Michael J. Fox was 29 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease but only went public with the information 7 years later. On January 20th of last year, the 62-year-old actor released a film about his journey battling the incurable disease while maintaining his career and coping to later becoming one of the most outspoken figures in the collective battle against Parkinson’s. His work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation resulted in funding the latest breakthrough in understanding Alzheimer’s. This is why Michael J. Fox kept his illness a secret for 7 years.
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Michael J. Fox opens up about his diagnosis
In 2018, Michael J. Fox spoke to People magazine about his reaction to the diagnosis. Fox said that he took to drinking heavily. He attempted to hide the bottles from his wife due to the difficulty he faced when trying to cope.
He recalls a morning when his wife found him passed out on the floor. She made it apparent that she was ‘over it’, he said that she asked him before leaving:
Is this what you want? Is this what you want to be?
This was the turning point that reshaped the actor’s perspective and led him to start his foundation to collect money for Parkinson’s research.
The actor also opened up about the other health issues that he faced up until his retirement in 2020 due to his symptoms. He said:
I had spinal surgery. I had a tumor on my spine. And it was benign, but it messed up my walking. And then, started to break stuff.
Broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand. Which is a big killer with Parkinson's
It's falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. All these subtle ways that get you.
You don't die from Parkinson's. You die with Parkinson's. So I've been thinking about the mortality of it. I'm not gonna be 80. I'm not going to be 80
When addressing the reason he kept his illness hidden for seven years he stated:
Yeah I didn't know what it was going to do, how it was going to manifest itself.
I didn't know what to expect and no one could really tell me what to expect.
Michael J. Fox has now lived with Parkinson's for more than half of his life. Despie the numurous hurdles and struggles, the actor remains committed to be a driving force pushing Parkinson's research forward.
Read more:
⋙ Miriam Margolyes launched Alzheimer’s campaign due to tragic link to the disease
⋙ Coleen Nolan diagnosed with cancer: Here's how the disease has plagued her family
⋙ Sheila Hancock: Both of her husbands died of the same tragic disease, here's what we know
Sources:
Daily Mail: Inside Michael J. Fox's 30-year battle with Parkinson's: How the Back To The Future legend kept his diagnosis secret for seven years before turning his story into a celebrated documentary - as he receives a standing ovation from stars at the BAFTAs
CBS: Michael J. Fox talks funding breakthrough research for Parkinson's disease
