'I’m not gonna be 80': Michael J Fox says battle with Parkinson's disease keeps getting 'tougher'
AUSTIN, TEXAS: Michael J Fox, the iconic actor known for his roles in 'Back to the Future' and 'Family Ties', was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease in 1991, when he was only 29 years old. In a recent interview, he opened up about his battle with the disease and how he's remained optimistic despite its challenges.
At present, he feels it's getting tougher and he can't imagine living until he is 80. "My life is set up so I can pack Parkinson's along with me if I have to," he told the anchor Jane Pauley on 'CBS Sunday Morning' in the interview excerpts of which were released on Saturday.
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'Every day it's tougher'
In the interview, which will be streamed on April 30 on Paramount, Fox talks about a wide range of subjects including his life today and the recent breakthrough in research by his foundation identifying a genetic biomarker that could lead to earlier diagnosis.
"You've not squandered any of your capacity. But at some point, Parkinson's gonna make the call for you, isn't it?" Jane Pauley asks Fox to which he replies, "Yeah, it's, it's banging on the door. Yeah, I mean, I'm not gonna lie. It's gettin' hard, it's gettin' harder. It's gettin' tougher. Every day it's tougher. But, but, that's, that's the way it is. I mean, you know, who do I see about that?"
He continues, "I had spinal surgery. I had a tumor on my spine. And – and – and it was benign, but it messed up my walking. … And then, started to break stuff. Bro, broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand."
Fox has continued to be active in both his personal and professional lives despite the difficulties of having Parkinson's disease. In 2000, he established the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which has since grown to be the largest nonprofit supporter of Parkinson's research worldwide. Fox's wife, Tracey Pollan, has also been a source of strength for him.
'I'm not gonna be 80. I'm not gonna be 80'
On being asked about "falling on the things" by the show host, Fox said, "Which is a big killer with Parkinson's. It's falling … and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. All these subtle ways that gets ya'. … You don't die from Parkinson's. You die with Parkinson's. So – so I've been – I've been thinking about the mortality of it. … I'm not gonna be 80. I'm not gonna be 80."