ROSWELL, Georgia — The father of an 18-year-old star quarterback has revealed he was suffering from a rare, undiscovered illness before his death four months ago.
Robbie Roper, the Roswell High School quarterback, died December 22, just over a week after his shoulder surgery.
[RELATED: What is the rare disorder that killed star Roswell quarterback Robbie Roper?]
His father, James Roper, told USA Today that his son had a genetic condition called urea cycle disorder (UCD), which causes elevated levels of ammonia in the blood. Roper said his son was only diagnosed with UCD after he became ill.
The disorder can disrupt the urea cycle, leading to the accumulation of ammonia and a toxic immune system response.
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Roper family attorney Patrick Moore told USA Today that UCD can be triggered by medications or situations surrounding a surgical procedure, including the use of anesthetics.
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James Roper told the newspaper that he did not reveal the cause of his son’s death sooner because he “wanted him to be remembered as the perfect child”.
Coach said Roper. wearing a #5 jersey was an “A” student while leading his team to the playoffs and winning Region 5 7A Offensive Player of the Year.
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