Steve Gleason
Steve Gleason
Stephen Michael "Steve" Gleasonis a former professional American football player who played as a safety with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000, he played for the Saints through the 2007 season. As a free agent in 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL after eight seasons. Gleason is especially well known for his blocked punt in a 2006 game that became a symbol of recovery...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth19 March 1977
CountryUnited States of America
I look at the human life like an experiment. Every new moment, every new experience, tragic or otherwise, is an opportunity to gain a more accurate perspective and helps lead me to clarity.
I'm afraid to walk in public, because people look at me. But I'm not going to stop. I'm afraid because if I want to commune with my friend Shad (Meier), I have to ask him to cut my chicken for me. But I did it. And I'm afraid to go back and see my teammates and coaches because I know that I'll feel envy. But I'm going to do it anyway. Because fear is just a feeling, and if you can acknowledge that fear, digest that fear and overcome it, the rewards are incredible.
It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be awesome. Awesome Ain't Easy.
Many ALS patients end up fading away quietly and dying. For me, this was not OK. I did not want to fade away quietly.
Because ALS is underfunded, patients have had no option but to fade away and die. That is not OK.
Life is difficult. Not just for me or other ALS patients. Life is difficult for everyone. Finding ways to make life meaningful and purposeful and rewarding, doing the activities that you love and spending time with the people that you love - I think that's the meaning of this human experience.
I'm just doing the things I learned in Spokane -- help your fellow man any way you can, ... And what I learned at Washington State from coach (Mike) Price -- it's not how you treat people who can help you that matters, it's how you treat people who can't help you. That's something he used to talk about all the time.