FORMER NFL star Darren Waller has revealed he suffered a concerning medical emergency during last season with the New York Giants.
Waller, 31, shared the unspecified emergency medical event in a retirement video on Sunday.
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Announcing his retirement from the NFL in a YouTube video, Waller revealed that he was hospitalized last November after calling paramedics to his New Jersey home when he had difficulty breathing.
“It was a very scary situation,” said the former tight end. “I ended up going to the hospital for 3 and a half days. I couldn’t get up and… use the bathroom or feed myself. It was an experience that would sober someone up and at least make them think.
“I say all this because… I go back to my everyday life and it’s very clear that I almost lost my life. And I don’t know if I really feel like I would have felt great about how my life was going if I died at the time.”
Waller became a mental health advocate after dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.
He received a one-year suspension from the NFL in 2017 and earned a Pro Bowl selection for the Raiders.
The Giants acquired Waller last March and his only season in New York was hampered by a hamstring injury he suffered on October 29th.
But the following week, Waller felt like she had a fever while walking home after shooting a music video.
He was “shaking uncontrollably” and began “losing consciousness” at his home.
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“I kept shaking my head [off] and I couldn’t breathe, so I ended up calling 911,” Waller said.
“I think I’m speaking clearly on the phone, but they can’t really understand what I’m saying.”
Waller then said he tripped over the couch while waiting for emergency personnel.
“I’m there breathing deeply and between each breath I scream, ‘Help!’” he said.
“So maybe I could wake up the neighbors. I don’t know how much time passed – it felt like an eternity – and I thought, ‘Damn, I’m dying on this couch and no one knows.’ It was similar to my overdose – like the plug was pulled and I couldn’t breathe anymore.”
Waller thought he was dealing with his third case of COVID-19.
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He added that the incident caused him to stay in hospital for three and a half days.
Waller said the experience changed the way he thought about life.
“I’m doing something [football] in which I found a lot of joy… but the passion slowly faded,” he said.
“I feel like I spent most of my life doing what I was supposed to do.
“All my life I’ve been a people pleaser – someone who has struggled with value, confidence, feeling valuable.”
Waller gave indications throughout the offseason that he was leaning toward leaving football.
“Thanks to the Giants,” he said. “It welcomed me, made me feel like family and gave me the opportunity to reflect on this moment and make a decision.”
The 2020 Pro Bowler will be paid $35 million over the final three years of his contract.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
