Cameron Vazzoler, a celebrated rugby league player, has made a remarkable return to the football field after an arduous battle with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder. Diagnosed at the age of 24, Vazzoler met with major obstacles. Relearning how to walk, he spent 18 months away from the sport that had become his identity. His story represents the best and brightest of the human spirit. He has one more premiership title with the Kiama Knights to win.
After just a week in the hospital after his diagnosis, Vazzoler was in a wheelchair. Plus, his health condition had him reeling with ambiguity, psychologically and physiologically. “I was in hospital for a week or so, and once I got out of there, I was in a wheelchair,” Vazzoler recounted. This rare neurological disorder dramatically turns the immune system against itself. In more severe cases, it can result in disabling weakness and even paralysis.
The Path to Recovery
Vazzoler’s journey back wasn’t without its complications. He soon found himself in the deep end, struggling to wrap his head around his new chronic, complex illness. “It’s such a rare and unique disorder, so there was not too much information on it,” he explained. The lack of a clear recovery timeline loomed as the steepest challenge for him and his family. “It was hard to get clear answers off physios and doctors on how long the recovery would be because it was such a unique thing,” he added.
Despite these hurdles, Vazzoler approached his rehabilitation with a simple yet powerful goal in mind: to return to playing football. His dedication to his own recovery certainly hasn’t come easy, but it has changed his life. “It took time and a lot of hard work, but I’m just grateful to be where I’m at now,” he stated. Thanks to steadfast support from his family and friends, he made it through this trying time.
A Return to the Field
Vazzoler returned to competitive rugby league with the Bega Roosters. He was instrumental in leading the Lakers to their first championship in eight years during 2022. He was instrumental in leading the Kiama Knights to the club’s first Group 7 First Grade title in 34 years. That extraordinary accomplishment took place in 2019. Now back in Kiama, the goal is to restore his annals of legacy as the greatest rugby league player to ever come from regional New South Wales. He has a strong motivation to see the side rise up the Group 7 ladder.
As he reunites with the Knights, they are already second on the ladder, and Vazzoler is all-but assured of his second premiership RING. Matt O’Brien, a fellow player, expressed his support for Vazzoler’s return: “I think firstly it’s just good to see him back happy and healthy, regardless of how he is playing at the moment.”
