{"id":13148,"date":"2025-12-04T08:54:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=13148"},"modified":"2025-12-04T08:54:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:54:26","slug":"sidelined-and-unable-to-walk-faith-family-and-football-guided-a-titans-journey-back","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/sidelined-and-unable-to-walk-faith-family-and-football-guided-a-titans-journey-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Sidelined and unable to walk, faith, family and football guided a Titan\u2019s journey back"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

UW-Oshkosh football player Nick Malueg said his dream of playing college football felt \u201cunreachable\u201d after a serious illness<\/em><\/h2>\n

On a crisp Saturday afternoon at Titan Stadium, UW-Oshkosh football running back Nick Malueg looks every bit the picture of health\u2014strong, steady and smiling. But just a few years ago, the Caroline, Wisconsin, native could barely walk 20 feet without crutches.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A junior majoring in business and project management, Malueg balances classes and practices while appreciating every moment on the field, something he once feared he\u2019d never experience again.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What began as a sore throat before his senior year at Marion High School spiraled into a life-threatening infection that nearly ended his football dreams before they began.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

UW-Oshkosh football running back Nick Malueg (20) overcame a serious illness and is grateful for his health, family and Titan community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A sudden illness<\/h3>\n

In late June 2022, Malueg went to the doctor for what seemed like simple tonsil pain. Tests for strep came back negative. He was sent home with pain medication. The next day, July 1, his tonsils were so swollen that doctors suspected mononucleosis and gave him a steroid injection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was fine that day,\u201d he said, \u201cbut a few days later, everything changed.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By July 5, Malueg was in excruciating pain and spiking a high fever. His parents, Kim and Tony Malueg, rushed him to the emergency room in Shawano. Doctors quickly realized his condition was serious. Within hours, he was transported to ThedaCare Neenah for emergency care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Specialists there diagnosed him with Fusobacterium, a rare bacterial infection that had spread into his left hip, creating a septic joint.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had just finished my junior year, my peak recruiting season and suddenly I couldn\u2019t even move,\u201d Malueg said. \u201cIt was basically eating my whole body away.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nick Malueg, pictured during his junior year at Marion High School,
\nwas at the top of his game before falling ill.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Doctors performed emergency surgery at ThedaCare Neenah to drain the bacteria from his hip. When he was discharged nearly a week later, he weighed just 143 pounds, down almost 40 pounds from his pre-infection weight of 181.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was incredibly humbling and scary,\u201d Malueg said. \u201cFootball wasn\u2019t even on my mind anymore; it felt too painful to think about when I was in that much pain physically.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A mother\u2019s vigil and a father\u2019s steady hand<\/h3>\n

While Malueg recovered in the hospital, his mother refused to leave his side.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom didn\u2019t sleep when I didn\u2019t sleep,\u201d he said. \u201cShe was there through the entire thing.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The days blurred together in a haze of exhaustion and fear. Intravenous lines ran down both of Malueg\u2019s arms, each carrying a different medication. Alarms beeped without warning, summoning nurses into the room at all hours.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One night, his dad, Tony, who drives a semi-truck for a food delivery service, walked in carrying a football\u2014the same kind his son had spent years gripping under the Friday night lights.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hL4Xcu62Q-0?feature=oembed]<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tony just finished another long day at work but came straight to the hospital, still in his work clothes, the fatigue plain on his face.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nick Malueg, seated, signs to play football for UW\u2013Oshkosh, and is joined by his parents, Kim and Tony Malueg, at Marion High School.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

He set the ball gently on his son\u2019s chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not the adversity. That\u2019s life,\u201d Tony told him softly. \u201cIt\u2019s how you deal with it. Don\u2019t give up. Here\u2019s the ball. This is your focus. You\u2019re going to get back.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Malueg looked down at the ball, then turned his face away and began to cry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he did that, I just broke down,\u201d Malueg said. \u201cI turned away from the ball and bawled my eyes out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nick Malueg puts in work during practice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

From across the room, Kim watched the exchange unfold.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTony told him, \u2018This is what you were dreaming about. You can do this. We can get through this and you will do this again,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a long moment, the father and son sat quietly in the dim light of the hospital room, the ball resting between them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t about the game,\u201d Malueg said of that moment. \u201cIt was about what the football symbolized, the hours I\u2019d spent working for a dream that suddenly felt unreachable. It was a reminder to keep pushing, even when everything hurt.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a small gesture, but for Malueg, it marked the first spark of hope that he might one day walk, let alone play, the game he loved again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning to walk again<\/h3>\n

Once home, the hard work began. With a PICC line for antibiotics and months of recovery ahead, Malueg faced the daunting task of relearning how to walk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nick Malueg with his parents Kim and Tony, who host a big tailgate
\nparty at every Titan home game.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI started with crutches, 20 feet at first, then 50, then 100.\u201d he said. \u201cI crutched two miles before I switched to a cane. Then I walked 20 feet until I could run. It seems extreme, but at the time, I was willing to do anything to walk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

By early August, he was taking short steps without support. It was a small miracle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The lost season<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The infection and recovery meant missing his entire senior year of football at Marion High School.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore I got sick, I was getting looks from a lot of schools,\u201d he said. \u201cAfterward, most of that disappeared. But Oshkosh and North Central still believed in me.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He committed to UW\u2013Oshkosh, drawn by the close-knit community, strong academics and a football culture known for its grit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was local, great family aspect and some of the best football in the country,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A humbling return<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting back on the field was both exhilarating and humbling.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAutomatically, you\u2019re going to be two steps behind,\u201d he said. \u201cI love that environment, though, the chance to grow back, to earn it again. It\u2019s humbling knowing you might not ever be what you were, but I don\u2019t dwell on that. I focus on the fact that I can play at the next level tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Every time he steps onto the field, Malueg carries with him the lessons of faith, perseverance and gratitude instilled by his parents.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery play, every rep\u2014it\u2019s a blessing,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I think about how close I was to never walking again, football feels like a miracle.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Peter Jennings<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The long road back taught him to value not just the game, but the community that came with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I chose Oshkosh, it was because of that family aspect,\u201d Malueg added. \u201cThe coaches, the players\u2014it felt like a place that believed in me. Putting on that Titan uniform means a lot after everything that happened. It\u2019s not just football; it\u2019s being part of something bigger.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Head coach Peter Jennings, who leads the Titan Football program, said Malueg\u2019s journey embodies the spirit he wants every player to carry onto the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick\u2019s story really captures what Titan Football is all about\u2014resilience, hard work and heart,\u201d Jennings said. \u201cEvery player faces challenges, but the way he fought his way back shows the kind of toughness and belief we try to build in this program.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Written by Grace Lim<\/p>\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/www.uwosh.edu\/today\/128964\/sidelined-and-unable-to-walk-faith-family-and-football-guided-a-titans-journey-back\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UW-Oshkosh football player Nick Malueg said his dream of playing college football felt \u201cunreachable\u201d after a serious illness On a crisp Saturday afternoon at Titan Stadium, UW-Oshkosh football running back Nick Malueg looks every bit the picture of health\u2014strong, steady and smiling. But just a few years ago, the Caroline, Wisconsin, native could barely walk […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":13151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[94],"story_category":[147],"class_list":["post-13148","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-oshkosh","story_category-community"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/13148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=13148"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=13148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}