Ex- England captain Lewis Moody has disclosed he has been found to have motor neurone disease and stated he cannot yet confront the full implications of the muscle-deteriorating condition that took the lives of fellow rugby players Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow.
The 47-year-old athlete, who was a member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side and lifted several English and European titles with Leicester, spoke to BBC Breakfast a fortnight after finding out he has the condition.
"There's an element of facing the future and being reluctant to fully comprehend that at the present time," he stated.
"It's not that I am unaware of where it's going. We comprehend that. But there is definitely a reluctance to confront the future for now."
Moody, speaking with his wife Annie, states instead he feels "calm" as he concentrates on his present welfare, his family and planning ahead for when the illness deteriorates.
"Perhaps that's surprise or possibly I process things uniquely, and after I have the information, it's more manageable," he added.
Initial Symptoms
Moody discovered he had MND after noticing some weakness in his shoulder area while training in the gym.
After rehabilitation failed to improve the problem, a set of scans revealed nerve cells in his neurological system had been damaged by MND.
"You receive this condition identification of MND and we're understandably very affected about it, but it's quite odd because I feel like I'm perfectly healthy," he remarked.
"I don't feel sick. I don't feel sick
"My indications are rather minimal. I have a bit of muscle deterioration in the fingers and the upper arm.
"I remain competent to performing whatever I want. And with luck that will continue for as long as is attainable."
Condition Progression
MND can advance quickly.
As per the charity MND Association, the condition takes the lives of a third of people within a year and more than half within 730 days of diagnosis, as ingestion and inhalation become more difficult.
Medical care can only delay worsening.
"It isn't ever me that I feel sad for," stated an moved Moody.
"It's about the sorrow around having to break the news to my mum - as an only child - and the ramifications that has for her."
Household Consequences
Conversing from the household with his wife and their canine companion by his side, Moody was overwhelmed by sentiment when he discussed informing his sons - 17-year Dylan and 15-year Ethan - the traumatic news, commenting: "It was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do."
"These are two wonderful boys and that was rather heartbreaking," Moody stated.
"We were seated on the couch in tears, Ethan and Dylan both hugging in each other, then the dog leapt across and commenced cleaning the moisture off our faces, which was rather amusing."
Moody explained the focus was remaining in the present.
"There is no solution and that is why you have to be extremely militantly concentrated on just embracing and savoring each moment now," he commented.
"According to Annie, we've been truly lucky that the sole determination I made when I left playing was to allocate as much duration with the kids as feasible. We don't get those periods back."
Player Link
Elite sportspeople are unevenly impacted by MND, with research proposing the incidence of the illness is up to six times elevated than in the general population.
It is believed that by restricting the O2 available and producing damage to motor neurone cells, consistent, intense training can trigger the illness in those inherently genetically susceptible.
Athletic Playing Days
Moody, who won 71 England selections and competed with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2005, was nicknamed 'Mad Dog' during his playing career, in acknowledgment of his fearless, persistent approach to the game.
He played through a stress fracture of his leg for a duration with Leicester and once initiated a workout scuffle with colleague and friend Martin Johnson when, annoyed, he discarded a training equipment and began throwing himself into physical contacts.
After appearing as a substitute in the Rugby World Cup championship win over Australia in 2003, he secured a ball at the back of the set piece in the decisive passage of play, creating a platform for half-back Matt Dawson to attack and Jonny Wilkinson to execute the game-deciding field goal.
Assistance Network
Moody has previously notified Johnson, who led England to that title, and a handful of other previous players about his condition, but the rest will be finding out his news with the rest of public.
"There will be a period when we'll need to depend on their backing but, at the minute, just having that type of care and recognition that people are available is the crucial thing," he stated.
"Rugby is such a wonderful community.
"I mentioned to the kids the other day, I've had an extraordinary life.
"Even should it ended now, I've valued all of it and embraced all of it and got to do it with exceptional people.
"Being able to call your enthusiasm your vocation, it's one of the greatest honors.
"Achieving this for so long a period with the groups that I did it with was a pleasure. And I understand they will desire to help in every way they can and I await having those conversations."
