Despite a report from Minnesota earlier in the week that indicated otherwise, former Vikings safety Orlando Thomas has not succumbed in his battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, and is continuing to fight for his survival at home in Louisiana, according to ESPN.

Thomas’ agent quickly responded to the claim that he had passed on, stating emphatically that his client was still alive, although he has lost his ability to speak as a result of the disease.

The illness, which is formally known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS for short, is more commonly known for the famous Yankees baseball player it afflicted, and causes a severe dysfunction within the muscular system of the afflicted. It eventually leads to paralysis and death within three to five years, as there is no known cure for the disease.

Thomas was first diagnosed in 2007 and currently lives in his home town of Lafayette, Louisiana.