One of the more popular figures around the NFL and college football is former Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen. Unfortunately, Millen is dealing with a serious health issue.
Millen recently told Mark Wogenrich of The Morning Call, that he is dealing with amyloidosis, a rare but severe issue that has probably damaged his heart and will likely require him to get a heart transplant, according to the Mayo Clinic.f
Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when a substance called amyloid builds up in your organs. Amyloid is an abnormal protein that is produced in your bone marrow and can be deposited in any tissue or organ.
Amyloidosis can affect different organs in different people, and there are different types of amyloid. Amyloidosis frequently affects the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract. Severe amyloidosis can lead to life-threatening organ failure.
Millen is in good spirits though, and he hopes that he can continue his job as an analyst for the Big Ten Network.
“While I’m still up on this side,” Millen said, “I’ll enjoy everything.”
For now, Millen is preparing for his heart transplant which will be coming hear in the future, and he is still trying to keep busy in his woodshop, something he enjoys doing. He is currently creating a custom countertop for a friend and hopes to make many more in his days to come.
He and his wife, Pat also want to help raise awareness about the disease that has hit his family and how important early detection is. He dealt with chest pains for six years, before he was finally diagnosed last summer with the disease.
This is a story that will continue to be updated, but for now look for Millen to be working for the Big Ten Network this fall.
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