There are so many out there who show us the road to a better life, but we don’t necessarily know their name or their potential impact. That is not the case with one of my personal heroes, Michael J. Fox. Like so many of us, I have watched the trajectory of his career go from a young superstar to an actor leading the path to understanding of an extremely debilitating disease. Michael doesn’t step back, he charges into his diagnosis, and he lets us know how he and others thrive with the many challenges of a degenerative disorder.

In 1992, Michael, who prefers to be called Mike, was at the height of an amazing career. We first knew him as Alex P. Keaton on the show Family Ties, and then he became a household name playing the protagonist Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy. Many television and movie roles built his resume, and we fell in love with this 5’4” actor, who became a giant in our minds. No doubt, the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease had to crush him, his dreams and hopes for robust opportunities in an industry that focuses on perfection. There is nothing perfect about being vulnerable to health issues, and I am sure that there were countless dark days for Mike and his family.

However, like the principal character he played in Back to the Future, Michael J. Fox not only survived, continuing with his acting career, but he became an activist, began a foundation that has just celebrated his 20th anniversary, raising a billion dollars, and has kept this health issue in the forefront of our minds. None of us is immune, and all of us are vulnerable. We must never forget any of those words, that concept. It is too easy to assume that happens to “the other guy.”

I read the recent article in People Magazine (okay, busted…I have always loved it, although at this point, I know fewer and fewer of those mentioned, another concomitant of advanced age) about Mike and knew I needed to explore his thoughts more fully. He speaks to 2018 when he was recovering from a painful spinal surgery and had a bad fall, breaking his arm. “I felt so sorry for myself,” he said. “But ultimately, I connected to gratitude.”

Michael J. Fox goes on, in the article, to state that “you can be an optimist and a realist at the same time.” Those words have resonated with me more than I can say, since that is my belief, as well. He says, “I can endeavor to change my situation, but if I don’t accept it, I can’t move forward.” Wow! That is so much my belief. 

I would not be forthcoming if I didn’t explain what that statement means to me. I am certainly not comparing Parkinson’s Disease to anything that I know firsthand. It is impactful on one’s health in every way, and I pray for the day when it will be eradicated, a thing of the past. But I do believe that we are all challenged at different times in our lives, and getting in touch with our gratitude, our positivity, is a most powerful goal for all of us. Otherwise, how will we deal with those challenges? Each month at our Ostomy Support Groups I see my peers share their acceptance of their stomas with each other, offer suggestions and answers to problems. We remind each other that we are strong, capable, determined, supported and loved. And we remind each other that we can pick ourselves up, just like my personal hero, Mike.

 

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