Defensive tackle Amobi Okoye is close to seeing game action with the Dallas Cowboys after recovering from a "one-in-a-million" disease that left him with a 145-day memory gap.
Speaking publicly for the first time since emerging from a lengthy coma last summer, Okoye told KTCK-AM 1310 on Thursday that his autoimmune syndrome called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis was so rare that he was the first adult male to suffer from it.
Okoye believes he's a "walking miracle" after the coma left him nearly 80 pounds lighter and speaking gibberish at this time a year ago.
"What I remember from that was I was talking to one of the nurses," Okoye says of his coma, via The Dallas Morning News. "I was like arguing with her that it was March 15th, and she was like, 'I'm sorry, it's actually August 7th.' I didn't want to believe her. I asked everybody in the room, 'Is it really August 7th,' and I answered my phone, which I hadn't seen in forever, and it said August 7th. 'Wow. It's really August 7th.'"
As one might expect, Okoye has a new lease on life after going through something "very, very deadly and serious."
Although he's firmly committed to suiting up for the Cowboys, he understands that might not happen in the final twopreseason games.
"We're just taking things on a daily basis right now and things are looking positive," Okoye said. "As things progress, we'll just continue to push it and see how things go."
Still just 27 years old, Okoye will be the feel-good story of the 2014 season if he can contribute to a Cowboys defense that sorely needs his help.
*The "Around The League Podcast" AFC Season Preview is here. You're welcome. *
