A coach's resilience

Paradise football coach Andy Hopper is making a comeback after having two emergency heart surgeries.

Football coach andy hopper is still recovering after two major heart surgeries.

He's only talking to action news now sports director vanessa romo about his health.

Vanessa - you've been following his battle for about a year now?

After facing many complications and months of recovery& coach hopper is doing great and thanks everyone for their continued support.

<there's no question paradise high football coach andy hopper's heart bleeds green and gold& and his heart pumps through his football team& but septermber 3 20-19--- hopper's heart couldn't take it anymore& the valve from the top of my heart dissected from my heart and i felt it immediately, i was sleeping & had my wife rush me to the hospital and yeah that's where it started& hopper suffered an aortic dissection --- medical crews flew him to a hospital in nevada for emergency heart surgery - soon after he got home - they had to rush him back.

It was the most traumatic& when they got me to the hospital, they did the tests and the one doctor said& im giving you a one percent chance to live& i need you to know that and you need to make peace with your situation as you go on the helicopter& because we don't think you're going to make it& but he did& just like his resilient football team & i felt every prayer that everyone gave to me& i don't know how to describe the feeling but i knew people were praying for me and if it wasn't for that& i don't think i wouldve survived.

Hopper returned to om wrath field in october and was met with open arms from his bobcats& --- now in his 25th season with the team--- hopper is taking this break to spend time with his wife, son and two dogs& he says he spends his spare time working on his new home in paradise... hopper moved into his home weeks before his surgery& and nearly a year after he lost his home to the camp fire& ive been good at what im supposed to do& it's taxing because i cant do a lot of what i used to, im just a fraction of the man i used to be... it gets to you after a while because you used to be this big strong guy, i can't lift more than 10 pound right now& it gets frustrating& hopper jokes that he is taking more medication than a man should be allowed and is constantly monitoring his blood pressure& but overall he's doing great im a survivor..

My town has been great for me, they've shown me so much support and love& they call me a miracle, but i call myself the cockroach of paradise& because i just won't die& hopper says he is being cautious hopper says he is being cautious during this pandemic and hopes everyone will take the steps to keep themselves and loved ones safe.

Football practices at paradise high were canceled due to the pandemic.