New York Giants: Looking at the Bigger Picture

By Nafisa H | Oct 11, 2015

Sep 24, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tight end Daniel Fells (85) runs with the ball past Washington Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen (82) during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants take on the San Francisco 49ers tonight in what will be an interesting Sunday Night Football battle between two NFC teams that each have a lot to prove. However, off the field, a much direr situation is playing out as Giants tight end Daniel Fells battles Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

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Fells, who reportedly contracted MRSA after receiving a cortisone injection for an ankle injury, remains hospitalized and has undergone multiple surgeries as doctors try to prevent his foot from amputation. This is clearly a very tough situation for the 32-year-old and his family and friends. Fells, who re-signed this year with the Giants after being one of the bright spots for the team in 2014, now has his football career in jeopardy.

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MRSA threatens more than Fells’ football career, though. His life is on the line with the risk of the infection spreading into his blood. Furthermore, MRSA isn’t just a physical problem. In addition to the pain, septic arthritis, fever, and swelling (among other things) that can appear with MRSA, there are psychological effects that MRSA can have on a patient.

Patients with MRSA are often put into precautionary isolation in order to prevent the infection from spreading to others and minimize the risk of re-infection. Let’s just pause for a second and let that sink in. Imagine how difficult it is for Fells to be unable to hug and kiss his wife and children because of this life-threatening infection.

Even after the isolation is over and patients return home from the hospital following MRSA, the turmoil of the condition lasts. Many MRSA survivors suffer from lingering emotional effects including depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety (all of which can impede their healing).

Daniel Fells’ battle with MRSA should remind us all of the bigger picture: there are more important things than a football career. Sure, Fells would like to return to the New York Giants and the game that he loves but surviving and returning to his family outweighs any game. Let’s all keep Fells in our thoughts and root for him to return home to his family in good physical and psychological health soon.

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