For most players around the NFL, its been back to work the past few weeks with OTAs and mandatory mini-camps. The fight for jobs begins now. However, Texans offensive tackle David Quessenberry faces a much bigger fight now, the fight for his life.
“My fight has just begun,” Quessenberry tweeted Tuesday. “As long as I have breath in my lungs, I will fight this disease and I will win.”
The 23-year-old Quessenberry was the Texans sixth round pick out of San Jose State in the 2013 NFL draft. He didn’t see much playing time last year, but at 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds, he had the size to make him an intriguing developmental prospect for Houston, and was looking forward to trying to move up the depth chart this off-season.
Instead, he reported to M.D. Anderson Hospital last Tuesday, and a week later the Texans announced that he has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. (SIA Profile)
“It’s a rapidly growing lymphoma. … But the tumors that grow most rapidly are usually the ones most sensitive to chemotherapy,” said Dr. Martha Mims, chief of hematology and oncology at Baylor College of Medicine.
This particularly nasty form of cancer can be extremely life threatening and will require months of chemotherapy, and years of follow up care. However, Quessenberry’s young age, and excellent physical condition make him a good candidate to progress well through the treatment.
Coach Bill O’Brien stated that the Texans will stand behind David Quessenberry every step of the way. “We are very much in his corner,” O’Brien said. “One thing that stood out to me personally and our coaching staff – we’ve been over there to visit him – is what an impressive young man this guy is. … We look forward to the day that he beats it and returns to the Houston Texans.”
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