Michael J. Fox, the famous Actor from ‘Back To The Future’, gets candid about his health struggles.
Fox who has been battling Parkinson’s disease since 1991, spoke with People magazine about some of the injuries that he has developed as he has gotten older.
“It got worse. I broke my cheek, then my hand, then my shoulder, had a replacement shoulder put in and broke my [right] arm, then I broke my elbow. I’m 61 years old, and I’m feeling it a little bit more,” he explained.
Fox has also had to endure a broken left arm, spinal-cord surgery to remove a tumor, and an infection from a broken hand. This all led him to struggle for balance and have numerous falls.
Fox explained that these setbacks have caused him to become “very cranky.”
“I was never really a cranky guy, but I got very cranky and short with people. I try to nip it in the bud,” he said.
Fox continued saying, “I always think of these aides who work with me. And I often say to them, ‘Whatever I say, just imagine I said “please” at the beginning and “thank you” at the end. Just take a second and absorb that I might have said that if I was more myself, but I didn’t, so I apologize.’”
Despite his health challenges, Fox is choosing to try and remain positive.
Fox said, “Just now I’m coming through where the last of my injuries are healing up; my arm is feeling good. Life is interesting. It deals you these things.”
Fox said, “The whole mission is: Don’t fall down.”
“So whatever works to not fall down, whether it’s a walker or a wheelchair, a cane, a guy with a belt around my waist holding onto it — I use all those tools,” he added.
According to the National Institute on Aging, Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking.
