Can Pats Nation help me surprise my college roommate Dont'a Hightower out at Super Bowl 49?

tl;dr Dont'a Hightower saved my life in an F-5 tornado and helped me live life normally despite my inability to write, to see or feel fingers, to do arithmatic and to tell left from right as my college roommate. He is playing in Super Bowl 49 this Sunday. My dream is to surprise him out their in AZ and say "Can you believe this!"

My old college roommate Dont'a Hightower plays LB for the NE Patriots. On 4/27/11 he grabbed me by the shoulder and neck and tucked me underneath a sink as an F-5 tornado almost killed us both. 364 days later on 4/26/2012 he took me to Radio City Music Hall at the NFL Draft where he was drafted by the NE Pats. I have supported the NE Pats ever since but I have struggled big time with PTSD.

To get through the PTSD I took up writing. This can be tough because I also live with Gerstmann Syndrome a rare brain disease that means I struggle to write because of dysgraphia, to perform arithmetic because of dyscalculia, to distinguish left from right because of left-right disorientation, and to see or to feel fingers because of finger agnosia. My visual spatial skills are in the lowest percentile so going to games even one as big as Super Bowl 49 isn't fun for me.What would be fun for me would be to surprise Dont'a out there in AZ just to see him and say man how cool is this! It has been a long road here.

To see my best-friend on Super Bowl week after all this we have lived through would be amazing. I have reached out to many places to see if I could write in exchange for anyone helping me but I have not had a response. I know people are busy. I am still hoping someone can help me surprise a friend.


I figured some proof would be needed:


Dont'a spoke about saving my life at his rookie press conference with the Pats 4/27/12





To get through Gerstmann Syndrome and PTSD I took up writing. On February 9th 2014 I released a book for Rare Disease Day. I didn't use the name of my three roommates who got drafted to NFL teams, the names of their NFL teams or the name of our college university in the book. I did this because I only wanted my book to be about living life with disease and because I didn't want to take away from other books about the Tuscaloosa tornado and the Alabama football team. On the books release Dont'a sent out this tweet about my book.


https://twitter.com/zeus30hightower/status/433086920974155776

Would you please be able to clarify what it is exactly, that you need help with?

Money? Tickets? Someone who knows Hightower?

I have a difficult time believing that someone would have spent so much time on this post who isn't telling the truth, so very best of luck to you.

I'd just need help with a plane ticket and place to stay. I am not interested about going to the game. If I did I'd of just asked him for a ticket ha I just wanted to surprise him out their in AZ and say man can you believe this? It's pretty unbelievable. I talk to him almost every day so once I found my way out there I'd be fine.

I'm having some unexpected expenses at the moment myself, which forced me to cancel my trip to the Super Bowl and sell my hotel room, or else I'd definitely help out.

From everything that I can tell in your funding site + a quick check of "Mike Allen's" twitter page, you are indeed Mike Allen, former room mate of Hightower.

Best of luck to you, and God Bless. I know you've been through a lot and appreciate your strong will and positive attitude.

Thanks. All I want is to surprise a friend and for it to be a real complete surprise which means he of course can't help me be there.

I know you're telling the truth because I read your article about the events of 4/27. All respect. I have no money or means of helping you but I hope somehow you find a way to make this happen. Best of luck.

Thanks either way hopefully the Pats can win this thing

MikeTheWriter said:

Thanks either way hopefully the Pats can win this thing

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Mike--I'm guessing that one of the problems that some people may have will be the lack of contributions, thus making it a bit of a viscous circle. In other words, if you were close to your goal, or maybe even halfway there, then people may be more willing to cough up 5-10-15-20 bucks.

Since you are so far from your goal, I'm wondering if people will wonder "what happens to the money if he doesn't make his goal?" Just thinking out loud. I think that may factor into some decisions.

Here's hoping that if you don't get the chance this year, there are other years + you may be able to surprise him at the (hopefully) parade next week in Boston! That would be pretty cool as well.

supafly said:

Here's hoping that if you don't get the chance this year, there are other years + you may be able to surprise him at the (hopefully) parade next week in Boston! That would be pretty cool as well.

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That's a pretty good idea, it would also be a lot cheaper I imagine, and would give you a little extra time to find the money. It all rides on the fact they win, but hey...

For anyone who is interested, this is Mike's article on the 4/27 Tornado outbreak. I hope you don't mind if I post it. It was a really compelling read. http://thoughtcatalog.com/michael-w...f-alabama-for-college-footballs-biggest-game/

I never even thought about that as far as the money goes but all of you are exactly right about everything. I have never been one of those people who is looking to be seen. I hope that's not what this looks like from me. Also, I love writing. Thanks for sharing what I wrote, too.

How about you fly to Arizona then give him a call? That would be a good enough surprise. He might then be able to get you into the game.

I don't really care to go to the game. My mind is in the bottom percentiles for visual spatial skills so it's hard for me to see what's going on out there. Even as roommates of him and 2 other guys on the Alabama football team I only went to like two games. Def appreciate the advice though. Thank you.

Mike, call into Patriots Football Weekly radio show and talk to Fred Kirsch. I would also call John Rookes show which is immediately after PFW's show. Tell them your story it may help get your wish out to a bigger audience or even get it fulfilled. Not saying you are lying but if true, this is a type of story the Pats could use right about now.

PFW's show starts at noon and runs until 2pm, then Rookes show goes from 2-4pm. You can get this information on Patriots.com. You can also email the shows at [email protected]. I am sure they would want to get some proof of who you are but you could probably provide them with that proof.

Best of luck to you!

What days does the show come on? It'd be cool but it honestly isn't that big of a deal ha I'll be just as happy watching on TV.

Wow...good luck to you. Had no idea Dont'a did that. What a guy. Surprised that story never came up here.

Maybe the best surprise for Donta is reaching out directly to him.. this is a huge task with a very short time frame..

Donta, or even Tracy James may be able to hook you up with a Superbowl sponsor or something..

Also might want to contact Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston and he might be able to post your story on his site, maybe something will happen there...

Good luck..

I'd recommend starting a 'KickStarter' (kickstarter.com) with your story & request if you're looking to raise some money for tickets or a plane...And post that on the Patriots and/or NFL reddit

It would've been ideal to start last week since it would've given you more time to spread it around & what not, although I've seen some things take off pretty quickly on there and maybe you could do it within 3-4 days.