Cricket legend Allan Border's personal fight against Parkinson's disease
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Allan Border, an Australian cricket legend and a figure of resilience and determination on the field, is now facing a different kind of challenge—one that requires a different kind of strength.
Border has recently opened up about his personal battle with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has impacted his life for the past seven years.
This candid revelation has not only shed light on the struggles of living with such a condition but also highlighted the importance of awareness and early detection in managing the disease.
In a live TV interview, Border, who first disclosed his diagnosis in July last year, spoke about his seven-year-long battle with Parkinson's.
This disease, which is characterised by tremors, slowness of movement, limb stiffness, and balance problems, has no known cure. Its cause remains a mystery to medical science.
Despite the daunting prognosis, Border has maintained a brave front, and his wife, Jane, has been instrumental in ensuring he stays on top of his health regimen.
‘Not so scared, but I am worried about that slow decline in the process. I’ve taken the route, “the less I know, the better”,’ Border said.
‘Jane has gone the other way. So I do get lectured quite often, “You haven’t been for a walk in a couple of days”, or haven’t done this or haven’t done that. Or “What are you doing drinking all those beers?” All the stuff I should be doing.’
‘I’ve been kept on the straight and arrow by her and a good medical team,’ he added.
Border's approach to people hasn't changed much since his diagnosis, although he admits to receiving a lot of well-wishes.
‘I’m getting a lot of well wishes, which is embarrassing but good. I don’t know whether I’ve become softer in my approach in how I talk to people,’ Border shared.
He also shared a touching anecdote about sending a text message to Pakistani cricket legend Wasim Akram, expressing his admiration for him.
‘We were with him at the time, and he [Akram] was completely overwhelmed,’ Howard recalled. ‘We were like, “that’s a beautiful thing AB has sent though, and it had a massive impact on him.”’
Border's journey with Parkinson's began in 2016 when he noticed some soreness in his hip and a dead leg.
Initially attributing it to age, he was taken aback when a neurosurgeon diagnosed him with Parkinson's.
The first image that came to his mind was that of boxing legend Muhammad Ali at the 1996 Atlanta Games, a poignant moment that highlighted Ali's own struggle with the disease.
‘I had to go and see a neurosurgeon, and as soon as I walked in the door, he just said, “Look, Allan, I can just tell you’ve got Parkinson’s. I’m sorry to tell you,”’ Border said.
‘You could have knocked me over with a feather, basically. I knew something wasn’t quite right, but I didn’t think it was that. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Parkinson’s and the first thing that came to my mind was Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Atlanta Games.’
‘It was just a strange feeling and [a] strange trip home with Jane, my better half, and just sort of thought “What does this actually mean?”’
Parkinson's disease has affected several famous personalities, including former US President George HW Bush, Comedian Billy Connolly, Actor Michael J. Fox, and Metal Singer Ozzy Osbourne.
Despite the challenges, these individuals have continued to inspire millions with their resilience and determination.
‘I get checked out fairly regularly and do what I’m told with the doctors,’ Border expressed.
‘The rest of the body is good, it’s just Parkinson's and dealing with that, like a lot of people have to.’
‘But generally speaking, I’m in pretty good shape. I still play golf, still go for walks, I still do all the things I’ve been doing. Not running any marathons any more, but apart from that, things are pretty good.’
Allan Border's illustrious cricket career, which saw him score 11,174 runs in 156 Test matches and 6,524 runs in 273 ODIs, is well-known to cricket fans worldwide.
His record for the most consecutive matches as captain of a team at 93 Test matches is yet to be broken. Post-retirement, he has been a long-time member of the Fox Sports commentary team.
Border also led his team to World Cup glory at the 1987 World Cup and in the 1989 Ashes.
Early detection of Parkinson's disease can lead to better management of its symptoms. While there is currently no cure, treatments, including medication, surgery, and physical therapy, can provide relief and improve quality of life.
Living with Parkinson's disease can be challenging, but as Allan Border's story shows, it is possible to lead an active and fulfilling life with the right support and treatment.
It's crucial to stay informed about the disease and to seek medical advice if you notice any potential symptoms.
We salute Allan Border for his courage in sharing his personal journey with Parkinson's disease and for raising awareness about this condition.
His story serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection, regular health check-ups, and maintaining a positive outlook in the face of adversity.
Have you or a loved one been affected by Parkinson's disease? Share your experiences and tips for managing the condition in the comments below. Your insights could help others facing similar challenges.
Border has recently opened up about his personal battle with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has impacted his life for the past seven years.
This candid revelation has not only shed light on the struggles of living with such a condition but also highlighted the importance of awareness and early detection in managing the disease.
In a live TV interview, Border, who first disclosed his diagnosis in July last year, spoke about his seven-year-long battle with Parkinson's.
This disease, which is characterised by tremors, slowness of movement, limb stiffness, and balance problems, has no known cure. Its cause remains a mystery to medical science.
Despite the daunting prognosis, Border has maintained a brave front, and his wife, Jane, has been instrumental in ensuring he stays on top of his health regimen.
Legend Allan Border, one of Australia’s Hall of Famer for Cricket. Image: Facebook/@ICC-International Cricket Council
‘Not so scared, but I am worried about that slow decline in the process. I’ve taken the route, “the less I know, the better”,’ Border said.
‘Jane has gone the other way. So I do get lectured quite often, “You haven’t been for a walk in a couple of days”, or haven’t done this or haven’t done that. Or “What are you doing drinking all those beers?” All the stuff I should be doing.’
‘I’ve been kept on the straight and arrow by her and a good medical team,’ he added.
Border's approach to people hasn't changed much since his diagnosis, although he admits to receiving a lot of well-wishes.
‘I’m getting a lot of well wishes, which is embarrassing but good. I don’t know whether I’ve become softer in my approach in how I talk to people,’ Border shared.
He also shared a touching anecdote about sending a text message to Pakistani cricket legend Wasim Akram, expressing his admiration for him.
‘We were with him at the time, and he [Akram] was completely overwhelmed,’ Howard recalled. ‘We were like, “that’s a beautiful thing AB has sent though, and it had a massive impact on him.”’
Border's journey with Parkinson's began in 2016 when he noticed some soreness in his hip and a dead leg.
Initially attributing it to age, he was taken aback when a neurosurgeon diagnosed him with Parkinson's.
The first image that came to his mind was that of boxing legend Muhammad Ali at the 1996 Atlanta Games, a poignant moment that highlighted Ali's own struggle with the disease.
‘I had to go and see a neurosurgeon, and as soon as I walked in the door, he just said, “Look, Allan, I can just tell you’ve got Parkinson’s. I’m sorry to tell you,”’ Border said.
‘You could have knocked me over with a feather, basically. I knew something wasn’t quite right, but I didn’t think it was that. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Parkinson’s and the first thing that came to my mind was Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic cauldron at the 1996 Atlanta Games.’
‘It was just a strange feeling and [a] strange trip home with Jane, my better half, and just sort of thought “What does this actually mean?”’
Parkinson's disease has affected several famous personalities, including former US President George HW Bush, Comedian Billy Connolly, Actor Michael J. Fox, and Metal Singer Ozzy Osbourne.
Despite the challenges, these individuals have continued to inspire millions with their resilience and determination.
‘I get checked out fairly regularly and do what I’m told with the doctors,’ Border expressed.
‘The rest of the body is good, it’s just Parkinson's and dealing with that, like a lot of people have to.’
‘But generally speaking, I’m in pretty good shape. I still play golf, still go for walks, I still do all the things I’ve been doing. Not running any marathons any more, but apart from that, things are pretty good.’
Allan Border's illustrious cricket career, which saw him score 11,174 runs in 156 Test matches and 6,524 runs in 273 ODIs, is well-known to cricket fans worldwide.
His record for the most consecutive matches as captain of a team at 93 Test matches is yet to be broken. Post-retirement, he has been a long-time member of the Fox Sports commentary team.
Border also led his team to World Cup glory at the 1987 World Cup and in the 1989 Ashes.
Early detection of Parkinson's disease can lead to better management of its symptoms. While there is currently no cure, treatments, including medication, surgery, and physical therapy, can provide relief and improve quality of life.
Living with Parkinson's disease can be challenging, but as Allan Border's story shows, it is possible to lead an active and fulfilling life with the right support and treatment.
It's crucial to stay informed about the disease and to seek medical advice if you notice any potential symptoms.
We salute Allan Border for his courage in sharing his personal journey with Parkinson's disease and for raising awareness about this condition.
His story serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection, regular health check-ups, and maintaining a positive outlook in the face of adversity.
Have you or a loved one been affected by Parkinson's disease? Share your experiences and tips for managing the condition in the comments below. Your insights could help others facing similar challenges.
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