SAS Australia’s Sam Burgess has detailed the moment a doctor told him he had multiple sclerosis (ms).
During Wednesday, September 29’s episode of the hit series, Sam opened up with fellow sportsman Heath Shaw, about their time on the field.
After Heath asked Sam what “NRL’s rules are with concussion?” the 32-year-old revealed a chilling diagnosis.
What Did Sam Burgess Get Diagnosed With?
“I got diagnosed with MS. About three years ago,” he admitted.
According to Sam, he was on the training field when the doctor and physio came running up to him.
“Mate, you’ve been diagnosed with ms on a head scan,” before adding: “you’ve got to get off the field now.”
Sam was then taken to a specialist, who thankfully “cleared” him of having the disease.
“But he warned me obviously, there’s a couple of signs there that could be leading that way.”
He also revealed he had “loads of white dots” on his brain, but there is “no correlation between the collision sport.”
For the former South Sydney Rabbitoh’s player, it was an “eye-opening” experience.
“I have to get my brain scanned every six months to see if it’s degenerating or if it’s getting worse or improving.”
What Did Sam Burgess’ Father Pass Away From?
This is not the first health battle Sam has opened up about on the series.
In a previous episode, he broke down while he spoke about his father’s tragic death from motor neurone disease in 2007.
The rugby player was just 18-years-old when he lost his father, Mark, only two years after his initial diagnosis. His devastating death happened just weeks after the father-of-four witnessed Sam make his rugby debut for Bradford in the UK.
“One of the biggest things that hurts me in life is that he never saw my brothers play professionally,” he said. “They’ve all gone on to have wonderful careers,” he told the Directing Staff.
In 2013, the four Burgess brothers — Luke, Sam, Tom and George — made Australian history in the sport when they all took to the field together to play for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
“That got me. He never saw that moment. I know he’d have liked that moment. That irks me a bit.”
Motor neurone disease is a degenerative condition that affects the brain and nerves, causing weakness that becomes worse over time.
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