Coaching Legend Pat Summitt Has Been Moved To Hospice, Family ‘Preparing For The Worst’

Pat Summitt, the former University of Tennessee Lady Vols coach and certified basketball royalty, has been moved into hospice care and her family is “preparing for the worst,” according to The Tennessean.

Summitt was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease back in 2011, after visiting a health clinic in Minnesota seeking an explanation for a troubling series of memory lapses she had experienced over the year prior. She knew something was awry when she drew a blank on what offensive set to call in the heat of a game. That may seem like a minuscule thing to you and I, but not to a 38 year coaching vet with the most wins of any NCAA coach ever, man or woman.

After 5 years of living with the irreversible brain disease that destroys recall and cognitive abilities over time, Summitt’s family are asking for prayers after a swift move into hospice care.

On behalf of Pat Summitt’s family, we acknowledge the past few days have been difficult for Pat as her early onset dementia, ‘Alzheimer’s Type,’ progresses. She is surrounded by those who mean the most to her and during this time, we ask for prayers for Pat and her family and friends, as well as your utmost respect and privacy. Thank you.

The Tennessean reports that a source also added, “I don’t think anybody knows whether she will last a day, a month, or a year.”

Summitt is a Hall of Fame coach with eight National Championships under her belt and was the first NCAA coach ever to reach 1,000 wins. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom given by President Barack Obama in 2012 and  received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2012 ESPY Awards. What a legacy. Pray for Pat, bros.

[h/t The Tennessean]

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Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.