Jonesy's Story



February 27, 2010 –  

Mike Jones is in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, hoping to get some playing time in an Old Boys rugby tournament. “Jonesy”, a long time veteran of the Albany Knickerbocker Rugby Club, is asked to come on as a substitute for Life College in a game vs. the Boston Irish Wolfhounds. Both teams were aware of his skill and reputation as a prop forward having played with and against him. A few front-row skirmishes lead to scrum collapses, and finally, the collapse that would end Jonesy’s playing days.

Jonesy was immediately transported to Broward Medical Center where he was diagnosed with severe spinal chord trauma. Eighteen days after the injury, Jonesy left Florida for the Kessler Institute in New Jersey for rehabilitation. With their help and his determination, he was off the ventilator and gaining mobility of his neck and shoulders by the end of March.

After four months at Kessler, Jonesy was able to move closer to home, spending seven months at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Delmar, N.Y. After extensive remodeling job to his home to make it accessible , on February 14, 2011, Mike was finally able to return home to live with his wife Lisa and daughter Lilliana.

As he did as a player Mike continues to work hard at regaining movement. Mike travels to Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital and has both physical and occupational therapists come into his home for sessions.

Teammates from the Knickerbockers show up at his home twice a week for standing table sessions, getting “Brother Jones” up on his feet for up to an hour, stretching his muscles and increasing the blood flow to his legs and organs. As a result of these efforts, his core strength seems to be improving.

On February 10,2015 Mike made the journey to the Frazier Rehab Institute, in Louisville, KY. He spent two-and-a-half days there, being evaluated for his participation in an extended, residential research and therapy session. Should he be accepted, it is expected that he will return to Frazier for enrollment in the program. This will entail stays of three months at a time incurring substantial expenses for transportation and accommodations as well as medical treatment, and nursing

The Michael Jones Trust, and the Jones family, would like to thank you for your support. It is with your help that we are able to report on his progress, and hope to be able to make additional updates on his recovery. We look forward to thanking you in person at the Jonesy Open golf tournament, held every May at Capital Hills Golf Course in Albany.


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Cards and letters should be sent too :

Michael Jones
P.O. Box 38086
Albany, NY 12203

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Please note at this time, donations to the trust are
NOT tax deductible.



It is with great anticipation that we are scheduling this year's Jonesy Open for Friday June 7th.




Photos from last year's Tournament