Tungviktaren Stefan ”Skyscraper” Struve (25-6), som är den längsta fightern i UFC, har blivit diagnosticerad med ett hjärtfel som kan innebära att hans aktiva karriär som fighter kan vara över. Enligt diagnosen har han ett förstorat hjärta och en läckande aortaklaff.
Manager Monte Cox har gjort följande uttalande om Struves hälsa via MMAfighting.
”Stefan Struve has recently been diagnosed with a leaking aortic valve and an enlarged heart and was hospitalized for a week to undergo testing to determine the best course of treatment. The doctors found that Stefan has a bicuspid aortic valve, wich means that his aortic valve only has two leaflets, instead of three.
The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta, the major blood vessel that brings blood to the body. In combination with the enlarged heart it causes his heart to only pump 70 percent of the blood into the aorta and then the rest of his body, and the remaining 30 percent ends up back in the heart chamber. After consulting experts in both Holland and the United States, it was decided to treat the condition with medication for the next two months and asses the effectiveness of that treatment protocol. After those 2 months, the doctors will have an answer on what the best treatment options are.
At the direction of his doctors, Stefan has now been released from the hospital and has resumed light cardiovascular exercise. Stefan fully appreciates the significance of the condition he has been diagnosed with, however, he is optimistic about the eventual outcome and fully plans on living a long, healthy, active, happy life and eventually returning to competition in the octagon for his quest to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Stefan loves the UFC and plans on being involved with company as a fighter and ambassador for years to come. Stefan wants to thank all the fans who have supported him thus far in his career as well as the UFC, Dana White, Lorenzo Fertita, Joe Silva, Dr. Jeff Davidson, the entire staff of the UFC, and his fellow fighters for affording him the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage of the sport of MMA, as well as a tremendous degree of support during this trying time. In particular Stefan wants to thank Dana White, Lorenzo Fertita, & Joe Silva for immediately getting engaged with this issue and providing Stefan access to the best possible medical care. Stefan will be sharing his experiences as he deals with this medical condition in the hopes that he can serve as a role model by helping to create awareness and inspire others to fight through adversity.”
Även om det är för tidigt att säga hur det kommer att gå för just Struve och hans karriär som fighter är hjärtfel en av de ledande orsakerna till att unga atleter går bort på grund av den ansträngninn det innebär att vara professionell sportsman. Som tur är har hans tillstånd upptäckts i tid och förhoppningsvis får han god vård och eventuellt möjlighet att fortsätta att tävla.
Struve gick sin senaste match i mars på UFC on Fuel 8: Silva vs. Stann där han besegrades av Mark Hunt via teknisk knockout i tredje ronden.
