Atlanta Falcons Ex Tevin Coleman's Daughter Placed On Ventilator: 'Fighting to Breathe'

Former Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman is facing a heartbreaking situation as his 6-year-old daughter battles sickle cell disease.

Tragically, former Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman has found himself in a situation no parent ever should.

Coleman, who played for the Falcons from 2015 to 2018, previously revealed that his 6-year-old daughter Nazaneen, was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder that can cause significant complications including infections and bouts of pain.

Dec 30, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) runs with the ball

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

More recently, Coleman's wife Akilah said that their daughter was placed on a ventilator for "some time" as she could not breathe on her own and needed the machine's help just do so. She also received a blood transfusion before leaving the hospital, which she spent two weeks in.

In an Instagram video, Akilah detailed the heartbreaking experience of watching her daughter struggle to breathe while thanking Coleman for his support.

"It’s a feeling unexplainable watching your child literally fight to breathe. Tevin managed to calm my spirit while managing his own," Akilah said, per The Mirror. "I’m so sorry for that because it doesn’t leave space for him to go through the motions."

While watching her daughter "swing in and out of consciousness" was incredibly difficult, Akilah found inspiration in Nazaneen's resilience.

"It’s really hard for any parent to be this kind of vulnerable and transparent but we feel it’s important because we share so many of our highs and our successions that it would be disingenuous and misleading not to share this.

"I’ve realized one of the hardest things for me to do as a parent, wife & woman is to surrender. I cannot always control the outcome & that is such a hard pill to swallow. We have moments in life where we are often stripped of legacy, wealth and success & nothing else matters but the air in our lungs. No amount of hard work or dedication can alter this."

In an interview with People last year, Coleman, who suffers from the condition himself, revealed that he didn't want to publicly share his daughter's diagnosis at first, but eventually changed his mind to raise awareness.

"People reaching out to me on social media, telling me their story, and I'll message them back. And they're surprised, like 'I never thought I'd get a message back from you.' But that's why I'm doing this, I'm here to help," Coleman told People. "I'm just giving them my light, sharing my situation, my story and giving them hope."