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Former Chicago Bears great William "The Refrigerator" Perry is in serious condition in a South Carolina hospital after his Guillain-Barré syndrome flared up, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Perry's nephew, Purnell Perry, told the newspaper his uncle entered the hospital more than a week ago and was expected to make a full recovery.
"They were making sure he was in pretty good health before they started treating him," he said.
A spokeswoman for Aiken Regional Medical Center in Perry's native Aiken, S.C., told the Sun-Times that Perry is in serious condition but wouldn't give any more information.
Perry was diagnosed last June with the chronic disease and was hospitalized for five months at that time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, Guillain-Barré syndrome is "a disease in which the body damages its own nerve cells [outside of the brain and spinal cord], resulting in muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. GBS can last for weeks to months. Most people eventually recover completely or nearly completely, but some people have permanent nerve damage and between 5 percent and 6 percent of people who develop GBS die."
Perry played in the NFL for 10 seasons, joining the Philadelphia Eagles after the Bears released him midway through his ninth season. He was the 22nd overall pick in the 1985 NFL draft, by the Bears, and won a Super Bowl his rookie season with Chicago.
He played in 138 games, starting 118 of them, and totaled 29.5 sacks and 506 tackles. He also rushed for two touchdowns in his rookie season, including one in the Super Bowl.
Perry's nephew, Purnell Perry, told the newspaper his uncle entered the hospital more than a week ago and was expected to make a full recovery.
"They were making sure he was in pretty good health before they started treating him," he said.
A spokeswoman for Aiken Regional Medical Center in Perry's native Aiken, S.C., told the Sun-Times that Perry is in serious condition but wouldn't give any more information.
Perry was diagnosed last June with the chronic disease and was hospitalized for five months at that time.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, Guillain-Barré syndrome is "a disease in which the body damages its own nerve cells [outside of the brain and spinal cord], resulting in muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. GBS can last for weeks to months. Most people eventually recover completely or nearly completely, but some people have permanent nerve damage and between 5 percent and 6 percent of people who develop GBS die."
Perry played in the NFL for 10 seasons, joining the Philadelphia Eagles after the Bears released him midway through his ninth season. He was the 22nd overall pick in the 1985 NFL draft, by the Bears, and won a Super Bowl his rookie season with Chicago.
He played in 138 games, starting 118 of them, and totaled 29.5 sacks and 506 tackles. He also rushed for two touchdowns in his rookie season, including one in the Super Bowl.
