Winning All The Way

I used to take care of a man named Bryan. He had been diagnosed with dementia, likely caused by his career as a professional footballer. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a form of dementia associated with head injuries, especially in the field of sports.

Bryan was a gentle soul with an infectious smile who had been one of the greatest footballers of his time. He had a nickname among the football fraternity as ‘Punchy’. Care staff believed this nickname linked to him being violent or aggressive, which was far from the truth.

It was not until his wife explained that the name evolved from Bryan always being punctual for team practices, matches, and events that it put the nickname into perspective.

Bryan always enjoyed kicking any ball that came toward him and exercising his still-present skills with his feet, although his coordination was not so good. As his condition deteriorated, I learnt more about his life and career in football from his family, which helped me understand the person.

Knowing information about the winning goals, awards, and accolades he had received helped care staff develop a strategy for delivering optimal care. Watching football on TV with the staff provided Bryan with comfort, allowing him to reminisce about his past experiences on the field.

Back in Bryan’s day, there was no social media; his road to fame and fortune was via the newspapers, radio, and television, helped along by the paparazzi.

Little did anyone know that all those head kicks of the ball would lead to irreversible brain damage.

Sylvia, Bryan’s wife, shared with me her fondness for the social aspects of the game. She thoroughly enjoyed attending the parties, charity events, and award ceremonies associated with the game.

These events presented the perfect opportunity to indulge in a new dress for each occasion. The proudest moment was when Bryan received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to Rugby League football.

Bryan’s adult life was vastly different from his childhood. As the youngest of four boys, he grew up in poverty with an alcoholic father who spent most of his earnings at the local pub.

As a result, his mother had to provide food and pay the bills from her cleaning job. Bryan and his brothers all took jobs to help their mother and provide a stable home.

Bryan started delivering papers at nine years old and left school at fourteen to pursue an apprenticeship as a builder. While he enjoyed building, his real passion was football.

One Saturday afternoon, a football scout noticed his talent and signed him up at the local football club when he was sixteen. The beginning of his professional sports career marked the start of his successful journey to stardom.

He knew what a hard life was like and valued all the financial trappings and notoriety that came with being in the public eye. He was always humble about his triumphs and accomplishments.

Anyone in aged care who is living with dementia or simply ageing is not a number; they are individuals with their own unique stories.

Throughout their lives, every person creates a distinctive legacy and leaves behind individual footprints that deserve to be documented and preserved for the benefit of future generations.

The famous footballer Pelé once said, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, a love for what you are doing or learning to do.”