Footy star’s wife opens up on the deadly disease that’s left him unable to dress or feed himself – and why she REFUSES to sue the NRL
- John Bilbija played rugby league for a number of Sydney clubs in the 1980s
- Almost ten years ago the diagnosis of early dementia was made
- His wife Michelle has revealed his sad daily existence
The wife of former rugby league star John Bilbija has revealed how a diagnosis of early-onset dementia has turned their lives upside down, leaving him unable to care for himself.
But despite the enormous obstacles they face as a family, Michelle Bilbija has no plans to sue the NRL because “winning a court case won’t bring him back to the man he was.”
Bilbija, 65, represented the likes of Balmain, Parramatta, Western Suburbs and South Sydney in the 1980s – and the second-rower was left reeling after receiving the devastating news from a doctor just under a decade ago.
“Honestly, I’m surprised he’s still with us today,” his wife of 43 years, Michelle, said Broad sports world.
“He’s just a shell of the sweet man he was… It’s gotten to the point where he can’t feed himself, he can’t talk, he can’t dress himself… he needs full-time care.
John Bilbija represented the likes of Balmain, Parramatta, Western Suburbs and South Sydney in the 1980s – and the second rower was diagnosed with dementia by a doctor just under a decade ago
“The lights are on, but no one is home.”
The sad development comes as Bilbija’s former teammate, South Sydney’s Mario Fenech, is also struggling with early-onset dementia as a result of his playing days.
The Bilbijas battle week after week over meager pensions and although they receive some help from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), they have had to move from Sydney due to financial pressures.
Bilbija recently too developed Parkinson’s disease.
The former footy player has agreed to donate to brain to science as soon as he dies, which his shattered wife believes won’t be far away.
“Hopefully something good will come out of the research they use it for,” she said.
‘If John had known the dangers, he would never have played the game.
South Sydney’s Mario Fenech is also struggling with early-onset dementia as a result of his playing days
“There’s not enough awareness among the players today… they’re also bigger and stronger than the players who were there in John’s day.”
Fenech, who celebrated his 61st birthday last November, suffers from memory loss and has the brain of an 80-year-old after being diagnosed with premature dementia eight years ago.
After turning full-time into his 274-game career in the 1990s, Fenech became a regular on Channel Nine’s long-running program NRL Footy Show.
His wife Rebecca Fenech suspects many other retired players have not been in touch because her husband may be a mirror they find difficult to look into as she made a plea to them for the sake of the future of rugby league.
“He played that game with a lot of passion, he loved it,” Ms Fenech said.
“I don’t really know what to say to them.”
“Just help, help make this game safer.”