My tears for Fernando
I knew he was coming on the Dutch TV to talk about his book that night, so I sat on my table right in front of the TV.
A big cup of coffee next to me, which I never finished.
There he was, looking staunch as ever, but as soon as he started talking I felt shivers all over my body.
I noticed it was difficult for him to speak, and I recognized this way of speaking and thought oh god … No that can’t be. That can not be!
Until the presenter asked him: why do you have difficulties with speaking?
Fernando got emotional when he tried to say that he was diagnosed with ALS and asked his biographer Vincent to take it over.
Tears came in my eyes.
One and a half hour later I still sat on my table. Coffee untouched. Staring at my TV and sharing emotions on twitter with fellow Rangers supporters.
2 days later I still had tears. I felt a pain in my heart. I was devastated.
I silently cried when I went to sleep and I woke up broken. It really gripped me.
But this is not about me, or about how I feel, although my feeling is the reason that I’m writing this at 1:30 AM, sitting in the dark with a glass of whisky, my thoughts and my iPhone on WordPress.
Writing helps. My heart is overloaded and sharing a piece of it on here, makes it a bit less heavy.
Without going into details, I only want to share that earlier this year I lost a friend to ALS. He died 5 months after his diagnose.
My tears are for Fernando, and for everyone who suffers this disease.
With every tear I also fight. Fight against ALS.
4 Comments
Hi I knew fernando when he played at Rangers he was very good to my son Declan gave him christmas and hes got all his tops also to pay him back for his kindness im doing a charity night for MND Scotland and ALS Netherlands I have sold over 100 tickets so far csn you let fernando know pauline and Declan were asking for him sending good wishes to him and his family
I was shocked and saddened to hear you have ASL, a 33 year old healthy man. As a Rangers Fan you were a hero of mines a 100% every game kinda guy who gave all and played for the jersey, we are all wishing we could give you back something now in your time of need.I don’t really know what to say in times like this. If tears could express my feelings you would understand. Fernando Ricksen NO 2 ,Rangers hero and legend.
This blog sums up how it felt for all Rangers fans, Fernando is a greet ambassador for football and he had great grit and bravery when pulling on that famous Blue Jersey. I hope he can fight this terrible disease and beat it. We are all behind you and your family.
Je bent een vechter, we zijn je vuisten. Samen kunnen we iets breken!
Een moedig man die ik net zag op de compilatie van DWDD. Ik hoop dat je blijft vechten en nog lang onder ons mag zijn.