The widow of Dundee United legend Frank Kopel has sent her “thoughts and prayers” to the family of a tragic rugby player.
Once superfit dad-of-two John O’Neill is unable to move, talk or feed himself and is being forced to sell his flat to fund round-the-clock care.
His family say doctors believe his early-onset dementia could have been due to concussions sustained during 20 years playing for his local rugby club in Southampton.
Concussions, possibly as his brain still grew, may have caused chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition usually found in boxers.
Amanda Kopel, from Kirriemuir, said John’s story brought back “horrible emotions” as she believes her late husband’s dementia was caused by CTE.
Mrs Kopel suspects his dementia was caused by years spent heading a hard leather ball like former England striker Jeff Astle, the first confirmed case of CTE in English football.
She told The Courier: “When I see that photo of John it is so like what that horrible disease did to Frankie heartbreaking and soul destroying.”
Leading neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart reported that Astle’s death in 2002 at 59 was caused by CTE, not Alzheimer’s as previously believed.
Mrs Kopel’s husband died in April last year having been diagnosed with dementia in 2009, when he was aged just 59.
He and his wife paid about £300 a week so he could have personal care in his Kirriemuir home because he did not reach the qualifying age for free services until weeks before his death.
Mrs Kopel is urging ministers to close the loophole a bid The Courier is backing.
The Frank’s Law campaign has now been backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn after he told the weekend’s Perth Scottish party conference financial support should be available to families whatever the age of the sufferer.
Mrs Kopel said: “In 2009 CTE was not recognised or not much was known about it being the cause of dementia.
“But thank goodness, due to Dr Stewart’s and his team’s research, the medical profession are beginning to understand more.
“As to the family, my thoughts and prayers are with them all as they go through this journey…
“They like others will lose him twice, like we did with Frankie: the day of his diagnosis, and the day he passed away.
“To watch them being robbed of their mind, their bodies, bit by bit, day by day, over such a short few years is, as I say, heartbreaking.
“I am sure that Frankie, Jeff, John, and many other ex-professional sportsmen who have lost their lives to dementia caused by CTE would never have imagined that doing the job they loved would end in such a horrific death.
“When I am fighting for Frank’s Law I am remembering not only what CTE did to Frankie, but other young people under the age of 65 who have sadly lost their fight for life.”
Mrs Kopel had to give up her job to look after her husband, and the couple had to survive on a pittance as they had to pay for council care services that are free to people older than 65 with debilitating illnesses.
She added: “We can only but hope that the extensive talks which have been taking place with the Scottish Government and other organisations for the last 29 months are going to be a victory for the people who, as each day goes by, are not only battling incurable diseases but are still having to pay for personal care, because they haven’t yet reached their 65th birthday.”
Meanwhile, Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen has given his backing to the Frank’s Law campaign.