The actor from ‘Back to the Future’ discussed his present perspective on life while coping with Parkinson’s illness.
Michael J. Fox is dedicated to maintaining a positive mindset while living with Parkinson’s disease for almost three decades.
The 62-year-old actor from the movie Back to the Future discussed his experience of living with Parkinson’s disease, a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system, and how it has influenced his perspective on life in an article for Town & Country’s Philanthropy issue.
“I’ve always maintained that Parkinson’s is a blessing,” he informed the newspaper. “It’s the present that continues to have an impact, but it has transformed my life in numerous beneficial ways.”
One method is by creating the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which supports research to find medications for those with Parkinson’s disease.
Despite his ongoing positive outlook on his personal well-being, Fox shared his experiences of dealing with health challenges throughout the years, some of which were related to his Parkinson’s condition and others that were not.
He not only underwent spine surgery that might have left him paraplegic, but he also experienced many falls that caused fractures in both arms, his hand, and injuries to his orbital bone and cheek, among others. “It felt like an overwhelming wave of bad luck,” he described.
The actor, however, characterizes himself as a “resilient individual” who is unafraid of his battle with health issues – or even mortality.
“Someday I will run out of fuel,” Fox stated. One day I will simply state, “It is not going to occur.” I won’t be leaving the house today. If that happens, I will permit myself to do so. I am 62 years of age. Indeed, if I were to die tomorrow, it would be untimely, but not unprecedented. And no, I do not have any fear of it.
In May, Fox shared with PEOPLE about the extent of his Parkinson’s symptoms, noting that he prefers not to contemplate what the future could hold.
“I genuinely live each day as it comes,” he stated. “I cherish every moment and I have affection for each day.”
The typical age at which people die is 77. “It’s not that extreme,” he continued with a chuckle.
In addition to that, Fox expressed appreciation for being able to achieve a lot. “If someone had told me at the age of 29, when they had just diagnosed it, that at 61 I would still be actively involved in promoting a film and that my life would be so fulfilling, I would never have expected it,” he said with PEOPLE around that period.
“I’m cautiously optimistic, but mostly optimistic, not as cautious as my family would say,” added Fox, who has four children, Sam, 34, twins Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and Esmé, 22, with his wife of 35 years, Tracy Pollan, 63.
