Dean Windass shares his experience with dementia, addressing fears and misconceptions while encouraging others to seek support.
Hull: Dean Windass, the former football star, has bravely opened up about his dementia diagnosis. He recently shared that he’s been living with stage two dementia for a year but kept it private. He reassured everyone, saying, “I’m all right. I’m not dying.”
Dean, who scored a legendary goal for Hull City, decided to speak out to help others in similar situations. He mentioned how his phone has been buzzing with messages from worried friends and family. “I’m not dying. I’m fine,” he insisted, even joking about his son checking in on him.
Of course, he has worries. He doesn’t want to be a burden to his partner, Kerry. But he’s trying to stay positive, saying, “I could walk out my front door and get run over. People don’t need to worry about me.”
He talked about how he sometimes forgets names and things Kerry tells him. After reaching out to John Stiles, the son of a famous footballer who also battled dementia, he decided to get scans done. John has been a great support for him.
Dean revealed that his scans showed some bleeding on his brain, likely from heading so many footballs during his career. He shared how he felt when he got the diagnosis: “Stage two dementia.” He was understandably anxious about what that meant for his future.
He also mentioned a memory test that left him feeling frustrated. “I started crying because I got real frustrated because I couldn’t do it,” he said. It’s tough when you can’t remember simple things, and he found humor in it, saying he didn’t know if it was just him being thick.
Reflecting on his career, he noted how many balls he headed over the years. “I was doing a thousand balls a week easy,” he said, which he believes contributed to his condition.
One of the scariest moments for him was when he had to do a Zoom call for his CT scan results. He felt something was off when they asked for a video call. “I can’t remember doing the Zoom call, that’s the worst thing,” he admitted.
Dean emphasized that his story isn’t just about him. He wants to raise awareness about the struggles families face when dealing with dementia. “It’s damaging people’s families financially,” he pointed out, stressing the need for support.
To lighten the mood, he joked on social media, saying, “I’m more than fine because I didn’t even know I had a brain.”
Caroline Scates from Admiral Nurse Development expressed sympathy for Dean and praised him for speaking out. She highlighted that many people in the UK are living with young onset dementia and encouraged those affected to seek help.
“You are not alone, and expert care is available,” she said, urging anyone in need to reach out for support.
