NFL Star Demaryius Thomas Tragic Death: Late Athlete Had THIS Before Cardiac Arrest
Demaryius Thomas' parents disclosed the terrible fate the NFL player faced before his death.
Thomas left the NFL community in a snap weeks before his supposed 34th birthday in December when he was found dead inside his Georgia home. Initial reports revealed that he died of cardiac arrest, but the NFL star had an "invisible" illness that led to his death.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Thomas' parents, Bobby and Katina, revealed that they donated their son's brain after discovering that he had Stage 2 CTE before his death.
The news outlet added that the athlete succumbed from cardiac arrest that was caused by a separate seizure disorder.
According to NHS, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive brain condition that is believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of injuries. Studies show that people who suffer from the disease are mostly associated with those who do contact sports, including boxing and football.
NFL players usually suffer concussions while playing football. The Centers for Disease Control notes that these traumatic injuries can eventually lead to memory loss and CTE.
It can also only be diagnosed after a patient's death. In 2017, a study looked into the brains of 111 deceased NFL players and found that 110 of them had the disease.
Demaryius' parents then revealed that their son was struggling with his mental health a year before his death. The NFL star also suffered daily headaches and memory loss - both were signs of CTE.
"[Demaryius] would tell me, he was like, 'Mom, I don't know what's goin' on with my body - I gotta get myself together.' And he said, 'I don't feel like myself anymore," Katina said. "His mood would change, and he would also isolate himself sometimes."
Demaryius Thomas Dead at 33
The statement of Demaryius' parents resonated with what his first cousin, LaTonya Bonseigneur, told The Associated Press at the time of his death.
Per Bonseigneur, the family believed he had a seizure when he was showering. His former teammates also assumed he might have been having the issue in the recent months.
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After his death, the Broncos released a statement to honor Thomas' "humility, warmth, kindness and infectious smile" and his contribution to the NFL.
"D.T. was beloved by our entire organization, his teammates and coaches, and our fans. Recently retiring as a Bronco, we were very much looking forward to celebrating Demaryius for years to come as one of the greatest players in franchise history," it went on.
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