Ex-Florida linebacker Neiron Ball, 27, passes away after battling rare brain condition

Ex-Florida and Oakland Raiders linebacker Neiron Ball, 27, passes away following a long battle with rare brain condition one year after being placed in a medically induced coma

  • Ex-Florida and Oakland Raiders player Neiron Ball has passed away one year after suffering a brain aneurysm and being placed in a medically induced coma
  • Ball’s family confirmed the 27-year-old’s death on Tuesday: ‘Neiron was a very special and loving father, brother, and teammate’
  • A star linebacker at Florida, Ball was diagnosed with brain arteriovenous malformation – a condition that can cause blood vessels to rupture in the brain
  • Ball suffered a brain aneurysm in September of 2018 and was placed into a coma 

Former University of Florida and Oakland Raiders football player Neiron Ball has passed away nearly one year after suffering a brain aneurysm and being placed in a medically induced coma.

Ball’s family confirmed his death on Tuesday. He was 27.

‘We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Neiron Ball on September 10, 2019 at 4:15 am,’ Ball’s sister, Natalie Ball Myricks, wrote in a Facebook post. ‘The Ball family is forever grateful for the prayers, donations, and immense support of Neiron and his recovery. Neiron was a very special and loving father, brother, and teammate. Neiron has transitioned to a place of peace.’

Ex-Florida and Oakland Raiders linebacker Neiron Ball (right) passed away after battling a rare brain condition one year after being placed in a medically induced coma

Neiron Ball briefly played with the Oakland Raiders in 2015, but later suffered a brain aneurysm and was placed into a medically induced coma in September of 2018. He passed away on Tuesday, according to his family. Ball was 27-years-old.

Neiron Ball #11 of the Florida Gators tackles Jameis Winston #5 of the Florida State Seminoles during the game on November 30, 2013 in Gainesville, Florida

Neiron Ball briefly played with the Oakland Raiders in 2015, but later suffered a brain aneurysm and was placed into a medically induced coma in September of 2018. He passed away on Tuesday, according to his family. Ball was 27-years-old.  

A star outside linebacker at Florida between 2011 and 2014, Ball was diagnosed with brain arteriovenous malformation, which is a condition that can cause blood vessels to rupture in the brain.

He was previously hospitalized in 2011 after collapsing during a practice, and later needed surgery to repair a brain bleed.

Ball recovered and went on to become a fifth-round draft pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but suffered a knee injury as a rookie and was placed on injured reserve before the following season.

According to TMZ, Ball’s sister said his health had been deteriorating for some time. 

‘Rest in Peace, Neiron,’ read a tweet from the Gators’ account. ‘You’ll be forever remembered and always missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time.’ 

WHAT ARE ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS? 

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a specific term used to describe a tangle of blood vessels with abnormal connections between arteries and veins.

High pressure arteries containing fast flowing blood are directly connected to low pressure veins, which normally only contain slow flowing blood.

This means that blood from the arteries drains directly into the veins – without stopping to supply the normal tissues in that part of the body with essential substances like oxygen and nutrition.

Over time this can lead to the normal tissues becoming painful or fragile.

It also means that the AVM gets progressively larger over time as the amount of blood flowing through it increases, and it can cause problems due to its size.

Finally, it may also mean that the heart has to work harder to keep up with the extra blood flow.

Some doctors describe an AVM as ‘a ring road that bypasses the high street of a town’.

Traffic (or blood) will use the bypass rather than the high street which suffers as a result.

AVMs are thought to affect approximately 1.4 in every 100,000 people.

Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital 

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