Former Steelers player says son moved from ICU, health improving

Megan Tomasic | Tuesday, March 9, 2021 8:17 a.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune Revview

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ryan Switzer goes through drills during practice on Aug. 19, 2020 at Heinz Field.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Ryan Switzer said his 9-month-old son was moved out of the ICU Monday after he was admitted over the weekend to control bleeding.

Switzer wrote on Twitter, “Christian is being moved from the ICU to the floor today! There were no more bleeding spells over night and all of his labs remained normal. We’re still waiting on his tissue biopsies from surgery but, we’re thankful his health and his mood are slowly improving.”

Christian is being moved from the ICU to the floor today! There were no more bleeding spells over night and all of his labs remained normal. We’re still waiting on his tissue biopsies from surgery but, we’re thankful his health and his mood are slowly improving.

— Ryan Switzer (@Switz) March 8, 2021

Switzer originally posted on Twitter Saturday after he said his son woke up in his own blood and had been diagnosed with covid-19. At the time of admission, doctors worked to find the source of the bleeding while treating Christian with fluids and medicine.

According to Switzer, Christian underwent three blood transfusions Saturday and surgery on Sunday to stop the bleeding. Following the surgery, Switzer wrote that doctors found several sites of bleeding, and that samples were sent for testing to figure out what was causing the issues.

“Christian is still having episodes of bleeding,” Switzer wrote on Sunday. “It’s going to be a long day or so until the results of the tissue come back. Please pray for our baby. And please add my wife to the prayer list as she has to be strong for the both of us at the hospital.”

I’m asking everyone that this tweet comes across to please just take a second and say a prayer for our son Christian. He’s 9 months and currently in the hospital after he woke up in his blood. He’s Covid positive.

— Ryan Switzer (@Switz) March 6, 2021

Several people reached out to the family via Twitter, expressing their sympathies and prayers.

“We’re heartbroken this has happened to our baby boy, but we’re also overwhelmed by the amount of people who have reached out in support of Christian,” Switzer wrote.

We’re heartbroken this has happened to our baby boy, but we’re also overwhelmed by the amount of people who have reached out in support of Christian. This has been the toughest day of Gabie and I’s life. Please continue to pray Christian stabilizes and makes it through surgery.

— Ryan Switzer (@Switz) March 7, 2021