Eric Dane has made a heartwrenching vow to fight until his last breath after being diagnosed with ALS.
The 52-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Euphoria, is on a mission to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Dane is advocating for the reauthorization of the ACT for ALS bill, a law that aims to fund crucial research for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
A Heartfelt Vow to Fight for His Daughters
On Monday (September 29), the Countdown star, who has been living with ALS since his diagnosis earlier this year, traveled to Washington to meet with US Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, alongside members of the nonprofit I AM ALS.
In a TikTok video shared by US Rep. Eric Swalwell, Dane opened up about his journey with the disease and the challenges of getting diagnosed.
“ALS is the last thing they want to diagnose anybody with,” he explained. “So often, it takes all this time for these people to be diagnosed; well, then it precludes them from being a part of these clinical trials.”
He emphasized the importance of ACT for ALS and shared his emotional commitment to fighting the illness for his daughters: Billie Beatrice, 15, and Georgia Geraldine, 13, whom he shares with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.
"I have two daughters at home. I want to see them graduate college, get married, maybe have grandkids. You know, I want to be there for all that. So I'm going to fight to the last breath on this one," he said.
Subtle Signs and the Struggles of Diagnosis
Dane’s battle with the debilitating condition has been a deeply personal journey.
In a powerful interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, the Euphoria star shared the subtle signs of ALS that he initially ignored.
He described the first symptom as what he believed to be hand fatigue, something he attributed to texting too much or overuse. However, the weakness in his right hand continued to worsen, prompting him to see specialists before finally receiving his diagnosis after nine months.
But by then, the disease has already progressed to the point where only his left arm still functions, and he fears it will soon be affected as well.
“My dominant side, my left side is functioning, my right side has completely stopped working,” he said. “I feel like maybe a couple, a few more months, and I won't have my left hand either. It’s sobering.”
The progression of ALS has left Dane with a deep sense of urgency to raise awareness, not just for himself but for others affected by the disease.
"I'm angry because my father was taken from me when I was young, and now there's a very good chance I'm going to be taken from my girls while they're very young,” he said, referencing his father’s suicide when he was just seven years old.
Despite the devastating progression of his condition, the father-of-two remains resolute in his mission.
His advocacy for ALS research and the ACT for ALS bill represents a deep commitment to changing the future for ALS patients.
“Together, we’ll renew the landmark law Act for ALS, give promising treatments to thousands of patients like me, and finally, finally, push towards ending this disease,” he said in his video supporting the Push for Progress campaign.