CLEVELAND — Cleveland Magazine reported that Bernie Kosar, former star quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, has been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s disease. The 60-year-old has been added to the liver transplant list and has shown signs of improvement since the beginning of the year, according to University Hospitals hepatologist Anthony Post. However, Post noted that liver disease can be unpredictable.
Cleveland Clinic’s chief wellness officer, Michael Roizen, stated in the magazine that there is a high likelihood that Kosar will require a new liver. Additionally, Kosar revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease by an NFL doctor independently back in February.
The Youngstown, Ohio native mentioned that he had been experiencing liver-related symptoms for years but had ignored them due to uncertainty about the cause. The confirmation of cirrhosis 16 months ago shed light on the seriousness of his condition.
Kosar spoke about a frightening incident last December during a Browns game against the New York Jets, where he felt his body failing him. Despite the scare, he delayed seeking medical help until the new year, when he received a significant blood transfusion due to dangerously low hemoglobin levels.
While traveling to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, Kosar fell ill again and had to be hospitalized for several days.
