It’s National Rehabilitation Awareness Week and a special moment in time for a former University of Kansas football player.Former Jayhawks quarterback Montell Cozart is almost back to normal.His rehab with St. Luke’s Health System has nothing to do with an injury picked up on the gridiron. “I experienced a really rare syndrome called Guillain-Barré,” Cozart said.The condition caused his immune system to start fighting itself.”My nerves were tingling, and my muscles got very weak,” Cozart said. It was a matchup that had him in a hospital bed for more than four weeks over the summer. Since ending his college career, the quarterback spent time in a few NFL camps before heading to the Canadian Football League for three seasons. He spent the last two years playing in the USFL before the condition hit him.”It was scary at first. I had no idea what was going on,” Cozart said. It would have been difficult for almost anyone to recognize the Guillain-Barré symptoms.”It’s a rare condition that affects about 5,000 people a year in the United States,” St. Luke’s Health Systems Dr. Vanessa Lee said. The former Jayhawk hopes others will see his story and understand that even high-level athletes can suffer from unexpected health conditions.”We’re all human. We’re all vulnerable to things,” Cozart said. “I also just want to say, take care of yourself. Take care of your body. When your body starts giving your signs, go see a doctor.”After losing 30 pounds to the condition, Cozart has been able to put 15 back on through rehab. He hopes to rejoin his USFL team in March. He says his rehabilitation plan with St. Luke’s is getting him there.”Rehab has put me in a position where I can do those things,” Cozart said. The 28-year-old plays for the Houston Gamblers in the USFL. His goal is to be ready for training camp.
It’s National Rehabilitation Awareness Week and a special moment in time for a former University of Kansas football player.
Former Jayhawks quarterback Montell Cozart is almost back to normal.
His rehab with St. Luke’s Health System has nothing to do with an injury picked up on the gridiron.
“I experienced a really rare syndrome called Guillain-Barré,” Cozart said.
The condition caused his immune system to start fighting itself.
“My nerves were tingling, and my muscles got very weak,” Cozart said.
It was a matchup that had him in a hospital bed for more than four weeks over the summer.
Since ending his college career, the quarterback spent time in a few NFL camps before heading to the Canadian Football League for three seasons. He spent the last two years playing in the USFL before the condition hit him.
“It was scary at first. I had no idea what was going on,” Cozart said.
It would have been difficult for almost anyone to recognize the Guillain-Barré symptoms.
“It’s a rare condition that affects about 5,000 people a year in the United States,” St. Luke’s Health Systems Dr. Vanessa Lee said.
The former Jayhawk hopes others will see his story and understand that even high-level athletes can suffer from unexpected health conditions.
“We’re all human. We’re all vulnerable to things,” Cozart said. “I also just want to say, take care of yourself. Take care of your body. When your body starts giving your signs, go see a doctor.”
After losing 30 pounds to the condition, Cozart has been able to put 15 back on through rehab. He hopes to rejoin his USFL team in March.
He says his rehabilitation plan with St. Luke’s is getting him there.
“Rehab has put me in a position where I can do those things,” Cozart said.
The 28-year-old plays for the Houston Gamblers in the USFL. His goal is to be ready for training camp.
