Former English skipper Lewis Moody has disclosed he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and stated he cannot yet deal with the full consequences of the muscle-degenerating condition that ended the lives of fellow rugby players Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow.
The 47-year-old athlete, who was part of the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning side and won numerous English and European titles with Leicester, appeared on BBC Breakfast a fortnight after learning he has the condition.
"There's an element of confronting what lies ahead and being reluctant to fully comprehend that at the moment," he commented.
"It's not that I fail to comprehend where it's heading. We comprehend that. But there is certainly a hesitation to face what's ahead for now."
Moody, talking together with his wife Annie, explains instead he feels "at ease" as he directs his attention to his current welfare, his family and making preparations for when the illness deteriorates.
"Maybe that's trauma or possibly I process things uniquely, and when I have the facts, it's more manageable," he stated further.
Early Signs
Moody discovered he had MND after observing some lack of strength in his shoulder area while exercising in the gym.
After physiotherapy was ineffective for the condition, a number of scans indicated nerves in his brain and spinal cord had been affected by MND.
"You receive this condition identification of MND and we're rightly extremely moved about it, but it's so strange because I think everything is fine," he remarked.
"I don't experience ill. I don't feel unwell
"The signs I have are very minor. I have a bit of muscle deterioration in the hand area and the shoulder region.
"I remain competent to doing whatever I want. And with luck that will persist for as long as is feasible."
Condition Advancement
MND can progress swiftly.
Based on the charity MND Association, the illness takes the lives of a third of people within a 365 days and above half within 24 months of identification, as eating and breathing become harder.
Treatment can only slow decline.
"It's never me that I feel sad for," added an moved Moody.
"There's sadness around having to break the news to my mum - as an only child - and the ramifications that has for her."
Household Effect
Talking from the residence with his wife and their pet dog by his side, Moody was consumed with emotion when he spoke about informing his sons - 17-year Dylan and 15-year Ethan - the traumatic news, saying: "This was the toughest thing I've ever had to do."
"They're two brilliant boys and that was quite upsetting," Moody stated.
"We were seated on the couch in crying, Ethan and Dylan both wrapped up in each other, then the dog leapt across and commenced licking the tears off our faces, which was somewhat funny."
Moody said the focus was being in the moment.
"There is no cure and that is why you have to be so strongly focused on just embracing and appreciating each moment now," he commented.
"As my wife mentioned, we've been very lucky that the sole choice I made when I retired from playing was to allocate as much duration with the kids as possible. We can't reclaim those periods back."
Sportsman Connection
Top-level competitors are unevenly influenced by MND, with studies proposing the incidence of the illness is up to sixfold greater than in the general population.
It is thought that by limiting the O2 accessible and creating damage to motor neurone cells, regular, intense training can trigger the disease in those already predisposed.
Rugby Career
Moody, who won 71 England caps and traveled with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 2005, was nicknamed 'Mad Dog' during his playing career, in acknowledgment of his brave, relentless approach to the game.
He competed through a fracture of his leg for a time with Leicester and once caused a training-ground confrontation with fellow player and friend Martin Johnson when, irritated, he discarded a practice gear and commenced engaging in tackles.
After appearing as a replacement in the Rugby World Cup final win over Australia in 2003, he won a ball at the end of the line-out in the decisive passage of play, creating a platform for scrum-half Matt Dawson to advance and Jonny Wilkinson to kick the match-winning field goal.
Support Network
Moody has previously notified Johnson, who captained England to that championship, and a handful of other ex- team-mates about his condition, but the rest will be discovering his news with the broader public.
"There will be a time when we'll need to rely on their support but, at the moment, just having that type of affection and recognition that people are available is the crucial thing," he commented.
"Rugby is such a wonderful family.
"I said to the kids the other day, I've had an extraordinary life.
"Even should it finished now, I've valued all of it and accepted all of it and got to do it with exceptional people.
"Being able to label your enthusiasm your career, it's one of the most important honors.
"Having accomplished it for so extended a duration with the teams that I did it with was a pleasure. And I understand they will wish to help in any way they can and I anticipate having those conversations."
