Ex- England skipper Lewis Moody has revealed he has been identified with motor neurone disease and stated he cannot yet deal with the full implications of the muscle-wasting condition that ended the lives of other rugby players Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow.
The middle-aged sportsman, who was a member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side and secured multiple English and European titles with Leicester, spoke to BBC Breakfast a fortnight after learning he has the condition.
"There's a certain facing the future and not wanting to completely absorb that at the moment," he said.
"It's not that I fail to comprehend where it's heading. We grasp that. But there is definitely a hesitation to look the future in the face for now."
Moody, talking alongside his wife Annie, explains rather he feels "calm" as he concentrates on his immediate health, his family and making preparations for when the disease worsens.
"Maybe that's shock or maybe I deal with matters differently, and once I have the details, it's simpler," he stated further.
Early Signs
Moody learned he had MND after detecting some reduced power in his shoulder area while training in the gym.
After physiotherapy failed to improve the problem, a number of scans indicated neural pathways in his central nervous system had been compromised by MND.
"You're given this diagnosis of MND and we're understandably quite moved about it, but it's quite odd because I sense that I'm perfectly healthy," he remarked.
"I don't experience unwell. I don't feel unwell
"My indications are quite slight. I have some muscle wasting in the hand and the upper arm.
"I continue to be competent to doing whatever I want. And with luck that will carry on for as long as is attainable."
Disease Progression
MND can advance quickly.
According to the organization MND Association, the illness takes the lives of a 33% of people within a twelve months and over half within two years of detection, as eating and respiration become harder.
Treatment can only retard worsening.
"It isn't ever me that I feel sad for," stated an emotional Moody.
"There's sorrow around having to break the news to my mum - as an single child - and the ramifications that has for her."
Family Consequences
Conversing from the family home with his wife and their pet dog by his side, Moody was overcome with sentiment when he discussed breaking the news to his sons - 17-year Dylan and adolescent Ethan - the traumatic news, saying: "It was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do."
"These are two wonderful boys and that was pretty devastating," Moody said.
"We positioned ourselves on the settee in weeping, Ethan and Dylan both hugging in each other, then the dog leapt across and commenced cleaning the drops off our faces, which was quite silly."
Moody stated the priority was being in the moment.
"There is no treatment and that is why you have to be so militantly directed on just welcoming and enjoying everything now," he said.
"As Annie said, we've been really fortunate that the primary choice I made when I left playing was to allocate as much duration with the kids as attainable. We don't get those periods back."
Sportsman Connection
Professional sportspeople are excessively influenced by MND, with research indicating the prevalence of the disease is up to 600% greater than in the wider community.
It is believed that by reducing the oxygen available and producing injury to nerve cells, frequent, vigorous physical activity can initiate the disease in those previously predisposed.
Sports Playing Days
Moody, who gained 71 England caps and traveled with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2005, was nicknamed 'Mad Dog' during his sports career, in honour of his fearless, relentless style to the game.
He competed through a stress fracture of his leg for a duration with Leicester and once caused a training-ground scuffle with team-mate and friend Martin Johnson when, irritated, he abandoned a training equipment and began throwing himself into collisions.
After coming on as a substitute in the Rugby World Cup decisive match win over Australia in 2003, he won a ball at the rear of the set piece in the decisive phase of play, setting a foundation for scrum-half Matt Dawson to snipe and Jonny Wilkinson to kick the game-deciding drop-goal.
Support Network
Moody has already informed Johnson, who skippered England to that championship, and a few other ex- colleagues about his diagnosis, but the remaining individuals will be discovering his news with the broader public.
"There shall be a time when we'll need to depend on their support but, at the minute, just having that sort of care and acceptance that people are there is all that matters," he commented.
"The sport is such a wonderful family.
"I mentioned to the kids the other day, I've had an incredible life.
"Even when it ended now, I've appreciated all of it and accepted all of it and got to do it with unbelievable people.
"When you have the opportunity to consider your love your profession, it's one of the greatest honors.
"Having accomplished it for so extended a period with the squads that I did it with was a pleasure. And I understand they will desire to assist in every way they can and I anticipate having those conversations."
