Karl has more complications in cancer recovery





Van Deraa and Karl, who are raising their 5-year-old daughter, Kaci, together, had been writing increasingly upbeat blog posts about Karl's slow recovery from squamous cell carcinoma.

But the latest post said Karl mentioned his right big toe was hurting Friday and that it felt swollen, so Van Deraa called Karl's doctor, who set up an ultrasound.

She wrote that "it turned out he has a blood clot in the same right leg so he was admitted to the hospital to break up the clot."

Karl was diagnosed with cancer late last year and informed his players and the media after coaching the Western Conference in the All-Star Game in February. He began a grueling six-week treatment of radiation and chemotherapy that eventually sidelined him in mid-March.

He had hoped to return to coaching in the playoffs but his treatment caused him to lose 25 pounds along with his strength and stamina. His voice is a raspy whisper, his mouth full of sores and his neck red and tender from the radiation.

The Nuggets were 42-21 under Karl but went 12-12 under acting coach Adrian Dantley and were eliminated by the Utah Jazz in six games in the opening round of the playoffs.

Karl hopes to return to the Nuggets this summer so he can participate in the team's busy offseason.

Owner Stan Kroenke said Karl's health is the top priority now for the Nuggets, who degenerated from a championship contender to a dysfunctional squad during Karl's absence.

The Associated Press


