"I've worked with a lot of different people -- concussion experts and people who have dealt with concussions themselves -- and I feel confident in the fact that I can play hockey again," Okposo wrote. "In fact, I know I can play again. I know I can play and not worry about hitting my head, which is a major hurdle for someone who's dealt with this. If I didn't feel 100 percent right now, that probably wouldn't be the case."
Okposo said his issues began with what he called a routine hit during practice. However, he began feeling progressively worse during the Sabres game against the Florida Panthers on March 27, which was his last of the season.
RELATED: Kyle Okposo | Sabres rebuild begins with new coach, general manager]
"By the time that game was over, I had no appetite," said Okposo, who is listed at 6-foot, 218 pounds. "I realized I was beginning to lose weight. Still, I got on the plane to Columbus with the mindset that I would play the following night.
"When things only got worse the next day, I spoke with [then-Sabres coach Dan Bylsma] and made the decision to sit that one out. I thought some rest and time off would do the trick. But even then, things didn't improve. I went to the hospital hoping that they could find a way for me to get some sleep.
"The medications they gave me to sleep caused a negative reaction in my body. I still couldn't sleep, and the weight loss continued at an alarming rate. At one point, I weighed less than 200 pounds. I haven't weighed that little since I was 17. Now, the initial thought was a possible concussion.
"Intensive care is a scary place to be, but I needed a place where I could be stabilized. My doctors felt that the Neuro Surgical ICU at Buffalo General was the best place for that to happen."
