Former Saints star Steve Gleason has paid tribute to his support staff after they pulled him back from ‘the precipice’ during his battle with ALS.
The 47-year-old has spent the last 13 years fighting the neurodegenerative disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. These days, he breathes through a ventilator and communicates using his eyes.
Last week the former NFL safety revealed that he had been hit by ‘hurricane ALS’ on September 11.
‘ALS is a hurricane of a disease, and on 9/11 in the midst of Hurricane Francine, power outages, and sketchy phone service, hurricane ALS made landfall.’
Gleason – who retired from the NFL in 2008 – was hospitalized and left to ‘celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing.’
Steve Gleason has paid tribute to his care crew after they pulled him back from ‘the precipice’
The former safety played for the New Orleans Saints before retiring from the NFL in 2008
He was reportedly suffering from a fever and had extremely low blood pressure.
Despite winds of around 100mph – which caused flooding and left around 400,000 people without power around Louisiana – first responders reached Gleason as his health was ‘deteriorating’.
Over the weekend, Gleason provided an update from the hospital, revealing that his care crew had been with him in the ambulance – and during his stay in hospital.
The 47-year-old posted pictures from his bed and insisted he is ‘the luckiest man on the face of the earth’.
These days, the 47-year-old breathes through a ventilator and communicates using his eyes
Gleason posted pictures from the hospital after he suffered a medical emergency last week
‘Through adversity, we find our Heroes. Some of our care crew have been with me since 2011. They’ve been with us through the darkness and the light.
‘They were with me in the ambulance Wednesday as we navigated the precipice. They changed their daily schedules to stay with me at the hospital.’
He added: ‘Because of their service, I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Infinite Gratitude & Love.’
Gleason’s blocked punt following Hurricane Katrina has been immortalized in statue outside the Superdome.
‘They changed their daily schedules to stay with me at the hospital,’ the former safety revealed
