'We go through it, don't we?': Son offers a glimpse into former NRL star's current condition
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When people talk about sports, we often picture athletes in their prime.
Yet, behind the glory and the headlines, there are still stories that remind us of the challenges that even the greatest heroes on-field can face.
Steve Mortimer, affectionately known as 'Turvey', has one such tale, which could be a reminder of the toll that both time and the game could take.
Steve Mortimer was one of the mainstays of the National Rugby League (NRL) in the 1980s.
Turvey was a three-time premiership winner with the Canterbury Bulldogs and led the NSW Blues to their first-ever State of Origin series win in 1985.
He was then the embodiment of grit, determination, and sportsmanship.
Today, at 68 years old, the footy great has been fighting a very different battle.
Turvey was diagnosed with dementia at 60 years old and has been living in a nursing home with full-time care.
His son, Andrew, recently opened up about his father's condition.
'It's hard to know exactly what Dad is thinking,' Andrew shared after a recent outing with his father.
'We go through it, don't we, Dad? I don't know whether Dad is thinking of something but can't articulate it, or he's not thinking it, but there's not much verbally, unfortunately.'
The Mortimer family visits Steve several times a week.
The family has been cherishing their moments together despite the disease slowly erasing the man they once knew.
Andrew described that his father has been in a 'childlike state', as he has been oblivious to the world around him.
'He's probably at the stage where he's observing life around him rather than fully participating,' Andrew explained.
'We know that you don't get cured from dementia. You don't improve, so for us, it's quality of life. We try to take the approach of "what he can do", not "what he can't do".'
Despite the decline in his cognitive abilities, Steve's warmth and kindness remained.
'His body language is more or less the same as at any point in his life, as in the warm approach Dad always had with everyone,' Andrew added.
'He has never been a man of status. He has always been reasonable, fair, and available to anyone and everyone.'
The family's journey with dementia began with minor changes in his behaviour.
Steve would misplace his keys, wallet, or phone.
He struggled to find simple words like 'car' or 'remote', and would become frustrated with himself.
Andrew, who ran a small business with his father, noticed that Steve's emails became incoherent.
One of Steve's sons, Matt, saw his dad ageing rapidly and behaving out of character.
For his wife, Karen, a trip to London in 2019 became the turning point of their situation.
Steve, who knew the city well, got lost for over an hour while getting coffee.
The COVID-19 lockdowns also accelerated Steve's decline.
'It was a horrible time for everyone, but around this time, we watched him spiral even more,' Erin, his daughter, recalled.
'There were complete mood swings which would come out of nowhere, and his attitude towards Mum and Andrew would worsen. It was very hard to watch on occasions.'
Today, Steve is unlikely to be aware of the Bulldogs' current success.
'Which is a shame because they are absolutely killing it,' Andrew shared.
'But we watch the games, either at his home or if we're out and about, we will grab a beer or coffee and watch the game, usually at one of the local bowling clubs in and around Revesby or a cafe.'
'But, as time goes on, not so much. It is what it is.'
Look back at Steve Mortimer's career in the NSW Blues here:
Source: NSW Blues/YouTube
Dementia is a cruel disease, not just for the patient but for the families who watch their loved ones fade away.
Across the country, dementia affects nearly half a million Australians.
According to statistics, this number could double in the next 25 years.
The Mortimer family's story should be a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, patience, and cherishing the time we have with those we love.
Has dementia touched a friend or a loved one? What advice or words of comfort would you offer to others going through a similar experience? Please share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
Yet, behind the glory and the headlines, there are still stories that remind us of the challenges that even the greatest heroes on-field can face.
Steve Mortimer, affectionately known as 'Turvey', has one such tale, which could be a reminder of the toll that both time and the game could take.
Steve Mortimer was one of the mainstays of the National Rugby League (NRL) in the 1980s.
Turvey was a three-time premiership winner with the Canterbury Bulldogs and led the NSW Blues to their first-ever State of Origin series win in 1985.
He was then the embodiment of grit, determination, and sportsmanship.
Steve Mortimer has been inducted in the NRL Hall of Fame in 2008. Image Credit: NRL
Today, at 68 years old, the footy great has been fighting a very different battle.
Turvey was diagnosed with dementia at 60 years old and has been living in a nursing home with full-time care.
His son, Andrew, recently opened up about his father's condition.
'It's hard to know exactly what Dad is thinking,' Andrew shared after a recent outing with his father.
'We go through it, don't we, Dad? I don't know whether Dad is thinking of something but can't articulate it, or he's not thinking it, but there's not much verbally, unfortunately.'
The Mortimer family visits Steve several times a week.
The family has been cherishing their moments together despite the disease slowly erasing the man they once knew.
Andrew described that his father has been in a 'childlike state', as he has been oblivious to the world around him.
'He's probably at the stage where he's observing life around him rather than fully participating,' Andrew explained.
'We know that you don't get cured from dementia. You don't improve, so for us, it's quality of life. We try to take the approach of "what he can do", not "what he can't do".'
Despite the decline in his cognitive abilities, Steve's warmth and kindness remained.
'His body language is more or less the same as at any point in his life, as in the warm approach Dad always had with everyone,' Andrew added.
'He has never been a man of status. He has always been reasonable, fair, and available to anyone and everyone.'
The family's journey with dementia began with minor changes in his behaviour.
Steve would misplace his keys, wallet, or phone.
He struggled to find simple words like 'car' or 'remote', and would become frustrated with himself.
Andrew, who ran a small business with his father, noticed that Steve's emails became incoherent.
One of Steve's sons, Matt, saw his dad ageing rapidly and behaving out of character.
For his wife, Karen, a trip to London in 2019 became the turning point of their situation.
Steve, who knew the city well, got lost for over an hour while getting coffee.
The COVID-19 lockdowns also accelerated Steve's decline.
'It was a horrible time for everyone, but around this time, we watched him spiral even more,' Erin, his daughter, recalled.
'There were complete mood swings which would come out of nowhere, and his attitude towards Mum and Andrew would worsen. It was very hard to watch on occasions.'
Today, Steve is unlikely to be aware of the Bulldogs' current success.
'Which is a shame because they are absolutely killing it,' Andrew shared.
'But we watch the games, either at his home or if we're out and about, we will grab a beer or coffee and watch the game, usually at one of the local bowling clubs in and around Revesby or a cafe.'
'But, as time goes on, not so much. It is what it is.'
Look back at Steve Mortimer's career in the NSW Blues here:
Source: NSW Blues/YouTube
Dementia is a cruel disease, not just for the patient but for the families who watch their loved ones fade away.
Across the country, dementia affects nearly half a million Australians.
According to statistics, this number could double in the next 25 years.
The Mortimer family's story should be a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, patience, and cherishing the time we have with those we love.
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