Michael J. Fox says he doesn't 'fear' death as he opens up about Parkinson's battle and spinal tumor diagnosis

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By Nasima Khatun

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Michael J. Fox has recently opened up about his ongoing health battles and how this has changed his perspective on his life.

Speaking during a new interview with Town&Country, the 62-year-old revealed that he doesn't actually "fear" death amid his Parkinson's battle and spinal tumor diagnosis.

When asked if there's anything that scares him, the former Back To The Future actor replied: "Anything that would put my family in jeopardy," before going on to detail that "he has nightmares about falling into Tracy [his wife] or one of the kids on the street, and them getting hit by a bus."

But in terms of personal fears about his health and mortality, it seems as though he's come to terms with the idea, especially after spending half of his life battling Parkinson's disease.

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Michael J. Fox has lived with Parkinson's since the age of 29. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty

"One day I’ll run out of gas," he told the interviewer. "One day I’ll just say, 'It’s not going to happen. I’m not going out today.' If that comes, I’ll allow myself that. I’m 62 years old."

He continued: "Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And so, no, I don’t fear that."

Elsewhere, Fox also opened up about the injuries he'd sustained over the last few years, describing the medical emergencies as "a tsunami of misfortune."

"That was nothing," he said when discussing his depression a few years ago.

Since then he said he's broken his arm and shoulder, smashed his orbital bone and cheek, and broken his hand.

"My hand got infected and then I almost lost it," he recalled. "It was a tsunami of misfortune."

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The actor has come to terms with his own mortality. Credit: Noam Galai/Getty

The actor first discovered he had the degenerative condition when he was just 29 years old in 1991, after he complained of a twitching little finger and a sore shoulder.

Fox didn't go public with his diagnosis for another seven years, dealing with the illness by drinking excessively behind the scenes.

But after a reality check, he decided to get some help with his addiction his life back on track.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he described Parkinson's as a "gift."

"I always say Parkinson's is a gift and people say to me, 'How can you possibly describe it as a gift?' And I say, 'It is the gift that keeps on taking, but it is a gift,'" he explained. "I'm really happy with the way my life has turned out and I love the chance I have to be of service."

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Michael J. Fox has campaigned for greater awareness and treatment for the disease. Credit: Nicholas Hunt/Getty

However, in a previous interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, he also admitted that sometimes it's not always easy being motivated.

"It's getting tougher; every day it gets tougher," he said about living with his condition to Jane Pauley. He described Parkinson's as "the gift that keeps on taking" due to his symptoms, which include tremors, impaired movement, and muscle stiffness.

"My life is set up so I can pack Parkinson's along with me if I have to," he said, to which Pauley replied: "You've not squandered any of your capacity, but at some point Parkinson's is going to call for you isn't it?"

Fox then added: "Yeah, it's banging on the door. I mean, I'm not going to lie it's going to hurt.

"I had spinal surgery. I had a tumor on my spine. And it was benign, but it messed up my walking. And then, started to break stuff. Broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand. Which is a big killer with Parkinson's. It's falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. All these subtle ways that get ya," he said at the time.

But it seems as though the star is doing a lot better mentally now which we're incredibly glad to hear.

Featured Image Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Michael J. Fox says he doesn't 'fear' death as he opens up about Parkinson's battle and spinal tumor diagnosis

vt-author-image

By Nasima Khatun

Article saved!Article saved!

Michael J. Fox has recently opened up about his ongoing health battles and how this has changed his perspective on his life.

Speaking during a new interview with Town&Country, the 62-year-old revealed that he doesn't actually "fear" death amid his Parkinson's battle and spinal tumor diagnosis.

When asked if there's anything that scares him, the former Back To The Future actor replied: "Anything that would put my family in jeopardy," before going on to detail that "he has nightmares about falling into Tracy [his wife] or one of the kids on the street, and them getting hit by a bus."

But in terms of personal fears about his health and mortality, it seems as though he's come to terms with the idea, especially after spending half of his life battling Parkinson's disease.

wp-image-1263235213 size-large
Michael J. Fox has lived with Parkinson's since the age of 29. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty

"One day I’ll run out of gas," he told the interviewer. "One day I’ll just say, 'It’s not going to happen. I’m not going out today.' If that comes, I’ll allow myself that. I’m 62 years old."

He continued: "Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And so, no, I don’t fear that."

Elsewhere, Fox also opened up about the injuries he'd sustained over the last few years, describing the medical emergencies as "a tsunami of misfortune."

"That was nothing," he said when discussing his depression a few years ago.

Since then he said he's broken his arm and shoulder, smashed his orbital bone and cheek, and broken his hand.

"My hand got infected and then I almost lost it," he recalled. "It was a tsunami of misfortune."

wp-image-1263235214 size-full
The actor has come to terms with his own mortality. Credit: Noam Galai/Getty

The actor first discovered he had the degenerative condition when he was just 29 years old in 1991, after he complained of a twitching little finger and a sore shoulder.

Fox didn't go public with his diagnosis for another seven years, dealing with the illness by drinking excessively behind the scenes.

But after a reality check, he decided to get some help with his addiction his life back on track.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he described Parkinson's as a "gift."

"I always say Parkinson's is a gift and people say to me, 'How can you possibly describe it as a gift?' And I say, 'It is the gift that keeps on taking, but it is a gift,'" he explained. "I'm really happy with the way my life has turned out and I love the chance I have to be of service."

wp-image-1263235215 size-full
Michael J. Fox has campaigned for greater awareness and treatment for the disease. Credit: Nicholas Hunt/Getty

However, in a previous interview with CBS Sunday Mornings, he also admitted that sometimes it's not always easy being motivated.

"It's getting tougher; every day it gets tougher," he said about living with his condition to Jane Pauley. He described Parkinson's as "the gift that keeps on taking" due to his symptoms, which include tremors, impaired movement, and muscle stiffness.

"My life is set up so I can pack Parkinson's along with me if I have to," he said, to which Pauley replied: "You've not squandered any of your capacity, but at some point Parkinson's is going to call for you isn't it?"

Fox then added: "Yeah, it's banging on the door. I mean, I'm not going to lie it's going to hurt.

"I had spinal surgery. I had a tumor on my spine. And it was benign, but it messed up my walking. And then, started to break stuff. Broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand. Which is a big killer with Parkinson's. It's falling and aspirating food and getting pneumonia. All these subtle ways that get ya," he said at the time.

But it seems as though the star is doing a lot better mentally now which we're incredibly glad to hear.

Featured Image Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty