Jai Arrow left everyone in tears as he heartbreakingly shared his wish to see his daughter grow up in a raw interview on Friday.
The former rugby league star spoke honestly about his motor neurone disease diagnosis (MND) on KIIS FM alongside his fiancee Berina Colakovic, who broke her silence on the former NRL star’s diagnosis for the first time.
The couple have a one-year-old daughter named Ayla, with Berina expressing her hope to give their child a brother or sister.
“I think in the lead-up to the diagnosis, I was in a bit of denial,’’ Berina said.
“It kind of spiralled into him losing a bit of his voice and that being very visible.
“He’s 30. We have a little one at home, she’s just turned one, so for me it was very, very hard.
“I would love Ayla to have a brother or sister, but even with stuff like that, those are big discussions, given the disease and lifespan of the disease and stuff.
“Those are probably big personal milestones, but I’m happy to go wherever he wants to go.’’
Arrow’s comments then provoked an emotional response from the hosts, with Georgie Tunny breaking down in tears.
“For me, it’s (to) be around my for my daughter and Berina for as long as I can,” Arrow said.
“And she knows I would do that. I’ll fight and I’ll be there. I will.”
Arrow and Berina, who got engaged in October 2024, said they have deliberately avoided receiving a prognosis.
The average life expectancy is 2-3 years from diagnosis, according to MND Australia, but the disease and its progression varies largely.
In an exclusive interview with news.com.au’s Extended Bench, neuroscientist Dr Alan Pearce said sadly there is currently not a lot that can be done to treat the disease, and the fact that he is an athlete would have no bearing on how fast or slow his decline is.
“It’s a very progressive disease and one that is difficult to try and treat,” Dr Pearce told news.com.au’s Extended Bench.
“You can manage the signs and symptoms but essentially, there are no treatments.
“…Unfortunately, it won’t have much bearing (that he is an athlete).”
Dr Pearce said it was hard to know how long before Arrow began showing symptoms that his body had acutally began breaking down.
“Neurodegenerative diseases typically tend to develop without any knowledge or any signs or observable symptoms and that’s why we have to take a more precautionary approach because it all happens in the background before it’s too late,” he said.
But Arrow is not giving up, vowing to battle with all he has for his family.
“(The prognosis) for me, it’s be around for my daughter and Berina for as long as I can,” he said.
“And she knows I’ll do that.
“I’ll fight, and I’ll beat it — I will.”
Arrow isn’t fighting alone with the sporting world and Australia as a whole rallying around the former Rabbitohs star.
“This is such an important & brave discussion to have, from both perspectives. sending so much love & strength,” one wrote in response to Arrow’s interview on KISS shared online.
“Australia is with you,” another said.
“Jai your strength is an inspiration to so many . Your bunnies family , and wider NRL community are deeply motivated to stand with you and your family through it all. You sir, are a true gentleman,” a third commented.
While a fourth said: “Australia is backing you every second Jai.”
