Michael J. is best known for his role as Marty McFly in the classic movie Back to the Future. Fox has been battling Parkinson’s disease since the 1990s. Despite the disease’s relentless progression, Fox has maintained unwavering optimism, describing Parkinson’s disease as “the gift that keeps on giving” in a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning.
But this time it wasn’t his heroic battle with Parkinson’s that got him recognized, but his incredible film achievements. He added some excitement to the somber event by receiving a well-deserved lifetime achievement award. Let’s take a closer look at this amazing story. The 61-year-old icon hit the red carpet at the Spring Moving Image Awards in New York.
With him were his 28-year-old twin children, Aquinna Kathleen Fox and Schuyler Frances Fox, and his loving wife, Tracy Pollan, who shared her love and support. A year after the release of Back to the Future Part 3 in 1990, Fox’s life reached a turning point when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and entered a new world of obstacles.
In an interview with Jane Powley, Fox candidly stated, “It smacks of Parkinson’s… The fight is getting tougher by the day, but that’s the nature of things.”
Parkinson’s disease causes progressive damage to different parts of the brain over many years, leading to tremors, limited movement and muscle stiffness. Always a fighter, Fox described the many ailments he suffered as a result of the illness, including multiple falls that left him with fractures to his face and other parts of his body and a benign tumor on his spine.
“You’re not going to die of Parkinson’s. “Parkinson’s will kill you,” he boldly claimed. It affects you in subtle ways. “I won’t live to be 80.” However, Fox maintains a unique perspective, adding, “I recognize the difficulties this disease brings to others and to me.”
But I have a special skill that helps me overcome these challenges. I understand the importance of staying positive through gratitude. Finding things to be grateful for gives you hope and encouragement to move forward.
In 2000, Fox founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, a charity dedicated to improving research and funding for the treatment and cure of Parkinson’s disease. To date, the fund has raised $1.75 billion, making a significant contribution to this venture.
The foundation recently supported groundbreaking research that successfully identified a breakthrough biomarker for Parkinson’s disease that could revolutionize the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.
The results of this study were published and became a turning point in Parkinson’s disease research. “This is going to change everything,” Fox said optimistically. We understand where we are now. “Within five years, we will be able to identify and predict vulnerabilities and identify appropriate treatment options.”
In addition to his commitment to medical research, Fox’s personal life is closely intertwined with his philanthropic work. Foxx, who is married to Tracy Pollan and has four children, has announced he will retire from acting in 2020 and has pledged to devote his time and energy to charity.
He received the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Governors Awards in November for his outstanding contribution to charity. Despite his retirement, Foxx produces documentaries for Apple TV that demonstrate his unwavering dedication to his craft and the power of stories.
For example, Michael J. Fox’s indomitable spirit lights the way for those affected by Parkinson’s disease and inspires others to rise to their challenges.
