Michael J. Fox was a panelist
at the California Governor and First Lady’s Conference in Long Beach this
week. The onetime actor is now
head of a foundation that raises money for Parkinson’s disease, having been
diagnosed at the peak of his career in 1991.
The panel was entitled “Men We Love”, and also included surfer Laird
Hamilton and hip hop pioneer Russell Simmons. The panelists were all described
as “men who are using their voices to change the world.”
Fox, unquestionably, had the most riveting comments. In the past, one
could barely tell he was afflicted with Parkinson’s. But the disease has clearly progressed in recent years. The once subtle trembles are now
pronounced – and have spread to his legs and feet, which visibly shook
throughout the hour-long symposium.
Here are some excerpts from his poignant remarks.
On dealing with Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s has been a gift….that keeps on taking (big laugh)! No seriously, I have found blessing in it. When I first got diagnosed, my reaction was to double up on my drinking. It was a dark period. Then, I thought, I really need to deal with this in a clear-eyed way. So, instead of denying it, I accepted it. And, what I learned is that happiness grows in direction proportion with acceptance. I’m not me minus all that Parkinson’s has taken from me: my loss of freedom and spontaneity. I am me plus what it has given me. I’ve learned it is better to acknowledge something, be honest about it and move forward.
Life Principals
I believe in gratitude. Life is a great ride. You need to recognize that you aren’t on the ride alone. People are there to help. And, you should be available to help others.
Wife Tracy Pollan, mother of their four children
When I got diagnosed, people always said, she’s such a rock and a martyr. I say, hey she got a pretty good deal too (big laugh)! The thing I love best about her is that she is so funny. That means more to me than anything else. She is the funniest person I’ve ever met. We are both thrilled about how our lives have progressed. And, getting back to the blessings from Parkinson’s, four or five years after my diagnosis, and after my drinking- like-crazy period, I wanted to have another baby. We only had one son at the time. Tracy said the timing wasn’t right. The about a year later, when things had calmed down we were watching our son play and she said “he’ll be such a good brother”. And she was basically saying to me it was ok to try for another child. Well, she got pregnant that year and we found out she was having twins. It was like a gift. It was like God saying “I see you bet, now double it down”.
The Power of Prayer
I’ve always had a somewhat unorthodox view of religion. I was never part of a particular group. I was basically like I know there is a God and I know it’s not me. When I first got diagnosed, thousands of people kept saying to me and in letters, “we are praying for you, you are in our prayers, we are thinking good thoughts for you”. And I sat down and thought about that. What does it mean, people are praying for me? All I can tell you is it feels good. It is better to have that, than not to have it.
Stem Cell Research
We are funding research, with the foundation, all over the world. I know there are people who are against it and want to block it. I wouldn’t change their opinion for anything in the world. They believe what they believe. But I believe it is necessary and I’m going to do everything I can to raise money and move forward.
Michael J. Fox has a book coming out this spring.
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