A former Premier League football player who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) has opened up about the degenerative nature of his condition. Jason Bowen, who played three times in the Premier League, is in his early fifties but has said he’s losing the use of his legs, arms and voice.
The father of three was capped twice for Wales, but retired in 2013 aged 40. He began a new career as a railway engineer, however, his life was turned upside down after being given an MND diagnosis five years ago.
MND causes muscle weakness, which gets worse gradually over time. There is no cure for the condition, but treatment can help manage the symptoms.
Bowen opened up about the illness in 2023, but in a recent update, the ex-footballer has said the symptoms are getting worse. He said: "I'm losing the use of my legs and my right arm is getting a bit weaker. My voice. I can't use my left arm at all.
"Some things are gradually getting worse. Walking. Eating. I've had to stop (attending Morrello) because I was finding it too tough. I was getting really tired."
He’s even stopped attending football matches, as it has become too difficult for him. He continued: "The clubs have been amazing, they always are. Asking me to go to games. But I'm finding it a bit too tough with the stairs. So I can't do that anymore."
Meanwhile, his partner, Hayley, who is now the player’s primary carer, has described it as ‘heartbreaking’. It’s particularly difficult for Hayley given her mum died because of complications with MND.
She said: "It was just horrific for me. My mum only lasted two years with it. Her [disease] was fast progressing which attacked her mid-waist to her head, so it was really, really awful. Thankfully Jason's has been slow progressing. We're into our fifth year next month.
"My mum took two years to be diagnosed. Jason took weeks, so we knew what we were dealing with early on, which I think was easier. The care [now] is totally different, there wasn't a lot of care for my mum.
"There was one MND nurse throughout the whole of Wales, while Jason has a team of people with the NHS, and if I need anything I just have to pick up the phone or send an email and it's sorted within a day or a couple of weeks."