The harrowing tale of Patriots player Calvin Anderson’s near-fatal bout with malaria

[Zuma]

Very rare in the US. Does the article mention any offseason traveling prior to getting sick?

“My fever at the hospital was 108. They ask you for a travel history. I told them I went to Nigeria,” Anderson said “‘Calvin has malaria.’ What malaria does, it starts to eat away at the blood cells in the body and then it starts to break down your internal organs.”

 

[Sicilian]

I wonder why they kept it hush-hush.

The Patriots probably kept it hush-hush for legal reasons (privacy and what not). As for why Anderson didn't want to say anything, that's anyone's guess.

 

[mike_usagisan]

The Patriots probably kept it hush-hush for legal reasons (privacy and what not). As for why Anderson didn't want to say anything, that's anyone's guess.

Yeah, the Patriots, as his employer, revealing it would be a HIPAA violation. But I got the sense that Anderson didn't want it out there either. I wonder why now. Odd.

 

[Ross12]

Yeah, the Patriots, as his employer, revealing it would be a HIPAA violation. But I got the sense that Anderson didn't want it out there either. I wonder why now. Odd.

It may have simply been that he didn't want to talk about it at all until he knew for sure he was 100% healthy and ready to play again. Talking about it last year when he was still dealing with it would probably have been difficult, especially since he would've gotten so many questions about if/when/how he will come back. Easier to give all the details and talk about it now that it's firmly in the rear-view mirror.

 

[Pape]

Very rare in the US. Does the article mention any offseason traveling prior to getting sick?

why yes...

 

[h0c2000]

Malaria?

Huh

Lesson learned - drink your gin & tonics boys cuz you never know

Most malaria species are now resistant to quinine. So you'd just end up drunk with malaria.

 

[Pape]

Most malaria species are now resistant to quinine. So you'd just end up drunk with malaria.

Hmmm... what to do, what to do.... OH! I know...


Drink enough gin, it will kill anything inside of you

 

[BTTA]

It may have simply been that he didn't want to talk about it at all until he knew for sure he was 100% healthy and ready to play again. Talking about it last year when he was still dealing with it would probably have been difficult, especially since he would've gotten so many questions about if/when/how he will come back. Easier to give all the details and talk about it now that it's firmly in the rear-view mirror.

His wife's report puts the recovery as three distinct conditions: malaria, heart bruise, and depression. So until he was free of all of that, I can see why telling us all about it wasn't a priority for him.

 

[Ross12]

His wife's report puts the recovery as three distinct conditions: malaria, heart bruise, and depression. So until he was free of all of that, I can see why telling us all about it wasn't a priority for him.

True, one issue after another. Maybe he would've been ready to talk about it midseason but then had the heart contusion as a major setback, then went on IR, which depressed him. So I can see how he nosedived a bit and had to just shut it down for a while until he was all clear and put all of that behind him.

He seems to be a very nice guy and he's sharp (mathematics engineer of some kind, I think it said?) so I'm definitely rooting for him to become a top swing tackle. Maybe an outside chance of the LT job.

 

[AQPE]

And to those who thought it was something else:

I hope by mid season he is feeling “happy and peppy and bursting with love.”

Yup, I’m a Boomer

 

[BTTA]

True, one issue after another. Maybe he would've been ready to talk about it midseason but then had the heart contusion as a major setback, then went on IR, which depressed him. So I can see how he nosedived a bit and had to just shut it down for a while until he was all clear and put all of that behind him.

He seems to be a very nice guy and he's sharp (mathematics engineer of some kind, I think it said?) so I'm definitely rooting for him to become a top swing tackle. Maybe an outside chance of the LT job.

The guy can solve a Rubik's Cube behind his back using "a complex mathematical formula" which may mean he can replace Ermie when he's done playing.

 

[n1997y]

The guy can solve a Rubik's Cube behind his back using "a complex mathematical formula" which may mean he can replace Ermie when he's done playing.

Why wait? We need a savant now. More thsn ever since we now have lost our last remaining GOAT.

 

[Sicilian]

Hmmm... what to do, what to do.... OH! I know...


Drink enough gin, it will kill anything inside of you

Ah, the old Scorched Earth school of medicine. Can't live as a parasite in a dead host!

 

[40yrpatsfan]

"...his snaps grew from 132 in 2020 to 439 in 2022. In 2022, he made seven starts at left tackle for the Broncos, allowed just two sacks, and wasn’t flagged for a holding penalty all year."

This sentence stood out. We have nobody else that has started 7 games at LT.

 

[BTTA]

Ah, the old Scorched Earth school of medicine. Can't live as a parasite in a dead host!

Motto of the entire species, unfortunately.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Yeah, the Patriots, as his employer, revealing it would be a HIPAA violation. But I got the sense that Anderson didn't want it out there either. I wonder why now. Odd.

It likely wouldn't be; HIPAA only covers healthcare providers. (e.g., Schefter didn't violate HIPAA when he released the info on Fingergate; the doctors did.) But it would just be breaking the DBAD rule.

 

[FCB02062]

Malaria? Glad he just missed smallpox...

 

[DaBruinz]

“My fever at the hospital was 108. They ask you for a travel history. I told them I went to Nigeria,” Anderson said “‘Calvin has malaria.’ What malaria does, it starts to eat away at the blood cells in the body and then it starts to break down your internal organs.”

I'm shocked that he didn't get shots ahead of time to prevent that. There's a whole battery you're supposed to do when traveling to different parts of Africa. That being said, I'm glad that he's ok and seems to be 100% now.

 

[n1997y]

It likely wouldn't be; HIPAA only covers healthcare providers. (e.g., Schefter didn't violate HIPAA when he released the info on Fingergate; the doctors did.) But it would just be breaking the DBAD rule.

The Patriots probably are considered a covered entity as a healthcare provider.

One key question is “do they provide healthcare in the normal course of business?” and I think the answer would clearly be yes. Whenever a player is injured in a game the team medical staff provides care, immediately and routinely, and that’s in the normal course of business. The other key question is transmission of health information electronically, and I expect their medical staff routinely exchanges information electronically with outside providers, hospitals, etc. If those two questions are both answered “yes” they are a covered entity.

They have trainers, nutritionists, physicians, etc. on staff and on contract. They would all be covered by HIPAA.

 

[stinkypete]

I think this board owes Anderson an apology.