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SportsEntertainment132 words1 min read

Former NFL Player Chris Johnson Opens Up About His ALS Diagnosis

man holding football
Photo by sporlab on Unsplash
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Listen to the story

Chris Johnson played football in the NFL. Now he has a serious sickness called ALS.

Doctors found the sickness when Johnson was 39 years old. At first, he thought it was an old injury from football.

But the problem was not just an injury. It was ALS, a very serious disease.

ALS makes muscles weak over time. It is a hard sickness to live with.

Johnson is now talking about his story. He wants people to know about his journey.

He is fighting the disease. He wants more time with his family.

Johnson shared his feelings in an interview. He called it a hard and sad time in his life.

Many people know Johnson from his football career. Now they are learning about his health fight too.

Vocabulary15 words

NFL
a big group of American football teams
ALS
a serious sickness that makes muscles weak
injury
damage to the body, like from sports
disease
a sickness in the body
journey
a long experience, not always about travel
interview
when someone answers questions for the news
diagnosed
when a doctor says what sickness you have
muscles
body parts that help you move
career
the years someone works at a job
former
someone who used to do something, not now
serious
very bad or important
fighting
trying hard against something bad
sickness
a health problem
weak
not strong
share
to tell others something

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Quiz

1. What sickness does Chris Johnson have?
2. How old was Johnson when doctors found the sickness?
3. What did Johnson first think his problem was?

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Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Chris Johnson played football in the _____. Now he has a serious sickness called _____.

Doctors found the sickness when Johnson was _____ years old. At first, he thought it was an old _____ from football.

But the problem was not just an injury. It was ALS, a very serious _____.

ALS makes _____ weak over time. It is a hard sickness to live with.

Johnson is now talking about his story. He wants people to know about his _____.

He is fighting the disease. He wants more time with his _____.

Johnson shared his feelings in an _____. He called it a hard and sad time in his life.

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