Berina Colakovic, wife of former rugby league star Jai Arrow, has candidly described the emotional turmoil and dark questions she grapples with as her husband battles motor neurone disease (MND).
"I have moments. I'll be crying on the way to Ayla's daycare and thinking, 'Am I going to be a widow before the age of 40?'" Colakovic shared, expressing her fears about their one-year-old daughter, Ayla, knowing her father and the uncertainty of their future as a family. She admitted to initially being in denial about the severity of Arrow's health issues before his diagnosis.
"The whole time until we got the MND diagnosis in May I just said, 'No, no, it's not that,'" Colakovic told News Corp. The 31-year-old Canadian digital marketer, who met Arrow in 2021, recalled a particularly heartbreaking experience at an MND fundraiser where she witnessed a father significantly affected by the disease, intensifying her own anxieties.
Arrow's MND symptoms first appeared last year with twitching in his left shoulder. The couple, who married in a secret ceremony on July 5, brought their wedding forward due to concerns about Arrow's declining health. Their daughter Ayla was present at the ceremony.
Since Arrow's diagnosis became public, Colakovic said he has been actively involved in various therapies, including a visit to a treatment facility in Spain, and has been a driving force in fundraising efforts. He is also working to organize their family's affairs and plan for Ayla's future, tasks she described as difficult for someone his age.
The sporting community has shown widespread support for Arrow. Rugby league clubs, including his former team Souths, have organized fundraising events. Players across different leagues and countries have dedicated try celebrations to him. The Queensland State of Origin team also included Arrow in their camp and had him present the shield before a recent game.
Despite the challenges, Arrow has expressed a desire to continue living life fully. He plans to travel to New York with his wife and daughter to watch the FIFA World Cup final. The couple also intend to hold a second, more public wedding celebration in Italy later this year, having become engaged in Sicily in October 2024.
Ayla Rae was born in April 2025. Colakovic posted on Instagram about their elopement, thanking friends who witnessed their special day. She also shared photos of the couple celebrating with Ayla, with Arrow in a tuxedo and Colakovic in a white dress and veil.
Colakovic described the outpouring of support as overwhelming and expressed gratitude for the kindness shown by many, including friends named Maddi, Lucy, and Jazz, who helped facilitate their elopement.