Glasgow Rangers footballer Fernando Ricksen, 42, throws tear-jerking surprise seventh birthday party for his daughter at hospice where he faces final days battling motor neurone disease
- Former footballer Fernando Ricksen is battling terminal Motor Neurone Disease
- He hosted a birthday party for his daughter, Isabella, 7, from his hospice bed
- The former Rangers player was forced to retire from football in 2013
- He is due to appear at a final public engagement in a Glasgow hotel on June 28
Former Rangers star Fernando Ricksen hosted a birthday party for his seven-year-old daughter from his hospice bed.
The former Dutch international, 42, is in the final stages of Motor Neurone Disease. However, despite that, he insisted he was going to throw a birthday party for his daughter, Isabella.
Ricksen retired from football in 2013 and revealed he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease a year later.
This is the moment former Rangers star Fernando Ricksen organised a birthday party for his seven year old daughter Isabella from the bed of his hospice in Airdre
Ricksen, left, is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and has been told his condition is terminal. Despite that, he wanted to host a birthday party for his daughter Isabella, right
Ricksen, pictured right, with his wife Veronika and daughter Isabella at a benefit game in the Netherlands in May 2014. Ricksen had retired from football a year earlier
According to The Mirror, Ricksen held the party in his room at St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.
His wife Veronika captured the heartbreaking footage and posted it on social media.
The video was captioned: ‘Best daddy ever, best surprise for our little girl thank you so much for making her happy.
Ricksen is attending one final fundraising night on June 28 having spent six years battling Motor Neurone Disease.
He said: ”Hello. I’m having a special night on the 28th. “Since it’s getting very difficult for me, this will be my final night. Come and make this a night to remember. Hopefully see you soon, Fernando.’
Ricksen played for Rangers between 2000 and 2006 where he won the league twice, three league cups and two Scottish cups
Ricksen was in the Rangers squad from 2000-2006, during which time he won two titles, three League Cups and two Scottish Cups.
An Evening with Fernando Ricksen will be held at GoGlasgow Urban Hotel, with TV football host David Tanner, ex-Rangers centre-back Marvin Andrews, comedian Dee Maxwell and singer Lynsey Glen also appearing. Tickets cost £70.
While fighting the disease, the former Holland international has been raising cash for others suffering from MND.
The footage was filmed by Ricksen’s wife Veronika, pictured
A documentary titled ‘Fernando Ricksen – The Final Battle’ chronicled his struggle. Director Ronald Top said he was inspired by a tattoo on the former player reading: ‘I am a warrior. A warrior with a fighting spirit. I will never give up and never surrender.’
Fans across the world sent Ricksen words of support as they wrote messages to him on social media.
One said: ‘There is only one Fernando Ricksen. No colours no rivalry- only love from one human being to another.’
Another wrote: ‘I’ve said a prayer Fernando, keep strong, your family must be so proud of you’.
Describing him as ‘a true fighter in every sense and meaning of the word’, one urged him: ‘Keep strong Fernando.’
Ricksen also played for AZ and Zenit Saint Petersburg during his career, winning 12 international caps for Holland.
WHAT IS MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE (ALS)?
History
The NHS describes motor neurone disease (MND) as: ‘An uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time.’
The weakness is caused by the deterioration of motor neurons, upper motor neurons that travel from the brain down the spinal cord, and lower motor neurons that spread out to the face, throat and limbs.
It was first discovered in 1865 by a French neurologist, Jean-Martin Charcot, hence why MND is sometimes known as Charcot’s disease.
In the UK, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is referred to as Motor Neurone Disease, while in the US, ALS is referred to as a specific subset of MND, which is defined as a group of neurological disorders.
However, according to Oxford University Hospitals: ‘Nearly 90 per cent of patients with MND have the mixed ALS form of the disease, so that the terms MND and ALS are commonly used to mean the same thing.’
Symptoms
Weakness in the ankle or leg, which may manifest itself with trips or difficulty ascending stairs, and a weakness in the ability to grip things.
Slurred speech is an early symptom and may later worsen to include difficulty swallowing food.
Muscle cramps or twitches are also a symptom, as is weight loss due to leg and arm muscles growing thinner over time.
Diagnosis
MND is difficult to diagnose in its early stages because several conditions may cause similar symptoms. There is also no one test used to ascertain its presence.
However, the disease is usually diagnosed through a process of exclusion, whereby diseases that manifest similar symptoms to ALS are excluded.
Causes
The NHS says that MND is an ‘uncommon condition’ that predominantly affects older people. However, it caveats that it can affect adults of any age.
The NHS says that, as of yet, ‘it is not yet known why’ the disease happens. The ALS Association says that MND occurs throughout the world ‘with no racial, ethnic or socioeconomic boundaries and can affect anyone’.
It says that war veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS and that men are 20 per cent more likely to get it.
Treatment
There is no cure for MND and the disease is fatal, however the disease progresses at different speeds in patients.
People with MND are expected to live two to five years after the symptoms first manifest, although 10 per cent of sufferers live at least 10 years.
Occupational therapy, physiotherapy and medicines such as riluzole are used to palliate the effects of the the disease.
Lou Gehrig was a hugely popular baseball player, who played for the New York Yankees between 1923 and 1939. He was famous for his strength and was nicknamed ‘The Iron Horse’
Lou Gehrig’s Disease
As well as being known as ALS and Charcot’s disease, MND is frequently referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Lou Gehrig was a hugely popular baseball player, who played for the New York Yankees between 1923 and 1939.
He was famous for his strength and was nicknamed ‘The Iron Horse’.
His strength, popularity and fame transcended the sport of baseball and the condition adopted the name of the sportsman.
He died two years after his diagnosis.
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