Popular Post RFC55 108,860 Posted May 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted May 5, 2019 FERNANDO Ricksen is hoping to extend his life by wearing an oxygen mask for ten hours a day. The Rangers icon, 42, uses the breathing aid to help his lungs weakened by motor neurone disease. The Dutch star, in an Airdrie hospice, said: “It gives my muscles a rest.” And Ricksen joked that wearing his mask makes him a ringer for Darth Vader. He drew comparisons with the Stars Wars villain as he refuses to let his struggle with motor neurone disease rob him of his sense of humour. He told how the breathing aid takes the strain off his weakened lungs for long spells — and of his hope that it will keep him alive for longer. Doctors at the hospice had advised me to start using the mask about a month ago. Lately I have been feeling very tired, even after a good sleep. “I’ve had very vivid dreams and a splitting headache when I wake up. “It depends on how I feel, but I now always try to get a good couple of hours sleep, with the mask, during the day.” The Dutch star added: “The most benefit you get from it is during the night in combination with a good sleep. But because it’s a bit difficult to get used to and because I’m so stubborn, it has been in the closet all the time. “I forgot all about it. But they advised me to recognise the symptoms and inform the doctor once I had them “Using it is like going scuba diving. Especially in the beginning I had no idea how to breathe through it. “At that moment, it almost scared me when I had to use it at night because I couldn’t check it when I am asleep. Now I have everything under control. “Because my muscles keep working at full capacity 24 hours a day, you can let the mask do the work at night or day. “But in the beginning, I thought ‘What if something goes wrong and I don’t notice it?’ I may not wake up any more.” Despite his deteriorating health, the Light Blues legend still regularly sees loved ones — with Veronika and Isabella travelling over last weekend — and watches matches on a telly in his room. And he is still positive about the future, despite having his doubters when he vowed to be the first person to beat the condition. He said: “People thought it was a weird thing to say. “They thought it was very unrealistic. But why couldn’t I say a thing like that? “As if we know everything about MND already — look at Stephen Hawking. He lived with MND for over 50 years. Isn’t that at least close to beating the illness? “As long as I breathe, albeit through a mask, there is hope. Only when hope has gone, you’re destined to lose the fight. “Well, I still have hope and I will continue to fight. That’s one of the reasons why I have never considered euthanasia. “No, I’m not finished yet.” Hospice staff feed him peach-flavoured liquid food through a pump into his stomach. Nurses also administer vital medicines into his arms. Sources praised the ace for how upbeat he’s been since moving to the hospice — and admitted they’d been stunned at how he’d held on to his sense of humour. Our insider said: “I know a lot of MND patients, but you won’t find many who are this witty – especially not at the final stage of the disease. “This guy is so positive, it’s unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Ricksen played 182 games for the Glasgow giants from 2000 to 2006 — netting 13 goals. No surrender Fernando cstamomusa, Bears r us, In walter we trust and 4 others 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonOfLuther 3,400 Posted May 5, 2019 Share Posted May 5, 2019 Good luck Fernando. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFC55 108,860 Posted May 5, 2019 Author Share Posted May 5, 2019 Just now, SonOfLuther said: Used is past tense OP, gave me fear for him. Uses is appropriate. I meant uses Ffs. It's a typo SonOfLuther 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SeparateEntityMyArse 53,715 Posted May 5, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted May 5, 2019 Sad. Sad as fuck. It's when, not if, and its irreversible. Still cant get my head round it with an athlete like him when I'm an average cunt that will out live him 😞 Mcloy_72, siddiqi_drinker, HG5 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Robot 21,149 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Keep fighting Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smile 26,600 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Brave brave man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyc06 6,915 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Think I'd have chucked it a while back! The guys a fighter! Scotjo 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerry1971 249 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 I met him in benidorm in 2014 at ibrox bar. Tell you one thing the guy was an absolute gent that evening. His wife and wee daughter were there too. Keep fighting Fernando, an utterly horrific illness. You wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. My heart sinks each time I see updated pictures of him. To go from an all action midfielder to what it makes him now. Heartbreaking for him and his family. Keep fighting this cunt of an illness. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kplfishtank 4,656 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 My mate has same illness and it’s a nightmare watching him decline so rapidly , Fernando is a fighter and is getting all the right help in his battle. Let’s hope him and my mate are around for a long time pollok-bear and SURRENDERNO 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamibianBear 1,851 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 44 minutes ago, kplfishtank said: My mate has same illness and it’s a nightmare watching him decline so rapidly , Fernando is a fighter and is getting all the right help in his battle. Let’s hope him and my mate are around for a long time I watched a few guys with it post Gulf. The degeneration of the sufferers is absolutely horrendous. It hurts like hell to see anyone with it. The guy in the link was a guy I served with and was running around with us in the deserts of Iraq. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1382719/Gulf-war-syndrome-activist-dies-at-44.html No Surrender Fernando kplfishtank 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albertz85 939 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Horrible to see anyone like this never mind a legend/former captain. Good luck fernando Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkai 54 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 He should tell them to swap the mask for a nasal cannula.Much more comfortable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
siddiqi_drinker 14,635 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 MND horrible illness --- you could not find three healthier athletes n their prime all ravaged by it Bobby Hume 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopCat 4,511 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Tragic to see such a fit young man cut down in his prime by such a cruel disease. Life's so unfair. Keep fighting Fernando. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert68 74 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Terrible Terrible disease... good luck Fernando, we`re all thinking of you Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornabear 6,202 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Words fail me when I hear of Fernando, so sad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CF2 WINNIE 1,006 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Keep fighting wee man, don’t know him personally but often see big Doddie Weir frightening how it looks to be affecting him as well now absolute bastard of a disease siddiqi_drinker 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilyTheOrange 2 Posted May 6, 2019 Share Posted May 6, 2019 Very very sad .Such a shame for his young family who I understand is still in Netherlands. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirkiebear 1,013 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 12 hours ago, CF2 WINNIE said: Keep fighting wee man, don’t know him personally but often see big Doddie Weir frightening how it looks to be affecting him as well now absolute bastard of a disease Seen him in the SECC a few months ago, went up to shake his hand but noticed last minute he was being interviewed so didn't want to interrupt. He, like Ricksen, has been incredibly brave in taking the illness head on and trying to be positive. True inspirations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangersMedia 35,961 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 I find it very hard to look at pictures of Ricksen now. A shadow of the man he once was. My uncle died of ALS and it was very, very difficult to see him near the end. In terms of natural illnesses it must be one of the worst ways to go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CF2 WINNIE 1,006 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 1 hour ago, kirkiebear said: Seen him in the SECC a few months ago, went up to shake his hand but noticed last minute he was being interviewed so didn't want to interrupt. He, like Ricksen, has been incredibly brave in taking the illness head on and trying to be positive. True inspirations. Both their charity work on the matter has been unbelievable like you say inspirations Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookWorm 4,123 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 So sad to read but so good to know he still has his fight. Only 42 as well. Tragic for the family. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BF1 167 Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 Fighter on and off the pitch. What a legend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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