He’s one of Australia’s greatest golfing legends and in a heartbreaking Instagram post, the 36-year-old has announced he will be ending all cancer treatment to spend his final days with his children.
Lyle had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia three times. He battled and beat the cancer in 1998 and in 2012, but sadly in July last year, the cancer returned for a third time. This time, his body hasn’t been able to fight off the disease.
On Tuesday evening, Lyle’s wife Briony took to her husband’s Facebook page to give fans an update on Lyle’s health. Heartbreakingly, it wasn’t the news fans were hoping for.
“My heart breaks as I type this message. Earlier today Jarrod made the decision to stop active treatment and begin palliative care,” she wrote. “He has given everything that he’s got to give, and his poor body cannot take anymore. We’ll be taking him closer to home in the next couple of days so he can finally leave the hospital.”
Briony apologised that there wasn’t enough time to get the message out to close friends and family and said she was sorry for breaking the news to them via a social media post. She also shared her concerns about her husband’s final moments and whether or not they would remain private.
“Jarrod knows he is loved, and the thousands of prayers and well wishes that have been sent his way have kept him going through some incredibly tough times,” she continued. “But he has reached his limit, and the docs have finally agreed that they can no longer strive for a positive outcome.
“My focus as of today is on our girls and doing whatever I can to get them through the challenges ahead. Jarrod will be closer to them very soon, and will spend as much time as he can with them.”
In a photo shared on Facebook, Lyle could be seen in a hospital bed giving his two young daughters a cuddle. Meanwhile, Briony said she wouldn’t be updating her husband’s social media channels after her final post, but said she would post details of a memorial service.
For the past year, fans have been following Lyle’s battle online, with the family sharing every aspect of his cancer treatment. Whether he was receiving chemotherapy or spending quality time with his children, Lyle has wanted his followers to be part of his journey.
Sadly, the most recent posts have captured just how bad things have got for the sporting legend. In one post, he could be seen hooked up to tubes and machines from hospital. Other images show the golfer on “good days” where he ventures outside his hospital room to enjoy the sunshine.
Understandably, the family is asking for privacy at this difficult time.