UNWAVERING FAITH, FAMILY & RODEO WITH TIM MALM

BY ELLEE HAGEMAN

It was June 6th, 2010, and for Tim Malm, the 2009 National High School Final Rodeo Reserve Champion Calf Roper from Albin, Wyoming, the day had started like any other Sunday. He had just won in Kimball, Nebraska, the previous night, and after spending the morning at church and having lunch with his best friends, he prepared to trip some steers with his family that afternoon. However, something went wrong; he roped the steer, set the trip, then the rope made a figure-eight on the right front foot, jerking all four feet from under his horse when the rope came tight with the steer, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that almost took his life. The diagnosis was a traumatic brain injury caused by a brain hemorrhage at the base of the brain stem, they were told there was a zero percent chance of survival.

Today, nearly 13 years later, Tim embodies unwavering faith and positivity. He works tirelessly every day towards his goals, following and fighting for victory with Jesus to ‘walk, run, rope, and win for Him,’ with the help of his family and friends. His attitude towards his injury, progress, and life, in general, is entirely contagious.

When asked how he handles bad days, he replied, “There are no bad days, just days that aren’t quite as good.”

Tim has had the opportunity to work with a clinic called Ultimate Performance, or Unlimited Potential as Tim would call it, with Dr. Kyle Daigle in Louisiana which specializes in TBIs and has seen incredible improvements. Tim utilizes physical therapy at home, including using a recumbent exercise bike, sit-ups, sauna time, and other floor exercises. Tim is also following a strict diet, which includes no dairy, no gluten, and low sugar. For a man who loves ice cream, he hasn’t had it in over a year, and it shows; he’s closer to walking than he’s ever been and has lost about 50 pounds.

Tim was born with a passion for ranching and rodeo in his blood. He was raised in a Christian home and church and has known and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior since he was 11 years old. This journey has increased Tim’s faith even more, and though he thought it might be 6 months to a year before he would be back to roping, that hasn’t been the case.

His faith has sustained him to stay motivated and positive, noting Philippians 4:13 as being one of his favorite verses, which says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Tim wanted to create a company that embodied his faith and his determination to overcome adversity. Stronger 413, the official coffee of Cheyenne Frontier Days, offers a variety of high-quality coffee blends and products, all with the goal of providing customers with a taste of Tim’s strength and resilience. Tim hopes that his coffee company will inspire others to never give up and to always trust in God and their inner strength, even in the face of adversity. Malm’s story is a powerful reminder that with faith, hard work, determination, and a great cup of coffee, anything is possible. All proceeds go towards Tim’s continuing rehabilitation.