We all remember him. In Back to the Future. Was there anyone that didn’t see that movie? Michael J. Fox was the personification of youthfulness, of hope and of dreaming of the future. Little did he know that just a decade later, his main acting challenge would be to act like someone who didn’t have Parkinson’s.
He noticed the first muscle tremor at the height of his career, while filming “Doc Hollywood” in Florida. It was his pinky finger. It wouldn’t stop twitching. It would be a year before he found out why.
He was interviewed in July 2018 and expanded on his facing the disease, moving forward and doing all he can to help find a cure.
Fox’s doctor told him, “You have 10 years left to work…” Fox was taken aback by the words ‘degenerative’, ‘progressive’ and ‘no cure’.
There was a long, private struggle before he went public. Fox said, “I took seven years between the time when I was diagnosed and when I went public with it. So, I took a long, selfish period of time when I just dealt with how it affected me and was concerned with me.”
He revealed his diagnosis in 1998, and testified before Congress. In 2000 he went all-in. Fox formed a team to raise money targeted for research that would lead to improved treatments to slow, stop and reverse the progression of the disease–and someday find a cure. To date, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised more than $800 million from private donations.
As happy-go-lucky as I seem to be and as at-ease with this as I seem to be, I mean, it sucks. I hate it! And I wish I wasn’t in this situation, but it’s been one of the great gifts of my life that I’ve been in the position to take my view of the suckitude of it and merge it with other people’s view of the suckitude of it and try to find an answer. ~Michael J. Fox
Fox says he’s not expecting a cure in his lifetime, but he is expecting vastly-improved therapies.
Fox is more than just the face of Parkinson’s, with two best-selling memoirs, “Lucky Man” and “Always Looking Up,” an indomitable spirit and optimism, he’s the face of hope.
At 57, Michael J. Fox is a grateful man. When asked if he thought he would be remembered for the ‘Back to the Future” movies, or for a cure for Parkinson’s, he said,
I had a moment with somebody and they said, “Someday there’s gonna be a cure for Parkinson’s and it’s gonna be because of you.” And to me this was the first time that it really struck me. And I didn’t–and not that I took it seriously, but I feel part of something that is much more special–if it happens it’s much more special than any movie or TV show.
My prayers are with him and all people who suffer from Parkinson’s.
Sending you blessings of love and gratitude from Sterrett, Alabama!
Charity
Copyright © Charity M. Richey-Bentley
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