Michael J. Fox's health struggles explored as he highlights the critical role of loved ones in ongoing battle with Parkinson's

Michael J. Fox has shared about his family’s support for him amid his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

In an exclusive interview with People magazine on November 15, he told how his wife, Tracy Pollan and children Sam, Esmé, Aquinnah and Schuyler have been supportive of him. He said:

“All these people are friends of mine, family, and it's really great to see them, and I walk on the red carpet surprised to see them, and I think, 'Well, why should I be surprised?' They've always been there for me, and they continue to be for me, year after year.”

He spoke while attending A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's benefit gala in New York City. The event was co-chaired by Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, and hosted by Denis Leary.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 at the age of 29 and has since shared about his health struggles in various interviews. However, he didn’t make his condition public until 1998.

Continue reading for more information.

Exploring the health struggles of Michael J. Fox

After revealing his illness, Michael J. Fox became a prominent advocate for Parkinson’s research. He founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help generate funds and improve treatments for those affected with the disease. It is a non-profit organization in Canada.

According to Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder of the nervous system that worsens over time. The brain becomes progressively damaged over the years. It involves body tremors as well as slowed movements, slurred speech and other mobility issues.

Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with the disease in 1991 after he started experiencing a tremor in his pinky finger while filming the movie Doc Hollywood. When he consulted a neurologist, it was revealed that he had an early-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Although his symptoms were mild during that time, he was informed that within a few years, he might not be able to continue his work due to the progressive nature of the disease.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, he said:

“It was helpful, to a point. And that’s [the point] where I break stuff. It’s absolutely incredible the stuff I broke. In a three-year period I broke my elbow, I broke my hand, I got a big infection in my hand and I almost lost my finger.”

He added how “terrible” it has been for him since he is not able to play his guitar. He shared that after receiving an infection his bones were cut as they got infected. He also broke his shoulder and cheekbones.

Sharing about his health struggles in a recent interview, Michael J. Fox said:

“I keep getting new challenges physically, and I get through it. I roll around in a wheelchair a lot, and it took some getting used to. You take the good, and you seize it.”

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The Canadian actor shared his diagnosis publicly in 1998, stating that he had been living with the disease for the past seven years. In a recent interview with People magazine, he revealed he was “really nervous” about sharing his diagnosis with his fans. He initially didn’t want to disclose, but eventually decided to open up about it. He said that the response was positive.

He added that his family has been supportive of him throughout the years, which helped him meet the challenges that came with it. His eldest child, Sam (36), is a television producer. His twin daughters, Schuyler and Aquinnah (30) are in production department as well. Esmé (23) is the youngest child, studying at Duke University in North Carolina, and aspires to become an actor.

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