England rugby icon Lewis Moody has opened up about his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis, revealing that he considers himself 'lucky' to have the opportunity to fight the condition. The former Leicester Tigers and Bath flanker was diagnosed with MND in September last year, but the 47-year-old has adopted an optimistic outlook, believing his platform allows him to draw attention to the disease, following in the footsteps of Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow.
Moody's Positive Outlook
Speaking to Mail Online, Moody said: 'I've always had a positive outlook on life. There is uncertainty in life for all of us. Bizarrely, the news I've received has given me certainty. It's given me a clear focus on what my day-to-day priorities are. There's no point going from day to day being gloomy or disappointed.'
He acknowledged that he does experience low moments, particularly when thinking about what he will miss with his children. However, he emphasised the importance of living in the present and embracing the position he is in to make a difference.
Preparing for the Future
Moody has already begun planning for the progression of the disease, including modifications to his home for wheelchair access. He has also recorded his voice in case he loses the ability to speak. 'That sort of stuff is horrible to talk about, but it's a reality and it's better to be prepared for it than not,' he explained.
He added: 'I feel really lucky in a way because loads of people are diagnosed with diseases and they don't have a platform to do anything about it. I spent a whole life post-rugby in charity and supporting others, so why wouldn't I do it now?'
Telling His Family
Moody announced his diagnosis in October alongside his wife Annie. He revealed that a mistaken pocket call to his son Dylan inadvertently let him know something was wrong. 'When I got the news, I was all right about it actually. It was still a shock, but I'd prepared myself for it. It was tough for Annie,' he said.
The worst moment for Moody was seeing the reaction of his children. 'Dylan had a very controlled reaction. There were tears. Ethan was the opposite – just raw emotion. That was the worst bit by far for me – seeing the reaction of the kids and their sadness and emotion. Since then, they're both doing OK. But it's tricky.'
