Former Penn State basketball coach Ed DeChellis suffered a serious health issue three months ago when he had a stroke, the result of a brain vessel that had burst and was bleeding, according to the Capital Gazette.
The newspaper published a detailed story on Tuesday of what happened to DeChellis during his health ordeal and reported that he is now back coaching the Navy men’s basketball team.
“I say a prayer every day thanking God,” DeChellis told the Capital Gazette. “I feel very blessed that I’m talking to you right now.
“It’s a reminder that things can change very quickly when it comes to your health.”
DeChellis coached at Penn State from 2003-11, compiling a 114-138 record and leading the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Tournament his final season. He also led the Lions to the NIT title in 2009. He was under a lot of pressure despite getting to the tournament in 2011 and left PSU after the season for a job at Navy.
DeChellis, 62, has been at Navy ever since, and on Sept. 28, he suffered the stroke.
From the Capital Gazette story:
DeChellis was walking past the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center when he became light-headed and dizzy then started sweating profusely. The 62-year-old stopped walking because his left arm and left leg went numb.
“It was a feeling like I’d never experienced before,” DeChellis recalled. “I knew something was wrong, I just wasn’t sure what.”
He thought it might have been “a heart or something,” but it turned out to be a stroke.
The good news is he got to the hospital quickly, was treated and now is doing well. From the Capital Gazette story:
DeChellis spent three days in the intensive care unit while doctors used drugs to gradually lower his blood pressure. He was sent home with instructions to take insulin shots four times per day. After two months of that, he transitioned to taking one insulin pill each morning.
Other than some numbness in his lips and left hand, DeChellis currently has no other lingering issues and is feeling fine. His energy level is steadily increasing, and he has resumed walking every day.
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