Jarome Iginla opens up about neurological issues affecting his health
Photo credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
Jarome Iginla revealed he is dealing with neurological issues that have hit his energy, weight and speech, and a hip implant may be to blame.
Jarome Iginla is fighting a health battle far away from the rink.
The Flames and Team Canada legend opened up to Sportsnet's Eric Francis about neurological issues that have been affecting his energy, weight and speech.
The suspicion is that metal toxins from his artificial hip implant may have entered his bloodstream.
Iginla admits he does not have all the answers yet and says there is still an uphill battle ahead.
Small signs of progress
There is some encouraging news in all of this.
Iginla says things are slowly improving, which is exactly what everyone in hockey wants to hear right now.
Recovery from something like this rarely moves in a straight line, so every step forward counts.
It is hard to overstate what Iginla means to hockey in Calgary, and news like this lands heavily for a lot of people around the country of Canada.
Why Calgary holds him so close
Iginla wore the C for the Flames for 10 seasons and still holds franchise records for games played with 1,219, goals with 525, points with 1,095 and power play goals with 161.
He was the driving force behind the 2004 run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, a run that defined an era in Calgary.
The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted him in 2020, and the Flames lifted his number into the rafters in March 2019.
Even years after hanging up his skates, he remains the face of the franchise.
Right now, though, hockey is not the focus.
Getting answers and getting healthy is.
Iginla has always carried himself with class, and being this open about something so personal takes real courage.
The hockey world is pulling for him as he keeps on pushing forward, and more updates should follow as he learns more about what is behind these symptoms.
Get well soon, Jarome.
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