Cardinals quarterbacks coach Freddie Kitchens had to be taken to the hospital from a team practice last week after falling ill, where he learned he needed immediate surgery to repair a defect in his aorta.
Kitchens was released from the hospital on Monday and will continue his recovery at home. He issued a statement through the team expressing his thanks to the medical staff at the team’s facility and at the Arizona Heart Hospital for their quick reaction to his illness because the result could have been a lot worse had Kitchens not been given such excellent care.
“There are so many people that I’ll be indebted to for the rest of my life and ‘thank you’ just doesn’t seem near enough,” Kitchens said in the statement. “Looking back, I have no doubt -- none whatsoever -- that I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the those people. I’ve played or coached football my whole life so I can definitely appreciate teamwork and a smooth, efficient operation but the work those doctors, nurses and medical personnel do is just incredible. Again, I wouldn’t be alive without them. I’m overwhelmed by the prayers and kindness everyone has sent my way; from the Cardinals, throughout the NFL, in Arizona, Alabama and everywhere else. I realize how truly fortunate I am and the blessing I have been given.”
Darren Urban of the team’s website reports that Kitchens is expected to rejoin the team “at some point” during training camp, albeit in a limited capacity until he’s well enough to resume a full workload. We wish Kitchens a speedy recovery and add our thanks to the medical personnel who made it possible.
Image via AZCardinals.com