When Rosie and Annabelle Daly found out their brother Jesse had been diagnosed with Motor neurone disease, a wave of emotions rushed over them.
“Everything was unknown and everyday was a different hurdle we would have to try and cross and have to help navigate Jesse to try and cross it,” Annabelle said.
“His battle with MND was short, aggressive, vicious and challenging.”
Jesse, who the sisters described as “the magic of our family” was diagnosed with the disease in April 2023, after noticing an onset of symptoms, including pain and the loss of motor function in his right arm.
The avid Crows fan and footy lover sadly lost his battle with the disease in March this year.
He was 29.
Rosie and Annabelle spoke with AFC Media ahead of the Crows hosting the first SA Freeze in the fight against motor neurone disease in Round 13 against Richmond next Thursday night.
“He was the magic of our family,” Rosie said.
“He would make everyone laugh, he was loud and smiley and happy all the time.
“He loved his footy, we were a Crows family from day dot.
“His decline (after the diagnosis) was so rapid but he was always so positive.”
Going through the diagnosis process was tough on the family, as the siblings did everything in their power to help Jesse, who also had autism, navigate the disease.
“After a bunch of GP visits and physio and trying to figure stuff out, nothing was really working,” Rosie said.
“Mum was advocating so hard for Jesse to get an answer.
“In July it was ruled out that it was a stroke, then in August he had a bunch of tests done and in September, the tests came back positive for motor neurone disease.
“That’s when the really challenging stuff happened, when we tried to get him adequate housing, and appropriate medications and plans.”
To be held on the night of the Crows’ Round 13 game against Richmond, SA Freeze will kick-start a big weekend for FightMND which culminates with the 10th anniversary of the Big Freeze at the MCG on the King’s Birthday Monday.
The SA Freeze will include a celebrity dunking, similar to the Big Freeze slide at the MCG, and footy fans will be encouraged to help raise vital funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research and care initiatives by purchasing a Big Freeze 10 Beanie.
Rosie encouraged Crows Members and fans to get behind the SA Freeze to help find a much-needed cure.
“Dad was so excited because he’s been a (Crows) Member for 10 years and he texted us and was like ‘look at this, we are going to go’,” Rosie said.
“I would encourage people to learn about it (MND), learn what it is, learn how it affects a surprising amount of people’s lives, any age, any gender, it’s not specific to anyone.”
Adelaide’s Round 13 game against Richmond is at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, June 6 at 7pm.
Crows SA Freeze Memberships - which include a Big Freeze 10 Beanie, a reserved seat at the game and general admission access to another two Crows home games - are available here.
50% of the Membership fees will be donated to Fight MND.
