Texas

Kel's Hill

Paul Ryan


This article was featured in the 2017 May/June edition of Inside Tennis Magazine. We caught up with Kel recently to follow up on his progress, which can be found in the Q&A section at the bottom of the page.

 

Kelubia Mabatah grew up playing USTA tournaments in Texas. He advanced through the youth progression system, playing in the Texas Grand Slam and traveling to National tournaments representing the section.

 

Mabatah continued to grow as a player as he got older, winning conference championships at The Kinkaid School in Houston and at Texas Christian University in his junior and senior years.

 

He graduated from TCU in 2010 and played professional tennis for a year before getting involved with the family business in Nigeria. 

 

That’s where things went horribly wrong. On December 3, 2014, Mabatah was brutally attacked by four armed men who beat him within an inch of his life. The men fractured his skull by hitting his head with the butt of a rifle, knocked out multiple teeth and stabbed him on the side of his stomach. 

 

Mabatah was taken to a local hospital where he spent six days in a coma. There they performed the first of four brain surgeries that helped save his life.

 

It has been nearly two and a half years since that fateful day, but Mabatah has been working tirelessly to get back to where he once was. It has been an incredibly difficult road, but Mabatah’s hard work and dedication to getting better is unparalleled. 

 

 

Mabatah with TCU Head Coach David Roditi in March 2017 after going back for the first time since 2012. The team honored Mabatah in front of the crowd during a dual match against Illinois.

“It’s been a long and slow process, but given the severity of my brain injuries, the doctors didn’t think I would be doing the stuff I’m doing today,” Mabatah says. “I’m very lucky to still be alive and to make the kind of progress I’m making. 

 

“Nobody knows if I’ll ever fully recover. All I can do is try. I’m happy with my recovery so far. I may not be where I want to be but if I keep working like I have been for the past few years, I feel like maybe I can get there.”

 

Mabatah’s positive outlook and work ethic have helped him surpass expectations set by his doctors and physical therapists. He goes to TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation in Houston three days a week for PT, but goes above and beyond by doing therapy on his own for four to five hours every single day at Westside Tennis and Fitness Club. 

 

“Since my brain injury caused me to be completely paralyzed on my whole right side, I had to learn how to walk again and use my right arm again with no movement in my right hand or fingers,” Mabatah says. “The doctors and therapists tell me that is generally the last thing that comes back because the movements in the hand and fingers are so complex like the brain. I had to learn how to speak again, which I continue to do still to this day by attending physical therapy since the start of 2015.” 

 

Westside is the place where Mabatah grew up. When he was a toddler, his dad would take him to the club on the weekends and bring Kel on the court between breaks playing with his friends. One day, Kel spotted a commercial for a tennis camp at Westside. He knew it was the sport for him.

 

“I pointed at the TV and said ‘mom, I want to do that,’” Mabatah recalls. “So she took me to camp, dropped me off and the rest is history. I just fell in love with the sport.”

 

In tennis, you’re accountable for yourself. That’s what Mabatah loves about it. You can’t rely on teammates to hit the shots for you or blame someone else when you lose a match. It’s all on you. “It’s just you against the other person.”

 

That mentality has helped Mabatah throughout his recovery. No one can do the rehabbing for him, so he’s taken it upon himself to get back to where he once was. Instead of waiting for instructions from doctors and therapists, Kel just does. 

After the incident, Mabatah could not speak at all due to the severe traumatic brain injury. Now, he reads more than ever, seeing a near full recovery in his speech. Talking to him during the interview, you would never know this was a man who suffered a life-threatening brain injury. It’s a tribute to the long hours and his outlook on therapy that has gotten him to this point. In fact, he’s currently writing a book to recount his journey and recovery after his near-death experience.

 

“Rehabbing is a full-time job,” Mabatah says.

 

Last summer, Mabatah’s therapists wanted to get him back on the court. Since the attack left him paralyzed on his right side, he was forced to hit with his weaker left hand, but he didn’t care. Kel was back out doing what he loved – playing tennis.

Mabatah with a few of his former teammates that came for the match in March 2017.

“As soon as I stepped on the court, that competitive nature kicked in,” he says. “My therapist was really surprised. I was doing things on the tennis court that they had been trying to get me to do in physical therapy. Obviously I can’t really move that well so the ball was hit right to me, but it felt amazing just to get back on the court. It felt amazing.”

 

Over the next couple years, Mabatah’s high school Kinkaid will unveil nearly $10 million in renovations to the school. Included in that are eight new tennis courts with a viewing area for up to 500 people. 

 

Since his injury, the tight-knit community at Kinkaid has worked to raise money for ‘Kel’s Hill,’ a name they are trying to bestow upon the viewing area in honor of Mabatah’s positive outlook and work ethic. The first fundraiser came at the beginning of April, with Kinkaid young alumni throwing a crawfish boil with proceeds benefitting Kel’s Hill. 

 

“I saw a lot of people I hadn’t seen since I graduated so it was good to see some familiar faces and some people that I didn’t even know who came out,” Mabatah says. “It was awesome. I never expected to see faces I haven’t seen in 10 or 15 years. The fact that they took the time to come out and support me, it means the world to me.”

 

For those who know him, he is an inspiration for his recovery process. However, Kel’s Hill is more important to Mabatah than anyone else.

 

“It means everything to me. I’m so speechless to this day. When they first told me about it, I didn’t think they were serious. But when they told me, ‘no, we’re serious, we want to do this for you,’ I almost cried. 

 

“I never thought my story and how I’m treating my recovery could inspire so many people, let alone the school to name something in my honor. It inspires me even more to never give up because I would be letting down the Kinkaid community and others who are looking up to me for inspiration if I give up. Words can’t describe what it means to me.”

 

Mabatah found out about Kel’s Hill back in November. In February, the fundraising site for Kel’s Hill launched on social media, coinciding with Mabatah’s birthday. He called it “the best birthday gift ever.”

 

To see Kel on his road to recovery, follow him on Instagram @kmabatah.

 

You can also check out Kel's Foundation website at www.kelstrongfoundation.com.

 

I want to thank God because without him, I wouldn't be alive today and making the amazing recovery thus far, my family, especially my mother, Hyacinth Mabatah, who has relentlessly been by my side since the day I returned from Nigeria and who if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be where I am today in my amazing recovery, so I dedicate my recovery to her, my sister Jacqueline Mabatah, my friends who have supported me since my incident, and all my neurosurgeons, doctors, and therapists who have helped me get to where I am today. – Kel Mabatah

 

Mabatah playing tennis left-handed at Westside Tennis & Fitness Club in July 2016 for the first time since his incident.

Catching up with Kel - Q&A

 
In early 2021, we chatted with Kel Mabatah about what he was doing, his recovery, and how he's been giving back to the community
 

USTA Texas: What was it like that day Kel’s Hill was finally dedicated?

 

Kel Mabatah: It was a special and amazing day that day that Kel’s Hill was finally dedicated to me. I’ll remember January 28th, 2018 for the rest of my life. It was a dream come true to have something named after me in my honor. So many people of the The Kinkaid School Community and my friends came out for that special day. I was nervous at first when I hit the first ball to make it official with one of my former occupational therapists at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation who played tennis herself in front of all those people in attendance. But eventually the nerves went away and I just enjoyed being able to step on the tennis court again and play the sport I love, one that I didn’t think would be possible again, even if it’s with my opposite side because my right side was and still is affected from my traumatic brain injury.  Honestly, that day, I just felt honored and blessed that something amazing was taking place from such a negative event in my life. 

 

 

USTA Texas: It’s been over three years now. How does it feel going there now or seeing people talking about Kel’s Hill?

 

KM: It truly feels amazing and such a humbling feeling going there now and seeing/hearing people talk about Kel’s Hill. It was such a surreal feeling walking up to the tennis complex and seeing people sitting in the stands and sitting/standing on the hill that’s named in my honor watching the tennis. Almost brought tears to my eyes! Each time I go there, I have to pinch myself and say to myself, “is this really for real”? Then to hear and see people talk about Kel’s Hill and what it means to them personally is the icing on the cake. For me, Kel’s Hill reinforces the notion that I can never give up because I would not just be letting myself and others down who are looking up to me, I would be letting the Kinkaid community down as well. I’m so honored and blessed to have Kinkaid be a part of my story and for my legacy to live on forever on the school’s campus and in the tennis program. For the tennis teams, The Kinkaid Community, and anyone that visits Kel’s Hill, my goal is to inspire others to never give up, keep fighting, and to always keep hope alive, no matter how tough life gets. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think my recovery would have such an impact, but I’m also glad that something positive has come from such a horrific event that has changed mine and my family’s life forever. 

 

 

USTA Texas: How has your rehab been going since we last spoke?

 

KM: My rehab and recovery has been going great since we last spoke. I’ve made a lot of progress in my recovery such as my walking has improved and gotten better over the years, and I have a little more movement and range in motion in my right arm. My physical recovery is still a work in progress though with no movement yet in my right hand/fingers, and other parts of my right foot. Although I did regain movement in my right index finger thanks to Imelda (my occupational therapist at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation) and God, of course, but I can only move it under the right conditions for now. I regained a little movement in my wrist as well. Besides that, as of today, I’m able to grasp somewhat with my right hand, but I can’t release nor move any of my fingers individually. My therapists tell me that fine motor skills – like grasp and release – can be the last thing to come back, and when it will come back, only God knows. At this point, all I can do is keep trying and not give up. In addition to that, my speech is much improved. A year or even six months ago, I wasn’t able to speak as clearly as I do now. I still go to TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehab. I can't say enough about what TIRR have done for me and my recovery. After all I went through, I never thought I would be doing the things I'm able to do today, and neither did my doctors and therapists. I’m doing things physically and mentally that I didn’t think would ever be possible again after my injury so that is a blessing in itself. It’s a miracle that I’m still here AND doing the things I’m able to do physically and mentally today despite my brain injury.

USTA Texas: What have you been doing since we last spoke, both personally and professionally?

 

KM: I have been really focusing on my recovery since we last spoke. But in December 2019, for my 5 year anniversary of when I sustained my traumatic brain injury, I decided to start my own foundation, The ‘Kel Strong’ Mabatah Foundation, with the encouragement of two of my high school friends that are involved in the foundation today. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to help create a better future for those impacted by traumatic brain injuries through financial support for treatment and services on their journey to recovery. There are 3 main reasons why I decided to start my foundation. One, was to give back to TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation, one of the best rehabilitation places in the country, where I was in the Inpatient Rehab Hospital, Outpatient Rehab, and where I saw countless miracles happen, including with myself. Two, to assist others who want to get better and are willing to work hard like me. However due to insurance limits, denied or exhausted covered visits, or no access to other funding, that’s where my foundation comes in to offer assistance. Three, after 5 years at the time, I felt that I was finally ready to slowly move forward with my new life and fulfill my purpose of being given a second chance at life. In partnership with TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation and The Memorial Hermann Foundation, we established a scholarship, The ‘Kel Strong’ Scholarship, to receive additional therapy sessions that would be awarded to recipients that a committee at TIRR would select. This past year, we awarded our first scholarship to a very deserving candidate and recipient. My foundation couldn’t be more happy and proud to play a small part in helping this individual with his recovery journey, helping him to be one step closer to returning to his passion, which is being a mechanic. Through my foundation, I plan to continue to help many more traumatic brain injury survivors. We have helped a couple other traumatic brain injury survivors as well with their recovery and plan on awarding two more scholarships this year so I’ve been busy with the foundation and ensuring we raise the money to achieve our goals and mission.

Since Kel can no longer play tennis at the level he wants to, he has started bodybuilding competitively.

In addition to that, last year in 2020, I participated in my first ever bodybuilding competition. I didn’t think this would be possible given my injury, but my team at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation and others convinced me that it was in deed possible. We just had to find fitness competitions where I could compete, despite my disabilities. The truth is the gym and competing in bodybuilding fills that void that tennis filled in my life up until my incident. I know I can’t play tennis at the level I did before nor compete playing in tennis tournaments because that requires being able to do things physically that I can no longer do. But at the beginning of 2019, Eugene (my trainer at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation) and others convinced me that I can be competitive in the sport of bodybuilding despite my disabilities. So I returned to weightlifting for first time since my injury in 2019 with the goal to compete in bodybuilding competitions in 2020. So being able to train in the gym has been huge in that respect. It makes me feel like I fit in sort of, and the feeling that I know I’m good at training, that I’m better at training than a lot of healthy able-bodied people makes me feel good about myself, despite my situation. Sometimes when I’m at the gym, I forget that I’m injured, of course till I do something that reminds me. With that said, training as hard as I do everyday has helped me in my recovery as well because if I weren’t training like I do, I would probably still depend on my wheelchair, not be able to use my right arm/hand to do anything, nor being able to speak as well as I’m able to today. God is good. 

Lastly, I’ve figured out that training as much as I do helps manage my symptoms I suffer from daily as of result of my traumatic brain injury. If I weren’t as active everyday, my symptoms would be twice as bad, and I would have to take more medications than I already do now. I don’t want to take any more medications than necessary, so I figured working out and lifting weights is a lot cheaper and easier overall. And honestly, if it wasn’t for the gym and not being able to do anything at the gym like many others in my situation, I don’t know what I would do. I would probably be depressed and not want to do anything with my life, feeling sorry for myself. In one of my competitions last year in September 2020, I competed in two categories (1) open novice and (2) adaptive, a category limited for people with physical challenges. I got second place in the open novice category to my huge surprise!! I also took first place in the adaptive category, but I was the only adaptive competitor at the show. I am really proud of, and amazed by, the fact that I got second place in the open novice category because I was up against people who are not injured. My goal by doing bodybuilding competitions was not only to be competitive again, but to also inspire/motivate other injured people and others to overcome their challenges, set backs, limitations, disabilities, whatever it is and do the impossible. It was impossible for me to step on stage at one point, but it’s a reality now. I hope to see more injured people like me on stage in the near future. In addition to that, those bodybuilding competitions would be another opportunity to share my unique story with the goal of inspiring/motivating others. I plan on competing again in more bodybuilding competitions this year as I’m even more motivated after seeing what I accomplished last year on that stage. 

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