Help Give Patty the Comfort She Deserves — 18 Years After Her Cheerleading Tragedy

Hi, I’m Kimberly Archie, founder of the National Cheer Safety Foundation.

I met Patty Phommanyvong in 2008, not long after her life changed forever. While cheering for the John Marshall High School Varsity football team in Los Angeles, Patty suffered commotio cordis, a rare cardiac arrest caused by a sudden blow to the chest.

You might remember a similar incident when Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills collapsed on national TV. But unlike that moment, Patty’s school didn’t have a working AED (automated external defibrillator). It took nearly 30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive and restart her heart. Those lost minutes deprived her brain of oxygen, leaving Patty paralyzed and unable to speak or eat on her own.

Despite this tragedy, Patty’s story has touched the nation. She’s been featured in People Magazine, The LA Times, The Today Show, Nightline, and in an Emmy- and Edward R. Murrow-winning KCET documentary. Her courage also helped change California law: I shared Patty’s story as we fought to make high school cheerleading an official sport under Title IX, protecting cheerleaders across the state in her honor.

Now, 18 years later, Patty continues to inspire everyone who meets her. Her devoted parents have cared for her around the clock, but the costs are enormous. They’ve never asked for help — but we want to help lift their burden in a special way.

We’re raising $3,000 to make Patty’s room more comfortable and safe:

• a new air conditioner for those hot days

• medical-supply storage to organize her daily needs

• an air-filtration system for cleaner breathing

• and decor in her favorite color, purple to brighten the space she spends every day in

Your donation, no matter the amount, helps give Patty comfort, dignity, and love.

You can also help by choosing an item from Patty’s Amazon Wishlist.

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1721LOOIX03KR?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ggr-subnav-share_K37TBZAWH2JXKV822WX8&language=en-US

Thank you for helping honor Patty’s legacy — and reminding her family they’re not alone.