ALS gained mainstream attention most recently with the viral “Ice Bucket Challenge”. Bartelstein believes playing football has something to do with Thomas’ 2007 diagnosis. The disease attacks nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. Research has shown that the combined deaths of NFL players from Lou Gehrig’s (ALS), Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s is nearly three times the predicted rate compared to the general population.
Injuries kept Thomas out of 13 games during his last three years with the Vikings, possibly contributing to the onset of ALS.
“I don’t have any doubt that there’s a correlation to it,” Bartelstein said. “But at the same time I also know that he loved the game so much, and he got so much from it. It took everything from him, but it also gave him so much. That’s sort of the tough thing to get your arms around.”
In remembrance of their “Forever Viking,”a moving tribute video is posted to the team’s website.
Orlando Thomas, Former Minnesota Vikings Safety, Dies From ALS was originally published on blackdoctor.org
