Steve Gleason used to leave video journals behind. They’d be a way for his son, Rivers, to get to know his father if – and more likely, when – Gleason succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the neurological disease identified in January 2011 in the former Gonzaga Prep, Washington State, and New Orleans Saints football player. Those video journals are no longer available, and Gleason may now convey the same messages, emotions, and words of wisdom to his son face-to-face. It’s a reality Gleason wasn’t expecting when doctors told him he only had five years to live, but one he’s embraced wholeheartedly.
Who is Steve Gleason?
Gleason, 44, is a former professional football safety for the New Orleans Saints. In 2000, the 44-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts. He is best known for blocking a punt early in a 2006 game, which became a symbol of recovery during the team’s first home game following Hurricane Katrina. Gleason left the NFL in 2008 after eight seasons.
What Happened To Steve Gleason?
Gleason disclosed in 2011 that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His battle with the condition was documented on film over five years and was featured in the 2016 documentary. Gleason and his wife, Michel Rae Varisco, found out they were expecting their first child just six weeks after being diagnosed with ALS. Gleason’s condition rendered him immobilized and confined to a wheelchair. Gleason was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2020 for his achievements in ALS awareness in Washington, DC. Gleason established the nonprofit Team Gleason, which has generated millions of dollars for ALS research.
Doctor Treatment To Steve Gleason:
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Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason stated Friday that medical marijuana kept him from going downhill after being diagnosed with ALS. Gleason spoke openly about his drug use for the first time on Friday. He was testifying before the Louisiana Legislature’s Medical Marijuana Commission. Gleason, a former special teams standout, was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 and entered the State Capitol conference room in his motorised wheelchair due to the neuromuscular disease robbing him of all muscle functioning. Gleason, speaking through a computer that tracked his eye movements, generated chuckles as he began his evidence by mentioning how he arrived dressed in a “tuxedo,” a tuxedo T-shirt.
What Did the Doctors recommend To Steve Gleason?
Doctors advised him to sleep on a hospital bed at home and provided drugs for the pain and anxiety that come with the disease. He described how the hospital bed had bars on the sides to prevent patients from rolling off. “The irony was present.” “I was staring at the ceiling, unable to move,” Gleason explained. “I was enraged and resentful”… “It was a bit of a downhill spiral.” He said that the prescribed medication’s side effects exacerbated the situation. He experimented with several types and amounts, but nothing appeared to work. He described his mental state as “crushing fear” resulting from physical suffering.
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