago.

Thanks to those who are showing support for the McDonalds. As any family that has been through terrible tough times knows, it can really help boost one's morale to see your larger community rally in support of your cause and show empathy and concern for your plight.


If you're looking for someone with a little authority, I'm your man. I have as little as anyone!

User avatar
AFCAT
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 9171
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2016 3:25 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by AFCAT » Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:39 pm

Joe Bobcat wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:07 pm
BleedingBLue wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:59 pm
Does anybody have any idea how something like a kidney transplant works? Can the little guy live if he gets one good kidney? Or do you have to have 2 good ones?
Oh absolutely you can live with only one kidney. There are people who are born with only one and in general you wouldn't even know it unless told.
I have a brother in law and a friend who were born with only one, and a girl from my high school class that is living with one kidney donated from her sister about 20 years ago.

Thanks to those who are showing support for the McDonalds. As any family that has been through terrible tough times knows, it can really help boost one's morale to see your larger community rally in support of your cause and show empathy and concern for your plight.
Yeah, if you watch the video on his story, his Mom said she is his perfect kidney match, so she can donate one of her kidneys once he gets a heart transplant first.


QB Club https://www.msubqc.org
Bobcat Collective https://linktr.ee/thebobcatcollective
“In the military, they teach you the best time to attack your enemy is nighttime and bad weather. We’ve got f—ing both!” — Devin Slaughter

Cataholic
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6694
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:09 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Cataholic » Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:52 pm

Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:02 pm
Over $2,000 in 48 hours! Great job Bobcat Nation!!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight
Over $3,100 now! Be pretty awesome if we could get over $5,000 today.



Cataholic
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6694
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:09 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Cataholic » Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:38 pm

Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:52 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:02 pm
Over $2,000 in 48 hours! Great job Bobcat Nation!!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight
Over $3,100 now! Be pretty awesome if we could get over $5,000 today.
Nice job BN! $4,340 so far!



ilovethecats
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6509
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:12 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by ilovethecats » Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:56 pm

Cataholic wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:38 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:52 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:02 pm
Over $2,000 in 48 hours! Great job Bobcat Nation!!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight
Over $3,100 now! Be pretty awesome if we could get over $5,000 today.
Nice job BN! $4,340 so far!
Love this! I’ve shared the link everywhere I can.

If people were as passionate about saving ALL lives as they are covid lives, we’d triple this amount overnight.

I‘m still hoping.



WolfPtCat
BobcatNation Team Captain
Posts: 435
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:28 pm
Location: Parker, CO

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by WolfPtCat » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:21 am

How bout we keep this effort at the top of the message board for a week...instead of b*ing and moaning about masks and having to wait 6 months to tailgate.

I echo what others said, if you can drop a few hundred for a weekend in Bozeman (which we all love to do), you might be able to help these young parents out. It sounds like they aren't really asking for money, just a miracle connection. But having a little money in the bank, can pay the apartment costs & help them search for their miracle.

If you can donate or not...please pray for them....it helps!



Cataholic
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6694
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:09 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Cataholic » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:18 am

ilovethecats wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:56 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:38 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:52 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:02 pm
Over $2,000 in 48 hours! Great job Bobcat Nation!!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight
Over $3,100 now! Be pretty awesome if we could get over $5,000 today.
Nice job BN! $4,340 so far!
Love this! I’ve shared the link everywhere I can.

If people were as passionate about saving ALL lives as they are covid lives, we’d triple this amount overnight.

I‘m still hoping.
Passed $5,000 this morning! Great job everyone!



ilovethecats
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 6509
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:12 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by ilovethecats » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:47 am

Cataholic wrote:
Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:18 am
ilovethecats wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:56 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:38 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:52 pm
Cataholic wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:02 pm
Over $2,000 in 48 hours! Great job Bobcat Nation!!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/baby-macs-heart-fight
Over $3,100 now! Be pretty awesome if we could get over $5,000 today.
Nice job BN! $4,340 so far!
Love this! I’ve shared the link everywhere I can.

If people were as passionate about saving ALL lives as they are covid lives, we’d triple this amount overnight.

I‘m still hoping.
Passed $5,000 this morning! Great job everyone!
=D^

Way to spearhead this thing!



User avatar
Cledus
Golden Bobcat
Posts: 5468
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:18 pm
Location: Billings Heights

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by Cledus » Mon Aug 10, 2020 11:09 am

This campaign for little Lyam began on May 7 and didn't have a single donation until we learned about it. Now, the campaign is halfway to its goal.

Let's keep the momentum going. Even if it's only $25 these folks could really use it and almost all of us can carve $25 out of our budget. Let's get them to the finish line.


UM is the university equivalent of Axe Body Spray and essential oils.

blueandgoldblitz
1st Team All-BobcatNation
Posts: 1619
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:02 pm

Re: Ty McDonald fighting for son's life

Post by blueandgoldblitz » Wed Aug 12, 2020 2:12 am

I'm just curious if someone knows the answer to this, but how does an adult kidney fit in a baby? And I'd imagine a heart transplant would have to come from another child? I'd have to think an adult heart would be way too big for a child's chest cavity.



Post Reply