Former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason faces daily physical challenges managing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, demonstrated in a widely circulated video showing his care team applying medical tape to keep his eyelids closed for sleep, as reported by marca usa.
The Reality of Steve Gleason’s Nightly Routine
The video released online captures a deeply personal look at the daily assistance required by the former NFL player. Because he can no longer shut his eyes independently, caregivers carefully place medical tape over his eyelids to prepare him for rest. This nightly procedure addresses a specific symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease diagnosed in Gleason in 2011.
The condition damages nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement, gradually restricting mobility, speech, swallowing, and breathing. For Gleason, the physical impact extends to basic facial reflexes, including the ability to blink and close his eyes naturally.
How Eye-Tracking Technology Drives Communication
Maintaining the health of Gleason’s eyes serves a vital function beyond sleep. Because advanced ALS has eliminated his physical ability to speak, he relies entirely on eye-tracking technology to communicate and write. By looking at a specialized screen, he selects individual letters to construct phrases and sentences.
This exact interface enabled Gleason to co-write his memoir, A Life Impossible, alongside journalist Jeff Duncan. Operating the device demands significant visual focus, making proper eye care an essential component of his daily routine. The caregivers securing his eyelids at night are protecting the primary physical tool that connects him to daily conversation and creative work.
From the Superdome Field to Advocacy and Art
Football fans across the United States initially came to know Gleason during a memorable moment on Sept. 25, 2006. Playing for the Saints against the Atlanta Falcons during the team’s emotional return to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina, Gleason blocked a punt that Curtis Deloatch recovered for a touchdown. Nearly two decades later, on Oct. 5, Gleason returned to the field with his wife, Michel, and their children, Rivers and Gray, during a franchise celebration.
Beyond his athletic legacy, Gleason and his wife established Team Gleason, an organization that provides assistive technology, equipment, and services to support individuals living with ALS. In an October interview with Good Morning America, Gleason discussed the daily realities of his diagnosis alongside his family life, stating that he holds the opportunity to love his life and the people in it. He also continues creative projects, collaborating on Rebirth, a work combining his poetry with music from New Orleans artists.
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