Why did Rigoberto Sanchez undergo surgery? Indianapolis Colts punter rejoins team after cancer treatment
In his own way, Indianapolis Colts punter, Rigoberto Sanchez is now a hero who has won a battle against cancer. Certainly, he's not the first athlete to do so, but he does join the distinguished list of those who have held their own and managed to come out unscathed against the deadly disease. The 26-year old was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor last month, with the news breaking out before Colt's Week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans.
It all started when Sanchez, in his words, started "feeling weird" during a practice session on November 25 and went for an MRI and ultrasound. The news hit him that he had cancer and, like most cases, Sanchez was in a state of disbelief. "It's one of those things that you just never think is gonna happen to you. I never thought it was gonna happen to me either," Sanchez told reporters, according to TMZ Sports.
"Because I'm young, and when you're young you think you can do anything and you're going to be fine for a long time." However, the diagnosis didn't stop Sanchez from taking part in the next game as he said he couldn't put the team in a bad situation. "I wasn't about to do that to my team. It's all about the team, you know?" he said.
Recent updates say the punter joined the team on Wednesday, just 15 days after he had undergone successful surgery. The site also added he was "grateful to be back" and thanked the medical team for their support through his journey.
If this was a season not riddled by Covid-19, the team would have had the chance to find a punter and slot him in Sanchez's place, but with Covid-19 protocols in place, the addition is tough and this meant Sanchez put his commitment on the line and delayed his operation for a few days.
"I'm just so grateful to be here with you guys and it's amazing to be back," he said, also adding he had heard from all his heroes. He was optimistic about a speedy recovery. "As of now, it's looking pretty good."