MICHAEL Irvin has opened up on what it is like to care for his beloved wife as she battles with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
On an episode of Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, NFL legend Michael Irvin discussed his wife Sandy Harrell’s condition.
Michael Irvin and his wife Sandy have been married for 35 years[/caption]
Harrell was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s about ten years ago[/caption]
He told Sharpe, “We recognized some things were going wrong with her about ten years ago, actually.
“We thought it was menopause.
“I buried my mom because she had Alzheimer’s.
“My mother-in-law was living with us because she had Alzheimer’s, and we were taking care of her.
“And now we thought my wife was going through menopause at 49 because she’s coming at 50.
“But after about a year of testing, we found out it was early-onset.”
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes dementia symptoms.
It gradually damages memory, thinking skills, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks, worsening over time.
Irvin continued, “So, we had been dealing with this eight, nine years, you know, going back and forth.
“And… it’s been, what’s difficult is, it’s quite hard to take care of someone 24 hours a day,
“I have to keep a 24-hour nurse with her all the time.”
“But she, if anybody, has earned the right to be in her home. You know what I mean?”
The couple met in college and have been married since 1990.
Together, they have four children: Myesha, 35, Chelsea, 29, Michael Jr., 28, and Irvin, 27.
Irvin revealed his wife’s diagnosis in June 2024.
The wide receiver was selected in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and represented the side for all 12 years of his NFL career.
Irvin won the Super Bowl three times (1992, 1993 and 1996) with the Cowboys.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest receivers of all time and, in 2007, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Younger/early-onset Alzheimer’s affects people under the age of 65, but is much less common, says the Alzheimer’s Association.
According to the organization, “If you are experiencing any memory problems, [you should have] a comprehensive medical evaluation with a doctor who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease.”
