Greg Papa hospitalized, putting 49ers announcer's comeback bid on hold
· Yahoo Sports
Greg Papa's much-anticipated comeback is on hold.
The San Francisco 49ers' decorated play-by-play announcer was hospitalized on Sept. 7 due to a genetic heart condition, cardiomyopathy, that has significantly worsened due to the bone marrow transplant he received in March. Papa, 63, had a diagnostic procedure performed on Tuesday by the Advanced Heart Failure team at UCSF Health to get a better sense of his heart's condition.
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Papa was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2023, two years before he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that was discovered in his brain and spinal column.
Papa had been scheduled to return to the air last week for the 49ers' pregame show on NBC Sports Bay Area prior to the 49ers' season-opening win against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Last week, KNBR announced Papa would return to the station in a part-time role, about five weeks after KNBR laid him off.
Papa had recently been cleared by his oncologist to serve as the play-by-play man for 49ers' home games this season. He won't be in the booth when the 49ers host the Dolphins on Sunday.
Papa's medical care since his cancer diagnosis 14 months ago has resulted in significant costs that haven't been covered by insurance. A GoFundMe campaign (support.strikeoutoutfear.org/helpgregpapabeatcancer) has been created by the David Benzer Strike Out Fear Foundation, a nonprofit, to assist.
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