Edited June 9, 20214 yr by Grapeviney

Robbo is a horrible interviewer 

ABSOLUTELY AWE INSPIRING!!?

I actually got a little teary watching that. Not to be morbid, but Neale was a constant in my time as a supporter and losing him will be like a segment of that part of my life. We'll never get it back. We'll have lost someone whose fight, spirit and selflessness is awe inspiring.

 

Edited June 9, 20214 yr by Colin B. Flaubert
I initially made this post a whinge about Robbo and that's not right. I've been a bit aggressive over the last few days and need to refocus on what's meaningful.

There are no words to describe Neale Daniher such an inspiration. 

If that doesn’t touch your heart, then you’re a lost cause. 

A mate of mine's son is married to Neale's other daughter.  Not only is Neale part of the fabric of the MFC, an inspiration to all, but he has a family, of which he can be rightfully proud.  Bec's support of her father, while remaining focussed on the cause, leaves me awestruck. 

He’s a legend and his family are admirable in their support of him and the cause. It’s sad seeing Neale deteriorating, but [censored] he’s an inspiration.

Amazing man and was incredibly emotional. 

Neale Daniher what a man what an inspiration and his daughter Bec is in his mould absolutely loved her gentle shepherding of the great man. Thank you Neale for all our great memories of your era at the Dees .?

Edited June 9, 20214 yr by DeeZone

I know a lady with MND, and although she doesn't really follow the football, she knows all about Neale and absolutely loves him and what he's doing. He really does inspire and helps other sufferers just by lending his huge courage. What a great man.

What we do know is that despite the tragedy, Neale is an inspiration to all. 

And as the end nears, his contribution to society transcends footy. 

He has turned his own personal tragedy into something of significance. His life and what he has done with it, has made a difference to the world we live in. 

And we love him for it.  

The look on Neale’s face when Gerard mentions premiership. Stirred up so many emotions in me!! Nearly burst into tears! What a legend!!

Last year my partner was diagnosed with MS after he temporarily lost the ability to speak, and then my brother got diagnosed with liver and lung cancer - and for the last few weeks of his life couldn’t speak to us properly. To watch people who you love lose the ability to communicate is so cruel. For Neale to handle it with the grace and good will that he has is a real insight into what an amazing person he is. I literally can’t believe how brave he is. What an incredible spirit.

To support a club that has an association with such a quality person makes me feel proud. I can only imagine how proud his family are of him.

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

What we do know is that despite the tragedy, Neale is an inspiration to all. 

And as the end nears, his contribution to society transcends footy. 

He has turned his own personal tragedy into something of significance. His life and what he has done with it, has made a difference to the world we live in. 

And we love him for it.  

My following post could be interpreted two ways - I only mean the best.

I know I've recently posted about my fathers own death via MND on here - and his own relationship with Neale. Dad's diagnosis to death time frame was 16 months as he had the most aggresive form. It started in his head, whereby he started slurred his words (ie: sounded drunk)  - loss of motor coordination in the mouth and tounge. 

I am so so so pleased for Neale and his family that 6 years on from a diagnosis, he is still functioning where he is - the 'knowing' smiles/tears my wife and I gave to one another last week where we saw Neale on AFL360 talking with immense difficulty - and going 'oh...[censored] he is close to losing the complete capacity to speak' - was exactly like my fathers.  

His work has being immense and I am so glad the disease (or his bodies resistance to the disease) has been a long drawn out process.

For Neale, the observation (and living) of his own degradation of his motor co-ordination, whilst being full congniscent of what is occurring and having no control would be the most unbearable thing.

Yet on the flip side - here he is - crusading...he's [censored] amazing! 

I mullled over putting this part in... but what you wont see of Neale (or perhaps they will show it as this is what occurs) and I put it in to give the full reality of the experience

whilst being fully conversent in your own head, but your body doesn't allow you to speak

• You may move to using a computer, whereby your own fingers allow you to type words, press a button (much like a computer) and it speaks the sentences for you
• Your motor coordination of your hands decrease incrementally bit by bit that essentially your hands rest on that computer, and your fingers barely reach the keys to type your perfectly formed conversations in your head. You will experience immense frustration...conversation after conversation after conversation for many months...
• Finally your fingers don't move - but you can't talk - so somehow you must communicate to family members or others in a caring capacity what your perfectly formed conversations are... how the [censored] do you do that? So you grunt, or make growling noises because your throat cannot work, at your loved ones, whilst they move your fingers hovering over the key board, doing their best to predict what it is you are trying to add to the conversation... they will get frustrated at you, you will get frustrated at them...all of you, exhausted.
• In parallel to this, you can't swallow food as your motor coordination of your throat fails,  - so you will have a tube inserted into your stomach, and all your food gets pureeed, and syringed into your stomach. Your family/carers will do this for you.
• You will have no control over your toileting functions, your family and carers will hold your penis and wipe your bottom. You will look at your family member who is holding your penis and question why it has come to this...
•  
• You are still the same bloke/person you were cognitively prior to the onset...but you now bare witness to your own slow death.
•  'The frustrated, saddened compassionate silent observer' of your own body's destruction whilst your cognitive capacity has not diminished at all.

The loss of 'dignity' and suffering (my words) is immense in the final stages.

My father weighed 41kg when he died... 

And again, this isn't me musing/reflecting on my Dad, this is about Neale.

What a magnificent beast he is.

 

Edited June 9, 20214 yr by Engorged Onion

5 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

My following post could be interpreted two ways - I only mean the best.

I know I've recently posted about my fathers own death via MND on here - and his own relationship with Neale. Dad's diagnosis to death time frame was 16 months as he had the most aggresive form. It started in his head, whereby he started slurred his words (ie: sounded drunk)  - loss of motor coordination in the mouth and tounge. 

I am so so so pleased for Neale and his family that 6 years on from a diagnosis, he is still functioning where he is - the 'knowing' smiles/tears my wife and I gave to one another last week where we saw Neale on AFL360 talking with immense difficulty - and going 'oh...[censored] he is close to losing the complete capacity to speak' - was exactly like my fathers.  

His work has being immense and I am so glad the disease (or his bodies resistance to the disease) has been a long drawn out process.

For Neale, the observation (and living) of his own degradation of his motor co-ordination, whilst being full congniscent of what is occurring and having no control would be the most unbearable thing.

Yet on the flip side - here he is - crusading...he's [censored] amazing! 

I mullled over putting this part in... but what you wont see of Neale (or perhaps they will show it as this is what occurs) and I put it in to give the full reality of the experience

whilst being fully conversent in your own head, but your body doesn't allow you to speak

• You may move to using a computer, whereby your own fingers allow you to type words, press a button (much like a computer) and it speaks the sentences for you
• Your motor coordination of your hands decrease incrementally bit by bit that essentially your hands rest on that computer, and your fingers barely reach the keys to type your perfectly formed conversations in your head. You will experience immense frustration...
• Finally your fingers don't move - but you can't talk - so somehow you must communicate to family members or others in a caring capacity what your perfectly formed conversations are... how the [censored] do you do that? So you grunt, at your loved ones, whilst they move your fingers hovering over the key board, doing their best to predict what it is you are trying to add to the conversation...
• Next, you can't swallow food as your motor coordination of your throat fails,  - so you will have a tube inserted into your stomach, and all your food gets pureeed, and syringed into your stomach. Your family/carers will do this for you.
• You will have no control over your toileting functions, your family and carers will hold your penis and wipe your bottom.
• You are still the same bloke/person you were cognitively

The loss of 'dignity' and suffering (my words) is immense in the final stages.

My father weighed 41kg when he died... 

And again, this isn't me musing/reflecting on my Dad, this is about Neale.

What a magnificent beast he is.

 

Thank you for this post, EO. You’ve explained the brutal reality in such an informative and insightful way. And with a tonne of respect. Very much appreciated. ❤️ 

The Reverend.  Neale Daniher. Is a legend. 
What a brave man. I shed a tear. But he Plays On and is truly an inspiration.  
 

I hope the Dees win the premiership this year.  For all of us. And for the joy it would bring. And Neale will be beside us all the way. 
 

Play On Neale.  

4 hours ago, Marty said:

The look on Neale’s face when Gerard mentions premiership. Stirred up so many emotions in me!! Nearly burst into tears! What a legend!!

What an incredible bloke. How good would it be to see Neale at the Granny when we lift the cup.

Btw his biography is a great read too.

Inspirational and absolutely heartbreaking. I saw this post come up and was about to click on the video but hesitated because I knew it was going to be tough to watch. 

What an amazing man, transcends club rivalries and everything that goes with what happens on the park. Hats off to Bec as well, she’s clearly carrying a lot of the responsibility as the illness has progress, must be so incredibly tough to watch her father go through this but she still maintains the trademark Daniher humour. 

You can see in his eyes, there’s genuine love for the Dees. 

Edited June 9, 20214 yr by Pates