FOXBORO — Days out from his first Tremendous Bowl, Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams has already bagged the largest win of his life.
This month, he beat most cancers.
Williams has obtained a clear invoice of well being after a four-month battle with prostate most cancers began along with his analysis on Sept. 11. The 51-year-old has not traveled for a Patriots recreation since then, however will fly with the staff to the Bay Space on Sunday for Tremendous Bowl LX.
In an interview with the Herald, Williams thanked his care staff at Mass Basic Hospital, the place he was handled over the previous 4 months.
“The entire medical doctors, the entire nurses at Mass Basic, and everybody that’s taken blood samples, all of the individuals there, they’re so necessary and good at what they do. I admire these guys,” Williams mentioned. “And I admire this group and the individuals of New England. After I say that, I imply it. I’m simply shocked at how variety the individuals are up right here. And it’s been unbelievable.
“Hopefully we are able to convey a smile to their faces on Sunday.”
Throughout his restoration, Williams continuously visited staff headquarters, sat in conferences and stayed in contact with gamers, who mentioned he was an everlasting inspiration this season. His return now means much more.
“It means every part,” mentioned Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss. “He’s an incredible coach, he’s an incredible man. He’s been one among my greatest supporters all yr.”
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel informed gamers Williams was cancer-free in a staff assembly earlier than their divisional-round playoff win over the Texans, days after Williams obtained the excellent news himself.
“Man, it was onerous to see him undergo what he went by, however every part ended up understanding. God’s acquired His hand on him, and he’s blessed to be out of that state of affairs,” Patriots defensive sort out Milton Williams mentioned. “So him coming again, it’s huge for our staff to proceed to play onerous for him and play onerous for one another.”
Williams initially sought medical consideration on Sept. 8, the day after the Patriots misplaced their season opener to Las Vegas. Williams reported nausea and flu-like signs had endured from the night time earlier than when he was up for hours vomiting at dwelling. That day, on the suggestion of coach Mike Vrabel and head athletic coach Jim Whalen, Williams visited an pressing care heart in Foxboro, the place he was first recognized with a abdomen virus.
Throughout his examination, medical doctors found the most cancers. Although, Williams mentioned, they initially believed it was lymphoma.
“It had unfold all by my physique: up in my collarbone, hips, groin, by my legs. It was throughout, and it was tremendous aggressive,” Williams mentioned. “And that’s why they thought it was one thing else.”
Williams’ preliminary analysis was sufficient that he and Vrabel agreed he ought to step away from the staff. Outcomes of a biopsy revealed an aggressive type of prostate most cancers. Williams then traveled to Boston to fulfill along with his care staff at Mass Basic and focus on a remedy plan, which started virtually instantly with a month-long routine of medicines that led into chemotherapy therapies that started in mid-October.
“Like lots of people, once I hear most cancers, I mechanically assume loss of life. That was simply in my head,” Williams mentioned. “And it was like, ‘OK, am I dying? What’s this gonna seem like? What’s the remedy gonna seem like? Am I gonna be actually sick? All this stuff have been operating by my head. And the way will we navigate this with the staff?
“The whole lot was going by my head. However the primary factor for me was my well being.”
Again in Foxboro, gamers realized of Williams’ most cancers battle, however continued to see him most each week inside the power. There, he would stroll round with a smile and provides presents to defenders who recorded takeaways within the staff’s final recreation.
“I’m a perfectionist, so I attempt to be excellent in a whole lot of various things. However with him being round, I simply assume to myself that I’m extraordinarily blessed,” Patriots defensive captain Harold Landry informed the Herald in October. “And I don’t know, it’s simply the angle, every part that he’s as an individual, it simply makes me go about my day in a way more optimistic mild.”
Williams mentioned medical doctors informed him the most cancers threatened his life, although his restoration would rely upon how his physique responded to the remedy plan. Inside a couple of months, it started to clear. By early January, after 5 rounds of chemotherapy every separated by three weeks, Williams had crushed it.
“We solely have a sure variety of days on this Earth, and every part’s God-ordained. So for the truth that he’s in a position to get extra and be capable of spend extra time with us and have a clear invoice of well being,” Elliss mentioned, “it’s simply wonderful.”
