Embattled former Washington quarterback Alex Smith and his family have gone through enough. Now they’ve been faced with yet another challenge. Smith announced his youngest child and only daughter Sloane went through a severe medical scare.
Through his Instagram, Smith said Sloane was rushed to the emergency room on May 10 after experiencing stroke-like symptoms. At the hospital, she had to have an emergency craniotomy due to a brain tumor that was both large and malignant.
The doctors at Stanford Children’s Health were able to remove 100% of the tumor in the 10-hour procedure, according to Smith.
“This has been by far the most challenging time we have EVER been through,” Smith wrote while thanking the doctors. “We know it’s not over and we have a journey ahead of us, but without all of you we could not have gotten this far.”
Smith retired from the NFL after 16 years following the 2020 season. His final three seasons were with Washington after eight with San Francisco and five with Kansas City. In 2018 he suffered a catastrophic leg injury during a game against the Houston Texans that nearly took his life.
He endured 17 surgeries to save his leg and leg. Ultimately, after sitting out the 2019 season, he miraculously returned to the field to play football in 2020. He helped lead Washington to an NFC East division title and playoff berth.
Smith and his wife Elizabeth went through the hardship of challenges presented with his leg injury. However, Sloane’s medical situation is the “most challenging time” they’ve faced, according to Smith.
Following the surgery, Sloane has gone through multiple tests and Smith has sought medical opinions throughout the country for what he described as a “very rare malignant tumor.” There are very few documented cases so there is no very clear path of treatment.
But Smith says Sloane has recovered from the surgery and “back to her bubbly self. Singing, dancing, and feeling good.”
