Former LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr made his first public comments since he underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a large cancerous tumor. The surgery in September 2023 left Brooks, a former co-captain of the LSU Tigers, wheelchair bound, struggling to talk and limited use of his hands.
Brooks’ Junior and his father Greg Brooks Senior were interviewed by Michael Strahan’s Good Morning America. Strahan’s daughter had the same type of brain cancer that Brooks Junior had, medulloblastoma.
Isabella Strahan underwent surgery to remove the mass, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatment. She is now cancer-free and living a normal life.
But Brooks’ family is claiming in a lawsuit filed last August that negligence by LSU and the Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center has left Greg Brooks Junior permanently disabled.
The lawsuit says that despite experiencing nausea, dizziness and headaches during football practice, it took 39 days for the team to make an appointment with a neurologist who discovered the brain tumor.
Greg Brooks Sr told Good Morning America that he was not notified of his son’s condition until LSU told him he would undergo brain surgery.
The family’s lawsuit alleges the surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center was not qualified to perform the brain surgery. Brooks allegedly suffered multiple strokes during the surgery.
“The disease is not the issue,” Brooks Sr said of the cancer diagnosis. “He did wonderful with his radiation, with his chemo. This is the aftermath of injury from surgery.”
“I just want young athletes in the same spot I was, if something is hurting, tell them,” Brooks Junior said. “And if they don’t do anything about it, go get your second opinion. Because if I would have known that, I wouldn’t be the way I am right now”
The only statement LSU has released about the lawsuit is this.
“While LSU cannot comment on ongoing litigation, Greg Brooks remains in our thoughts and prayers as he continues to work through the rehabilitation process. Since the beginning of our agreement with our Championship Health Partner, Our Lady of the Lake, they have provided exceptional medical care for our student-athletes in all of our sports.”
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center also says it continues to pray for Brooks’ healing and recovery and added this in a statement to ABC.
“The neurosurgical team at Our Lady of the Lake is among the most experienced in Louisiana and they give our patients the best opportunity for a positive outcome in any circumstance. Providing excellent healthcare to those we serve is our top priority.”
LSU Coach Brian Kelly gave this statement on October 14th after the lawsuit was filed.
“I think it’s well known and we’ve talked about the love that we have, our entire team, for Greg Brooks, you know, a leader beloved by his teammates, and we’ll continue to have that. But, unfortunately, you know, lawsuits come out in our culture and our society every day, and it is what it is, but it doesn’t change the way we feel about Greg. Our support is going to be there. We hope and pray for only the best for him,”
Brooks Senior told Strahan they have not heard from anyone on the LSU coaching staff since October of 2023.
“Specifically, Brain Kelly,” Brooks Sr. said. “My son almost lost his life. Coach, where were you? Forget about football. Pick up the phone and say you love the kid, man.”
Brooks Jr concluded the story on Good Morning America by saying this.
“I just want to be normal. Whatever card I’m dealt, that’s the card I’ll play, and I’m gonna make sure I win.”
