'WRITING TO BRIAN SAVED ME'

HER NEW BOOK SHINES LIGHT ON A CRUEL DISEASE

- By Maisy Rae

For rugby league fans, the name Brian Johnson inspires many a thought of his record-breaking days playing fullback for the St George Dragons, or coaching British rugby league side Warrington to numerous victories.

But for Karen Johnson, Brian's wife of 37 years, he is best remembered as the "gorgeous" man who swept her off her feet.

The NRL great passed away in 2016 with dementia, aged just 59. "Brian's been gone for nine years now, and I don't even think about that time anymore," Karen, 67, tells New Idea. "I don't think about Brian with dementia. I think about the good times."

Brian was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2010. His family believes this was likely caused by CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) – a degenerative brain disease which is associated with repeated mild traumatic brain injuries, like sustaining a head knock in a sporting game.