This is an email written by my teammate's wife. It's well-written, but, of course, feel free not to look at it. And Dartmouth is now FCS.
"Back in 2013 Darrel was handed a new opponent called AD (Alzheimer’s Disease). This required coming up with a new game plan, strategy and playbook. There were hours spent studying the opponent and designing plays even though we weren’t sure which AD offensive and defensive plays would be thrown at us.
Dedicated player that Darrel is, we found a neurologist, got involved in a four year experimental drug program with monthly infusions, PET scans, multiple MRIs, plus regular checkups and traditional well known AD medications. Our game plan involved lots and lots of travel, plus adding financial and legal plans to our playbook. Additionally we added strength conditioning, good diet, team socialization, supplements (drugs), and practice! AD threw a lot of trick plays at us and we would make adjustments during the game. Never one to complain or resist, Darrel handed the play calling responsibilities to me as the game went into the fourth quarter. Some plays involved giving up driving in 2016, giving up golf 2019, speech difficulties created problems but the play count continued in other ways. Along the way we would huddle up with our teammates of doctors, family, and friends and even add new players to our game in order to adjust our defensive and offensive plays. We depended on these teammates to create new holes in the line so we could advance. Sometimes we were temporarily sacked or held to the line of scrimmage but then a new play option would come along. In November Darrel went into full time care and right now we are still in the game but in the “blue tent” after Darrel became severely agitated and needed to be hospitalized for his medications to be recalibrated. He is on the injury reserve list in a nearby skilled nursing home as they take him off the strong hospital medications and onto more AD appropriate meds. The team now includes hospice so they can create new blocking strategies and open new holes for Darrel to advance. We all know the end zone for AD is truly the end but we continue to play the game, huddle up to figure out how to gain another yard or two, and know the final play will represent a game played with strength, purpose, perseverance, dignity, and most of all love.
One question always comes up is about Darrel’s football days. His neurologist in the study said that CTE was not part of Darrel’s diagnosis since his scans showed plaque and not CTE. He was never depressed, suicidal, angry or aggressive (until the episode that landed him in the hospital in December). Football was important to Darrel and helped shape who he is. You are all part of the football chapter in Darrel’s life at Dartmouth. And now you can be a teammate again by offering your prayers and positive thoughts for tight end 85."
"Back in 2013 Darrel was handed a new opponent called AD (Alzheimer’s Disease). This required coming up with a new game plan, strategy and playbook. There were hours spent studying the opponent and designing plays even though we weren’t sure which AD offensive and defensive plays would be thrown at us.
Dedicated player that Darrel is, we found a neurologist, got involved in a four year experimental drug program with monthly infusions, PET scans, multiple MRIs, plus regular checkups and traditional well known AD medications. Our game plan involved lots and lots of travel, plus adding financial and legal plans to our playbook. Additionally we added strength conditioning, good diet, team socialization, supplements (drugs), and practice! AD threw a lot of trick plays at us and we would make adjustments during the game. Never one to complain or resist, Darrel handed the play calling responsibilities to me as the game went into the fourth quarter. Some plays involved giving up driving in 2016, giving up golf 2019, speech difficulties created problems but the play count continued in other ways. Along the way we would huddle up with our teammates of doctors, family, and friends and even add new players to our game in order to adjust our defensive and offensive plays. We depended on these teammates to create new holes in the line so we could advance. Sometimes we were temporarily sacked or held to the line of scrimmage but then a new play option would come along. In November Darrel went into full time care and right now we are still in the game but in the “blue tent” after Darrel became severely agitated and needed to be hospitalized for his medications to be recalibrated. He is on the injury reserve list in a nearby skilled nursing home as they take him off the strong hospital medications and onto more AD appropriate meds. The team now includes hospice so they can create new blocking strategies and open new holes for Darrel to advance. We all know the end zone for AD is truly the end but we continue to play the game, huddle up to figure out how to gain another yard or two, and know the final play will represent a game played with strength, purpose, perseverance, dignity, and most of all love.
One question always comes up is about Darrel’s football days. His neurologist in the study said that CTE was not part of Darrel’s diagnosis since his scans showed plaque and not CTE. He was never depressed, suicidal, angry or aggressive (until the episode that landed him in the hospital in December). Football was important to Darrel and helped shape who he is. You are all part of the football chapter in Darrel’s life at Dartmouth. And now you can be a teammate again by offering your prayers and positive thoughts for tight end 85."
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