Bravery often comes in many different forms. But regardless of form, the act of courage by ourselves or by others can allow us to overcome fears and live our lives to the fullest. If you’re familiar with the show Family Ties or the Back To The Future trilogy, then you’re familiar with Michael J. Fox, who has proved to be quite an anomaly and brave individual in the acting realm. Besides winning many awards, he’s also one of the most iconic actors to grace the silver screen. He’s best known for being true to himself and showing grit in the toughest of times.
In 2000, he announced to the world that he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease seven years prior at the very young age of 29. This news was unwelcome, especially since it came at the height of his career. By this time, he had been in several box office hits and was gearing up to do more. However, his doctors told him that his time on-screen was limited. Though they gave him a ten-year timeline and advised him to step away from the screen, he did just the opposite and kept acting. We have since seen him in shows like Spin City, Stuart Little, and Scrubs, just to name a few.
He defied doctors’ advice regarding his life’s work and refused to give up. He immediately started a research foundation for PD called the Michael J Fox Foundation (MJFF), which has raised over $1.5 billion to help research causes and possible solutions. Today, MJFF is the largest non-profit funder of Parkinson’s drug development. Mr. Fox has not only remained grateful in the face of adversity; he has used his platform and power to help others that suffer from the same disease.
Michael J. Fox has been nominated for or won almost every award within his field. He’s been the recipient of several lifetime achievement awards, been nominated for Grammys and won Emmys, etc. He also went on to author 4 New York Times Bestselling books to let people know that Parkinson’s Disease doesn’t have to define your entire life and that optimism and gratitude go a long way and can help heal.
All of the accolades, achievements, and accomplishments aside, an accurate picture starts to shine when you look at his actions upon diagnosis. Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991 at 29. But, instead of folding and giving in as his doctors constructed a fragile timeline, he decided that he was going to build his own. And through perseverance, grit, resilience, and possible thinking, he could accomplish so much more, not just for himself but for people who suffered from the same disease. And he’s still at it to this day.
