Michael J. Fox has reflected on his ‘tsunami of misfortune’ after he had multiple serious medical issues within a short period of time.
The actor, 62, has previously told how 2018 was one of his worst years after he had spinal cord surgery to remove a benign tumour and then broke his arm soon afterwards.
The tumour, which was unrelated to his Parkinson’s, threatened to paralyse him so he had the surgery, but during his four-month rehabilitation, he then fell over in his kitchen and broke his upper arm.
Speaking to Town & Country for its November issue, Michael told how the injuries now seem like ‘nothing’ as he has since broken his other arm, shoulder and hand.
Michael, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 at age 29, also smashed his orbital bone and almost lost his hand after it became infected.
Health: Michael J. Fox has reflected on his ‘tsunami of misfortune’ after he had multiple medical issues within a short period of time
Hard time: The actor, 62, has previously told how 2018 was one of his worst years after he had spinal cord surgery to remove a benign tumour and then broke his arm soon afterwards
He told the publication of his health struggles: ‘My hand got infected and then I almost lost it. It was a tsunami of misfortune.’
The Back to the Future star admitted he ditched his ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’ philosophy amid the series of injuries, and thought ‘I’m out of the lemonade business’ when he fell in his kitchen.
Elsewhere in the interview, Michael spoke about his Parkinson’s disease and told how he is not afraid of dying as he opened up about his current outlook on life.
He said: ‘Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And so, no, I don’t fear that.’
However, he told how he is fearful of anything that would put his family – his wife Tracy Pollan and four children Sam, Aquinnah, Schuyler and Esme – in ‘jeopardy’.
Michael has been living with Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis at 29 in 1991, while he went public with the news in 1998, and has devoted himself to finding a cure through his foundation.
He retired from acting in 2020 due to his symptoms – which have included tremors, impaired movement, coordination and muscle stiffness.
Honest: Elsewhere in the interview, Michael spoke about his Parkinson’s disease and told how he is not afraid of dying as he opened up about his current outlook on life
Love: However, he told how he is fearful of anything that would put his family – his wife Tracy Pollan and four children Sam, Aquinnah, Schuyler and Esme – in ‘jeopardy’
Read the full story in Town & Country’s November 2023 Tenth Annual Philanthropy issue – out now
Earlier this year, Michael spoke candidly about the painful realities of living with the disorder in an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings.
He confesses that life with Parkinson’s is getting ‘tougher’ every day, adding: ‘But, that’s the way it is and who do I see about that?’
‘You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s. So I’ve been thinking about the mortality of it. I’m not gonna be 80. I’m not gonna be 80,’ he added.
Michael J. Fox Foundation has become the largest non-profit funder of Parkinson’s disease research in the world, with more than $1billion of research projects to date.
Read the full story in Town & Country’s November 2023 Tenth Annual Philanthropy issue – out now.
