Matt Millen fights and waits as rare disease prompts search for heart donor

Friends and family describe Matt Millen as Mr. Do-It-All, so it's been troubling for them to see him slow down.

The former Penn State football star and current BTN commentator is battling amyloidosis, a rare disease that can limit heart functions and has Millen in need of a heart transplant. Millen has struggled with fatigue, shortness of breath and side effects of chemotherapy as he treats the disease. However, he is still calling games for BTN while waiting for a donor as his heart operates at 30 percent of its normal capacity.

BTN's Lisa Byington traveled to Millen's rural home and profiled his new life as he faces his latest challenge:

"Every man is going to die, but not every man lives." — Matt Millen

My admiration for him has grown while watching him fight against a deadly disease. This blog recounts some of that journey, which we will share Sat. on the pregame show @BigTenNetwork https://t.co/cFDc7ig0dj pic.twitter.com/HDq4smpMzS

— Lisa Byington (@LisaByington) September 7, 2018

Hope you saw this tremendous piece on my partner and friend Matt Millen that we just had on the BTN Football Pregame show. If you missed it, all 3 parts are on the @BigTenNetwork twitter feed. https://t.co/asP19EhJPC

— Kevin Kugler (@kevinkugler) September 8, 2018

Please tune into @BigTenNetwork – our feature on a truly kind man, Matt Millen, and the health battle he's been fighting through day after day, airs in minutes

— Mike Hall (@MikeHallHere) September 8, 2018

Man you never know what the next person is going through. This is a sad story about Matt Millen prayers up @BigTenNetwork

— UM Sherrone Moore Era (@Bfiddler) September 8, 2018