New England Patriots offensive lineman Calvin Anderson narrowly escaped a potentially fatal illness when he was approaching the start of the 2023 training camp.
Anderson was found to have malaria after he went to the emergency room with a 105-degree fever just 72 hours before the training camp was set to start.
New England Patriots OL Calvin Anderson had a significant chance of not making it through
While Anderson was hospitalized with his dangerously high fever, the doctors gave him a 50-50 chance of survival.
According to the World Health Organization, malaria caused over 600,000 deaths in 2022. These fatalities resulted from a massive 249 million malaria cases globally. Most cases originate from Africa, where Anderson visited during the offseason before returning to Foxborough for training camp. The WHO reports that Africa accounted for 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths in 2022.
New England Patriots OL Calvin Anderson credits his wife for saving his life
Anderson, who experienced guilt for being sidelined as the Patriots struggled through the season to finish with a 4-13 record, attributed the saving of his life to his wife, Sherée Lanihun-Anderson.
In an article from the Boston Globe, Anderson mentioned that as a football player, his health isn’t always his top priority, and he was grateful to have someone like his wife to overrule his potential decision to avoid going to the hospital.
Fan support poured out for New England Patriots OL Calvin Anderson upon hearing of his battle with the fatal disease
Numerous fans took to social media to show their support for Anderson upon learning of his battle with one of the deadliest diseases in the world.
They not only expressed sympathy for what he had endured but also admired his determination to make a comeback to the NFL.
#Patriots OT Calvin Anderson had a 50/50 chance at survival after contracting malaria last offseason — a few weeks later he suffered a heart contusion, per @cpriceglobe.
Anderson faced an immense amount of adversity last season and now he wants to prove himself.
CPOY 🙏 pic.twitter.com/agEVZWeBqS
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) May 7, 2024
WILD STORY… #Patriots OL Calvin Anderson NEARLY DIED TWICE last offseason because of malaria, he said.
He was in an ER with a 105-degree fever and 50-50 odds of survival, via NBC.
Anderson then suffered a heart contusion but is now on his way BACK
🤯
pic.twitter.com/n9Hw0vyw0o— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 7, 2024
Anderson, who began his career with a brief stint with the Patriots before playing for the Denver Broncos for three years, aims to return to the NFL this season.
