When Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it sent shockwaves throughout the world. In fact, when he first heard the news, he was devastated. He refused to accept this tragedy lightly. He began to drown himself in alcohol and melancholy, spending seven years alone. He realized the need for assisting others rather quickly.This was when he became one of the world’s most prominent Parkinson’s disease advocates. He spent the majority of his time working to raise money for research into a cure. His condition is not a secret, and he continues to demonstrate kindness and respect for those who are coping with it.
During an interview, he stated, “After I released my diagnosis in 1998, I began to understand that Parkinson’s entails two things to think about. You have to deal with the disease and people’s perceptions of it. It was simple for me to tune into how others were gazing at me and seeing their own terror reflected back.
“I’d tell them, ‘I’m doing well,’ because I was. The disconnect between how I felt and the dread that others were projecting eventually became amusing to me.”
Many persons contacted him after he was diagnosed with the condition to show their support. However, there was one phone call that altered everything. It stayed with him for a long time. “Muhammad Ali called me at home,” he remembered. And in this raspy, paper-thin voice, he continued, ‘Aah
Instead of being afraid of the future, he decided to go forward. He established the Michael J. Fox Foundation as a result of his experience. This assists other persons who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease by providing financial and emotional support. The organization also offers others an opportunity to assist. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised $700 million in
He said, “A funny thing happened. Doctors reached out to me. And I reached out to doctors. More important, the Parkinson’s community reached out to me, and I immediately felt better, just empowered, knowing there were people who understood what I was going through. It was also empowering for physicians, specialists and researchers I began meeting all over the country.”
Fox’s health is not ideal, but he claims that it is no longer excruciating recently. He described, “My visible symptoms are distracting, but none of them hurt. The only real pain I get is in my feet, which sometimes shuffle and curl up in cramps when I’m sleeping – which is why I keep a very stiff pair of shoes on the floor next to my bed.”
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease yet. However, his doctors were able to discover a combination of medicines that helped him the most. This made him feel better than he did when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease for the first time.
Despite his condition, he refused to give up working in the entertainment sector. He also made certain that if given the opportunity, he would discuss his health, his Foundation, and his real feelings regarding the illness.
