Former Lionesses star Steph Houghton says her husband has had a “life-changing” operation to help him maintain weight as his motor neurone disease makes it increasingly to eat normally.
The ex-footballer married Stephen Darby in 2018, a few months before he was diagnosed with MND, a condition that can cause symptoms including muscle weakness and swallowing difficulties.
Houghton told The Guardian that her 36-year-old husband – who is also a former footballer – had deteriorated recently and needed an operation to implant a feeding tube so he could get enough calories and “eat as much food as he can”.
“Over the last few months it became a bit risky having food and that’s when the decision had to be made,” said the ex-England captain, who is also 36.
“We need Stephen to keep weight on and to eat,” Houghton added.
“It hasn’t been a great few months because these decisions are life-changing and it takes a lot of time to get used to. But ultimately it’s the best thing for him. It allows him to relax a bit more.”
The ex-Manchester City star, who retired in May and earned more than 100 England caps, said the couple had “adapted really well” but there were “good and bad days”.
“In the first few years it was so hard to take in,” she said.
“You don’t want to believe it because you’re like: ‘Why us? We’re only young and Stephen should still be playing football. It’s not fair.’
“But the more you dwell on it, the more that it harms you. So I’ve learnt how important it is to be positive.”
Darby played for clubs including Bolton, Liverpool and Bradford. However, his diagnosis forced him to retire at just 29.
In March, the couple joined hundreds of people for a 178-mile walk from Bradford to Anfield for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, with Houghton pushing her husband in his wheelchair.
Rugby league legend Rob Burrow died from MND earlier this year. The life-shortening condition has no cure, though symptoms can be managed to give the best quality of life.
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There’s a one in 300 risk of getting the disease across a lifetime but it’s more likely in over-50s, according to the MND Association.
“It’s obviously a tough ride but I want to be honest about the actual process and spread awareness of the disease,” Houghton said.
“It’s so important we discuss the reality of MND so we can potentially help people in the future.”
Houghton – who’s just released her autobiography – played her final match for Manchester City last season after a career in which she played in three World Cups and won the WSL three times.
However, she struggled in her international career in her final years.
She wasn’t picked for England’s Euro-winning squad in 2022 as she struggled to get fit after an injury and missed out on World Cup selection the following year.
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Houghton told The Guardian she felt let down by manager Sarina Wiegman.
“If I was to ever go into management or coaching, I would always have a people-first approach,” she said.
“It’s important to be honest, but also to respect what a player has achieved. I would never like anybody to feel the way that I felt in that two-year period.”
