NFL star Michael Irvin reveals wife Sandy has been battling cruel disease for years

Former NFL star Michael Irvin has revealed his wife has been living with early-onset Alzheimer's for the past several years.

Irvin, 58, who used to play for the Dallas Cowboys, told Fort Worth Star-Telegraph his wife Sandy, also 58, now has trouble walking and speaking and needs constant care.

Thankfully Irvin has the resources to hire the care his wife, so she can remain in the family home.

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"If anyone has earned the right to stay in her house, MY WIFE HAS!!!," Irvin told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, via text, when sharing that he has no intention of having her placed in a home.

"That I shall honour. No matter what it takes," he added.

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Irvin has been retired from professional football since 2000 and since then he has worked as an NFL commentator.

It was during an appearance at Playmakers88 sports bar in Texas that Irvin first opened up about his wife's condition, asking the crowd for prayers for his family.

Michael and Sandy have been married for over 34 years and share four children and regularly shares photos of his grandchildren.

He shared a special Instagram post upon their 33rd wedding anniversary along with a throwback photo.

Michael wrote at the time: "Thank God for 33yrs of marriage and 38yrs total with the greatest BLESSING and GIFT he has ever BESTOWED on me."

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Early-onset Alzheimer's affects people under 65 years of age. The exact number of Australians impacted by the disease isn't known but the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimates around 27,800 Australians had younger onset dementia in 2021.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, with approximately 55 million people impacted worldwide.

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