New Orleans Saints icon Steve Gleason was discharged from the hospital and is back at home after a health scare caused by Hurricane Francine. Gleason, who had been hospitalized due to a fever and low blood pressure on September 11, conveyed feelings of renewal upon his return. "I've been inside for six days, so to be greeted by the full Mooooooooooooooon, the Oaks, and our family... Reborn," Gleason posted on social media, according to the coverage from WWLTV.
The former NFL player, who is respected for his pivotal on-field contributions, including an unforgettable blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons upon the reopening of the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, was taken to Ochsner Medical Center amidst the chaos of Hurricane Francine—a Category 2 storm that hit New Orleans with severe flooding and power outages. Gleason's transportation and care involved the assistance of the New Orleans Emergency Medical Service and New Orleans Fire Department personnel, as detailed by a NOLA.com report.
His update was a moment of assurance for fans and well-wishers who have been following Gleason's journey since his diagnosis with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2011. The disease has since placed Gleason at the center of advocacy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis awareness and research. He has received numerous accolades for his contributions, among them, the Congressional Gold Medal, a rare civilian honor.
The 47-year-old Gleason, who played with the Saints from 2000 to 2007, shared the update about his improved condition alongside photos with his wife Michel, and their children, Rivers and Gray. These moments, captured at the family's Lake Vista home under the full moon, were shared by Gleason also via his social media platforms, and the pictures juxtaposed his personal fight with a more expansive battlefield—one that he continues to navigate with the audacity that once defined his career on the gridiron. This sentiment was echoed in the reporting by FOX8live sports contributor and Times-Picayune writer Jeff Duncan, who noted Gleason's iconic stature in New Orleans sports lore.
