In December 2021 Thomas was found unresponsive in his shower, but now the mysterious circumstances of his death have come to light.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News, the parents revealed that after donating their son’s brain for research, they learned that his death was caused by a separate seizure disorder that led to cardiac arrest, and he also suffered from Stage 2 CTE.
Bobby Thomas said, “His son, trying to say what happened, knows that they’re kinda adding that he died – suffocated, cardiac arrest.”
Katina Stuckey Smith, the mother of Thomas, stated “he experienced CTE stage 2.”
Almost twenty years ago, the initial instances of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive brain condition referred to as CTE, were discovered in the brains of former NFL players. Dr. Ann McKee, from Boston University’s CTE Center, stated that she has identified it in six to seven hundred athletes postmortem, ranging from amateurs to professionals, in almost any sport connected with impacts to the head.
“In stage two, we have found that many players under the age of 34 have shown beginning degeneration in the deeper areas of the brain, specifically in the temporal and frontal lobes, based on the multiple lesions observed. The director of Core Neuropathology at Boston University stated that this is what they saw in Thomas’ case, as well as in many other players.”
“CTE alone does not result in fatality. You do not perish due to CTE. What CTE accomplishes is it alters your conduct and your character,” McKee further elaborated.
They were unable to clarify a more profound anguish he was abruptly encountering, but they were aware that his 10 seasons in the association plagued his body with bodily harm. His parents mentioned witnessing him face difficulties in the year preceding his eventual demise.
“Bobby Thomas remembered, ‘However, there was also memory impairment that I observed consistently. It seemed like he was constantly on edge.’ ‘He would frequently complain about having headaches – every single day.'”
“[Demaryius] would inform me, he was similar to, ‘Mom, I am uncertain about the current state of my body – I must gather myself.’ And he expressed, ‘I no longer feel like my usual self,'” his mother, Katina Stuckey Smith, supplemented. “His demeanor would fluctuate, and he would occasionally seclude himself.”
Thomas Bobby explained that his son expressed that the medical assistance he was receiving wasn’t proving beneficial. He further added that he was uncertain about its effectiveness, stating, “Based on my current comprehension and knowledge.”
Father said, “I could have known more because I faulted myself, and also, he was doing what he said, ‘Man, I felt like it when they said it.’ When the bell started ringing and they started explaining the side effects and warning signs.”
Dr. McKee stated that “many families experience immense remorse” following this type of diagnosis after death.
McKee stated, “It’s an unseen harm.” “These individuals endure quietly and encounter significant difficulty locating a medical expert who truly comprehends the situation,” – presently, we lack any particular remedy for CTE, but the reality is.
Dr. McKee believes that the severe traumatic injuries suffered by Demaryius Thomas, which also led to violent seizures, were caused by various incidents in 2021, such as falling down stone stairs and being involved in a car accident.
Remembered his father, “He would tremble so intensely, as if he couldn’t catch his breath.” “Similar to the wind attempting to escape, ‘tch-tch-tch-tch,'” he could hear him utter… They reached the stage where he experienced three or four consecutive episodes… He would have returned to playing football if it weren’t for those seizures.
In July 2021, Thomas declared his retirement and retired from playing football, primarily with the Denver Broncos, after a decade in the National Football League.
Demaryius endeavored to discover his true self without their awareness, while his father acknowledged his sincere efforts to unravel his own inner struggles.
His mother added, “He didn’t desire individuals to be aware, you know, what was taking place.”.
Less than half a year later, following another seizure, Thomas passed away.