These are tough times for former Chicago Bears defensive tackle William “The Refrigerator” Perry, who’s dealing with medical problems.
Diagnosed a year ago with Guillain-Barre’ syndrome, a chronic inflammation disease that afflicts the peripheral nerves, Perry was hospitalized in April for over a month in South Carolina.
Now, Perry is in a North Carolina rehabilitation center and is doing better, according to the Associated Press.
Per the report, Perry was down to 200 pounds at one point after tipping the scales at 360 to 380 pounds during his 10-year NFL career. Now, he’s back in the neighborhood of 275 pounds, which is regarded as an encouraging sign.
Although he’s doing better, Perry still reportedly faces tough odds to make a complete recovery.
“Baby steps, I call them,” former NFL defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry, Perry’s brother, told the AP. “But we can see improvement. . . . Someone of his stature, you always think of your vitality. This opens your eyes.”
Perry is battling a cruel disease with no known cure.
A small percentage of patients die from it.
According to medical Web sites, roughly 20 percent of those that are hospitalized suffer from some type of long-term disability.
Perry was initially listed in serious condition when he was hospitalized.
The Perry family has been receiving some financial assistance from the Gridiron Greats, a non-profit foundation that helps out former NFL football players in need.
Per the report, Perry’s path to recovery includes a grueling six to seven hours of therapy to address his speech and movement.
The plan is for him to remain the rehab center for a few more weeks before moving to an assisted-living facility.
Perry registered 29 1/2 career sacks, but was best known for his work as an oversized fullback.
As a rookie, he rushed for two touchdowns and caught one touchdown pass. And he scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.
Plus, Perry was immortalized in “The Super Bowl Shuffle” video.
