Former Houston Texans LB Bryan Braman battling rare form of cancer
Braman, who spent three seasons with the Texans from 2011-2013, has undergone multiple surgeries while being treated in Seattle, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help him with expenses. Braman was diagnosed with cancer in February, according to his longtime agent, Sean Stellato.
"He is required to have a 24-hour caregiver, but his insurance doesn't pay for housing for this program," the first GoFundMe update in February read. "He has no home currently as he has had to pay out of pocket for much of his treatment, and even sold his last vehicle to raise the money for the motel [for] this week."
As of Saturday morning, the page has raised more than $53,000, including three donations from Braman's former Texans teammates. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt donated $10,000. Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown donated $2,500 from Duane Brown while linebacker Brian Cushing donated $1,000.
Several former Eagles teammates who have donated include Rasul Douglas, Brent Celek and Emmanuel Acho.
Braman is currently undergoing treatment, which includes CAR T-cell Therapy. According to the American Cancer Society, the procedure is described as "a way to get immune cells called T cells (a type of white blood cell) to fight cancer by changing them in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells."
"His cells did re-infuse themselves, and did in fact start reproducing within his bone marrow," the GoFundMe page wrote. "At first, the mass did start to shrink, but then the cancer started fighting back."
Braman, 38, continues to fight and hopes to pull through with the support of former teammates and colleagues.
"In the face of cancer, he embodies those qualities more than ever. If there is one person that I know that can beat cancer, it is Bryan Braman, who I have always considered family," Stellato told KPRC2 Sports. "He's in the fight of his life."
Braman played seven seasons in the NFL from 2011 to 2017. During his three seasons with the Texans, he totaled 38 tackles and one sack.
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