Neville Gallimore, the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive tackle, channels profound motivation from his son Nas’ obstacles. Born with a life-threatening congenital heart defect, Nas’s journey continues to inspire Neville each and every day. With Nas nearing his first birthday on November 9, Gallimore looks back, cherishing the journey so far. As he reminisces about all the challenges and victories his family has experienced since learning about their son’s diagnosis while Chelsie Gallimore was 24 weeks pregnant.
What should have been a regular checkup flipped Chelsie’s life upside down. She learned that her expected baby would be born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome with pulmonary atresia. This complication would require intensive medical treatment upon birth. From that point on, the Gallimores were told during Nas’s time in the NICU that he would likely require a breathing machine and suffer developmental delays.
Nas had his first open-heart surgery about a week after he was born. Though this important surgery represented another step toward health, it began a difficult road for the Gallimore family. In April, Nas underwent a second corrective surgery, recovery from which has enabled him to now grow and flourish.
Even with the trials at home, Gallimore has had his own struggles since coming to the NFL. During training camp in August 2024, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins. Sadly, he ended up getting released on the last roster cuts. In March, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent. There, he turned heads, setting career-highs with 3.5 sacks and playing a crucial role during an injury-plagued season for his team.
Gallimore credits the performer he is on the field, in part, to the resilience he’s seen in his son. “I play as hard as I do because my son’s a fighter,” he stated, illustrating the deep connection between his personal life and professional career.
The emotional toll from Nas’s health complications has been just as difficult on Gallimore. He recalls feeling overwhelmed at times, saying, “Last year, I was definitely in a dark place.” This rollercoaster feel of Nas’ situation paralleled Gallimore’s own path in the game of football, where advancement often seemed just out of reach. “It just kept feeling like you’d take half a step forward and it’d be like six, seven steps back,” he reflected.
To celebrate Nas’ first birthday, the Gallimores threw an extravagant party filled with loved ones and close friends. The lavish affair was a chance to celebrate Nas’s once impossible accomplishment. It also celebrated the resilience of the family structure that has held firm and weathered the storm.
Gallimore’s commitment to his son extends beyond mere support. It is intertwined with his own identity as both a father and an athlete. He emphasizes a motto that encapsulates their journey: “The motto with him is he doesn’t look like what he’s been through.” This is both a disclaimer of Nas’s shortcomings and an ode to his resilience.
Nas is scheduled for another surgery when he turns around three years old. Unfortunately for him, as he gets bigger, he will need more surgeries down the line. Even with all these obstacles, the Gallimores are hopeful about their son’s future, as their optimism is infectious.
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