This fatty liver disease diagnosis reminded me heroes are human

When I was a teenager, I fell in love with football. Growing up in Utah, a place that still doesn’t have an NFL franchise, meant that choosing a team was less about geography and more about vibe.

I’ve lived in Baltimore for decades, so, of course, I cheer for the Ravens. But even here, purple pride has some competition. Steelers fans are everywhere, and Washington Commanders fans also hold their own.

Back in high school, though, I had the freedom to choose any team I wanted, so I picked the Miami Dolphins.

My boyfriend at the time wasn’t impressed. “You just have a crush on Dan Marino,” he teased. “Pick a real team.”

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His tone was playful, but he wasn’t wrong. Marino was crush material. That aqua-orange-white uniform? The effortless swagger? The 1980s mullet that somehow worked? Between the Dolphins’ color palette and the glow of “Miami Vice” ruling television at the time, the whole look felt irresistible. Plenty of girls fell in love with football because of Marino. I was just honest enough to admit it.

This week, while digging through my usual research for this column, I stumbled on something I never expected: Dan Marino and I share something more personal than an old teenage crush. He recently revealed that, like me, he lives with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Suddenly, my childhood hero felt a lot closer to home.

It’s tempting to think someone like Marino — who at 64 is still broad-shouldered and athletic, and still very much the guy whose posters sold out in sporting goods stores — could never have liver disease. But time makes equals of all of us. Diet, activity level, aging bodies — none of it cares how many touchdowns you threw.

Marino shared his story in People magazine on his birthday. He said he was diagnosed with fatty liver disease in 2007.

Playing the long game

I once saw him at a steakhouse years ago, holding court with a table of fellow football legends. He ordered a massive steak and the richest sides on the menu. He caught me staring — embarrassingly — and smiled. My date nudged me back to reality, but there was no competing with Marino, not in my mind. I was far too shy to approach him, and frankly, my poor date was already losing patience with my tomato-red blushing.

But that memory stuck with me for a reason: Heroes are human. They age, they gain weight, they receive diagnoses, they grapple with the same health issues the rest of us face. One day, you’re a world-class athlete, and decades later, you’re sitting in a doctor’s office hearing about MASH.

What sets people apart is what they do next.

Marino decided to go public with his diagnosis so more people would pay attention to their health, especially the millions walking around with fatty liver disease and no idea they have it. Since getting serious about his condition, he’s been following his doctor’s advice: eating a Mediterranean-style diet, staying mindful of alcohol, and working out regularly.

He’s still going strong. And after all these years, he’s still one of my heroes — maybe even more so now. He’s proving something that’s easy to forget: Vulnerability isn’t weakness. Sometimes it’s the most human — and most heroic — play a person can make.

Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.

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