The former defensive line player of the Chicago Bears Henry Melton shares a remarkable story of return after an experience for fear of the health of imminent death

Chicago (WLS) – The former defensive line player of the Chicago Bears Henry Melton shares his remarkable story of return with ABC7.

He almost lost his life earlier this year. It was an amazing and unexpected turn of events that forever changed the prospect of the former Bowler Pro.

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Melton played for three different teams during his six -six NFL season, but no place was quite like Chicago.

“It was like such a family. I didn’t really think that other places … We had such a core of a good family,” said Melton.

Melton was drafted by the Bears in 2009, making Pro Bowl in 2012 as part of a dominant defensive front.

However, nothing on the football field prepared him for the physical battle he faced earlier this year, while just before ordering a dinner with his daughter, everything has changed.

“Something as came to my body, then my legs started to give … I went to the toilet, I drink water,” said Melton. “I was in the bathroom for a while. I did not know what to do … My daughter enters … I am lying on the ground. I say to myself: ‘I no longer feel my legs, call 911.'”

Melton was taken to a suburban hospital where Tomodensitometry quickly detected aortic dissection, a tear of the main artery of the body. In the case of Melton, he cut the circulation on his legs, a fatal diagnosis which required immediate surgery.

“One of the last things I just remember, the doctor enters, he’s just like,” you have an aortic dissection … You could lose your life, and it was like “we will try to save your life, we will try to save your legs,” said Melton. “There was no time to treat …” We are just going to tell you so you don’t … Panic “but I panicked. They said I was almost dead and then they rekindled me, there were a lot of things that were said from the hospital.”

Melton did not wake up after surgery for several days. It was even longer before it was strong enough to start the long way to recovery, learning to walk again after losing almost 60 pounds.

“I felt like Bambi, standing for the first time … I couldn’t really move my legs … ‘We saved them but it will just take time” “, said Melton.” I had nervous lesions in my feet to my knees … I was just in bed for a very long time. “

It’s been four months since his surgery, and Melton is always limited to the amount he can raise or exercise himself, but he continues to improve with a grateful heart and the unwavering support of the family and football.

“Cliché, it’s like … life is short. I have to appreciate every moment, you don’t do what can happen,” said Melton. “I don’t know how I’m still there … It was a miracle. I really take a step back and really really, you know, enjoy each stage of the path.”