A recent surgery to fix blood clots has made a significant impact on Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, and the outlook for his future health is positive.
“Since the last surgery, tremendous change,” CU assistant trainer Lauren Askevold, who has worked closely with Sanders for the past two-and-a-half years, told BuffZone. “He has 100% less pain. Our goal is for him to be able to run here soon, like by this time next year.”
A Pro Football Hall of Famer who excelled in large part because of his speed, Sanders has been through a lot in the last two years. In the fall of 2021, when he was head coach at Jackson State, he had several surgeries on his left leg, including having two toes on his left foot amputated.
Since then, Sanders, hired by CU in December, has not been able to run and has walked with a limp. He has also dealt with daily pain in his left leg, often using a Segway or golf cart to get off his feet during the day at CU. Askevold, who began working with Sanders at JSU, works on his leg several times each day to help with blood flow.
This summer, Sanders met with doctors who informed him that it was possible he could have his left foot amputated if circulation issues weren’t fixed. He recently had a surgery to fix blood clots, which has helped blood flow to the foot. That will allow Sanders to get upcoming surgeries to fix other foot and toe issues.
“We just had a great follow-up doctor’s appointment from his last surgeries,” Askevold said. “Things are looking up. He’s got great blood flow to that foot. It’s looking up.
“This past surgery was a huge success. We do have another one coming up, but it will only set him up again for success.”
Success has included not only less pain, but an improvement of nerve issues. For example, Sanders can now feel when Askevold rubs the bottom of his foot – a development that Askevold said was “emotional” because of the roller-coaster ride of the past two years.
Sanders is also walking better and Askevold said there is hope he can get through full games with limited or no pain. Nike and a custom orthotics company in Miami are working on an orthotic Sanders can wear to be more comfortable on game day. Last year at JSU, Sanders had increasing pain in his left leg as games went along.
Askevold said Sanders still needs several treatments each day but that the progress is significant and the future bright.
“Now his gait will change because he does have a lot of blood flow down to that foot, which is what we need,” she said. “I’m super excited. Everybody should be excited. It’s gonna be amazing.
“You guys will be seeing a different Prime on that sideline. You’ll be seeing him (jog) out with the team. You’re gonna see, I think, a way spunkier Prime, a way more comfortable Prime on the sideline. … I think we will see a way healthier looking Prime on the sidelines. It’s going to be really exciting. He’s thrilled about it.”
Sanders’ first game as CU head coach is Sept. 2 at TCU.
As for Sanders running again, that could still be several months away, but at one time there was a possibility he would never run again.
“He’s gonna run,” Askevold said with a smile. “Trust me, it’s gonna happen.”
