Michael J. Fox has long lived with complications from his Parkinsonās disease battle, but he remains as stubborn as ever in the face of great difficulty.
Since his diagnosis in the early 1990s, the now-retired actor has become the face of the struggle against the crippling disease, dedicated himself to encouraging research and understanding.
Recently, the Back to the Future star has spoken openly about his difficulties with the condition, acknowledging that his health is deteriorating and declaring that he does not expect to live to be 80 years old.
Historically, the 61-year-old has projected positivity about his Parkinsonās diagnosis, but he has never hidden the toll it has had on his health and well-being.
In a recent interview, Fox addressed his mortality, noting that living with Parkinsonās disease was āgetting tougher.ā
āIām not gonna lie. Itās gettinā hard, itās gettinā harder. Itās gettinā tougher,ā Fox told CBS Sunday Morning anchor Jane Pauley.
āEvery day itās tougher. But, but, thatās, thatās the way it is. I mean, you know, who do I see about that?ā
He also mentioned that he recently underwent spinal surgery after a tumor on his spine was discovered. While it was harmless, it impacted his ability to walk and caused him to tumble.: ā[I] broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand,ā Fox told Pauley.
āYou donāt die from Parkinsonās. You die with Parkinsonās,ā Fox concluded. āIāve been thinking about the mortality of it. ā¦ Iām not gonna be 80. Iām not gonna be 80.ā
Foxās battle with the brain disorder, which he was diagnosed with in 1991 after noticing a tremor in his pinkie finger, has once again come to the fore in the lead-up to the release of his new documentary Still, which chronicles the actorās life over the past three decades.
As per reports, he admits in the film: āIām in intense pain. Each tremor is like a seismic jolt.ā
He elaborated on the statement in a new interview he said: āItās not so much pain from the movement, but from the not moving. Itās when you freeze, and in that freezing that not-movement becomes infused with all this energy and it becomes this burning, impending thing that never happens.
āI donāt want to get the violins out. Iāve broken my hand, my elbow, my humerus, my other humerus, my shoulder, my face and some other sā too. And all that stuff is amplified by the electricity of the tremors. So, yes, it hurts a lot. But what you learn is that nobody gives a sā. Itās just life. It doesnāt matter. You suck it up and you move on. And there might be a story to tell in it. But only that. Thereās no chit that you can present to a window for a refund.ā
Ever determined to remain optimistic despite his obvious struggles, Fox gallantly promised that heās not āgoing anywhereā.
Because to his failing health, the actor announced his retirement in 2021: āThe depression is [not] so deep that Iām going to injure myself ā¦ it always comes back to a place where I go, āWell, thereās more to celebrate in my life than there is to mourn.ā The pain speaks for itself. You either tolerate it or you donāt. And Iām not going anywhere.ā
Watch Foxās documentary trailer below (or click here):
I donāt know about you, but Michael J. Foxās resilience in the face of such adversity inspires me. He certainly is a celebrity to look up to.