LSU Safety Greg Brooks Jr. Diagnosed with Rare Brain Cancer: ‘He Fights Like a Tiger Each Day’

Louisiana State College soccer participant Greg Brooks Jr. has been recognized with a uncommon type of mind most cancers, medulloblastoma, the college introduced in a assertion Wednesday.

Brooks, 22, underwent emergency mind surgical procedure on Sept. 15, to take away the tumor that was positioned between his cerebellum and mind stem. “The surgical procedure was profitable in eradicating the tumor, and there’s no proof that the most cancers has unfold,” Catherine O’Neal, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Our Woman of the Lake Well being mentioned Wednesday.

O’Neal added, “As he begins rehab within the coming weeks, Greg’s household and care workforce will decide a remedy plan in collaboration with nationally acknowledged specialists on this particular type of mind most cancers.”

Brooks nonetheless has a protracted journey forward and can face months of intensive rehabilitation after the surgical procedure impacted his speech and talent to speak, O’Neal defined within the assertion.

“Greg has been a every day inspiration to us all,” the Brooks household mentioned within the assertion. “He fights like a Tiger every day and continues to make incremental enhancements. Now we have a protracted street forward and are appreciative of the help from our LSU household and Tiger followers.”

“Greg is a fighter and a winner, and we imagine wholeheartedly that he’ll conquer this battle with most cancers,” LSU President William F. Tate IV added.

Medulloblastoma is a cancerous mind tumor that impacts between 350-500 individuals within the U.S. yearly and is mostly present in kids, in accordance with the Cleveland Clinic. 

Following the college’s assertion, LSU head coach Brian Kelly shared on X (previously referred to as Twitter) that Brooks’ household has help from his workforce.

“Greg and his whole household and help system have been extremely sturdy all through all of this. Our program continues to hope and help Greg in his struggle,” Kelly wrote. “We ask that you simply assist the Brooks household and help the fund as he continues within the journey forward.” He included a hyperlink to the Greg Brooks Jr. Victory Fund, which the Tiger Athletic Basis established to assist his household.

“Our senior captain Greg Brooks Jr. has been recognized with a uncommon type of mind most cancers, medulloblastoma. Please proceed to hope for 3 and help the Greg Brooks Fund on the hyperlink in our bio 💛,” learn an X publish from the LSU Tigers’ profile. The workforce included a photograph of the security in uniform at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Earlier than Brooks’ emergency surgical procedure, Kelly mentioned throughout a SEC teleconference that Brooks started experiencing vertigo signs earlier this 12 months and that reappeared on Sept. 13, stories ESPN. Brooks felt dizzy and underwent an MRI, which revealed the tumor that day, Kelly mentioned.

The Louisiana native beforehand performed for the College of Arkansas Razorbacks for 3 seasons earlier than he transferred to LSU. 

In 2022, he began 13 of 14 video games and recorded 66 tackles, two interceptions, a compelled fumble, a sack and 5 passes defended. He performed in LSU’s first two video games of the 2023 season, serving to them to a 2-1 begin.

Followers can contribute to The Greg Brooks Victory Fund right here.