Former Manchester City captain Andy Morrison has opened up on his battle with a devastating neurological condition after revealing his diagnosis earlier this year.
Morrison, 55, revealed that he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome in a heartbreaking video online. He vowed to fight the disorder as he shared the video in March, letting fans know of his situation.
On Friday, meanwhile, Morrison took to social media to share another video with supporters to give an update on his battle – and appeared in good spirits.
In the post, captioned: ‘Lena martell, one day at a time,’ – the title of a song by the Scottish singer – he said: ‘Good evening. We are now at week 10 and I thought I’d do a little update from the specialist I saw last week. There is no good news.
‘There is a test you can do, where one is the least and six is the worst and I’m between five and six. When you see the initial video I did, I said it could be six weeks recovery or a year. It’s going to be a year. A long, long time.
‘This is towards the end of the day so I’m a little bit tired and my mouth gets a bit droopy, but I want you to look at my bad side, and, if I lift… can you just see a tiny bit of movement? That’s a big positive. The brain is beginning to repair the nerves. It starts there and works its way down or across.
Former Manchester City captain Andy Morrison has opened up on his battle with a devastating neurological condition
The former defender, pictured in September, has insisted it will take him a year to fully recover
‘It’s a positive – and I need to look for any positives at the moment. There are good days and bad days. I helped my daughter move house, then I slept for two days, I couldn’t get out of bed. It’s exhausting.’
Morrison made 47 appearances for Manchester City after joining from Huddersfield Town in 1998.
He helped guide the club to the old Division One via the play-offs in 1998-99 before winning promotion to the Premiership the following season.
Voted as Man City’s third best captain ever in their official magazine, the Scot was named as a club ambassador in 2013.
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is caused by a virus in the facial nerve and can lead to ipsilateral face paralysis, blistering rashes near the ear, severe earache and hearing loss.
‘The dizziness, the vertigo and the brain fog makes you feel drunk all the time,’ he continued. ‘I haven’t been drunk for over 35 years.
‘It is a challenge. I have had so many positive messages, people saying if anyone can come through it it’s me, I’m resilient, I’m this, I’m that. I am, but there is fear there. Like I said many times, you have to have fear. There is a lot of fear, it’s not a pretty sight and there are a lot of unknowns.
‘But I will dig in and do what I have to do to get back to the best possible me. I will, whatever that takes.
Morrison helped guide City to the old Division One in 1999, as well as the Premiership the following year
‘I try and smile… I can’t tell you how frustrating and how aggressive it makes me that I can’t control it. But I think it is there to test me. I have always been able to challenge things and take them on. Work harder, train harder… meet it head on, and I can’t, I have to surrender. Get on my hands and knees and pray that God and the universe will heal eventually.
‘I think the little bit of movement is a real positive. I’m looking forward to the game next week, I’m going to the Brentford game, and hopefully things go well against Everton which will make it a special day against Brentford.
‘Thanks for listening. I will probably touch base in another few weeks. Thanks.’
