Giants’ Nelson, a New Father, Has Recurrence of Hodgkin’s Disease

Karl Nelson became the father of an 8-pound 5-ounce baby girl Thursday, just 2 days after the New York Giants tackle announced that he had had a relapse in his battle with Hodgkin’s disease.

Heidi Nelson gave birth to the couple’s second daughter, Lindsay Rae, Thursday morning at Pascack Valley Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Karl Nelson, 28, whose cancer was first detected in August, 1987, underwent radiation therapy and returned to play for the Giants last season. Just before the final game of the season against the Jets, doctors discovered that he had a recurrence of the disease, which attacks the body’s lymphatic system. He now is undergoing chemotherapy.