{"id":19583,"date":"2013-03-28T16:38:22","date_gmt":"2013-03-28T21:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/?p=19583"},"modified":"2014-10-29T11:20:44","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T16:20:44","slug":"michael-j-fox-candidly-talks-about-his-battle-with-parkinsons-disease-and-his-new-tv-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitzness.com\/blog\/michael-j-fox-candidly-talks-about-his-battle-with-parkinsons-disease-and-his-new-tv-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael J. Fox Candidly Talks About his Battle With Parkinson\u2019s Disease and his New TV Show"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: aarp.org, Jeff Lipsky<\/p><\/div>\n

After being diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease at just the young age of 30, Michael J. Fox realized he was battling a powerful illness.\u00a0 After observing that his left pinkie finger had a small twitch, Fox sought medical attention where his doctors broke the devastating news and gave him a timeline; 10 more years to work, tops.\u00a0 But that has not stopped Fox from pressing on.\u00a0 21 years later, he is ready to star in a new NBC sitcom that is roughly based on his life, and focuses on the lighter side of living with Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

No doubt the illness has progressed, as Fox\u2019s muscles involuntarily shake, twitch, and tremble constantly.\u00a0 But his ability to keep a positive attitude and smile on his face has definitely contributed to the fact that he hasn\u2019t let the disease break him.\u00a0 In fact, you can see in his comments below that his ability to joke about himself and keep a light-hearted attitude about his illness has allowed him to count his blessings and enjoy the life he leads.<\/p>\n

On writing Parkinson\u2019s into his character roles<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too difficult to hide it. I could manage it for a scene or so, but it would fall apart over time. As long as I play a guy with Parkinson\u2019s, I can do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

On early fame and appreciating success<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cBy 21, I was earning six figures a week, and by 23, I had a Ferrari. It was nuts. I never stopped to figure that out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not just a lottery winner. You have to respect the work you do and the work others do and how you got there.\u201d<\/p>\n

On his star-making role in Family Ties<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cI negotiated the deal from a phone booth outside of Pioneer Chicken, wishing I had $1.99 for a wing-and-biscuit combo.\u201d<\/p>\n

On maintaining his sense of humor<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m at events and I\u2019m clapping, my mind will stay, \u2018Stop clapping,\u2019 But I just keep going. Tracy says, \u2018You\u2019re always the last one clapping.\u2019 I swear, it\u2019s not out of appreciation\u2014it\u2019s out of disintegration. You have to laugh at that.\u201d<\/p>\n

On his outlook on life<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can accept the truth of: This is what I\u2019m facing\u2014not what can I expect but what I am experiencing now\u2014then I have all this freedom to do other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always aware that there are others who don\u2019t feel so good and can\u2019t express themselves the way I can. That\u2019s no small factor in the way I\u2019ve been able to deal with this.\u201d<\/p>\n

With his new sitcom coming out and his fighting spirit to battle this devastating disease, Michael J. Fox is a true inspiration. For the full article, be sure to check out the feature on aarp.org<\/a>
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