The bright and clever Martin McFly represents youth wildness and the spirit of adventure
If only Michael J. Fox from 'Back to The Future' could indeed dip into the future...
Could he ever imagine what struggles life had prepared for him?
Find out in our video what misfortunes befell Michael J. Fox
Following the world premiere of 'Back to The Future' in the early 80’s,
Michael J. Fox became a rising star of cinematography
Hollywood marked Michael as a promising young actor
And he was showered with cast offers.
Michael didn't miss any opportunities to act in sensational films and TV series,
such as Teen Wolf, Casualties of War and many others we know so well.
While filming the Doc Hollywood TV series, Michael, aged 29, noticed something strange going on with him.
His popularity was growing stronger and thousands of fans lined up to take an autograph
Being at the peak of his career, one day J. Fox experienced muscle tremors all over his body.
During his interview with a friend, Jane Pauley, she noticed his pinky finger wouldn’t stop twitching.
Pauley had a feeling that the actor was distracted but didn’t pay it much attention,
nor did Michael J. Fox himself.
It was just a year before he found out what was really going on with him.
Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
A young and strong actor, who had dozens of great roles ahead
Instead he had to change his make-up seat for a hospital wheelchair,
and his scripts for medical prescriptions.
Parkinson's disease is fraught with the loss of smell, tremors, trouble walking and constipation
It affects not only normal life but can also affect relationships
But Michael’s wife endured it alongside her husband
Tracy has been through the most horrifying moments beside Fox
He once said: “I won the lottery in the wife department”
Fox’s wife has supported him through all these difficult years.
Giving hope to other Parkinson’s patients that family life can be saved
Fox recalls his reaction to doctors: "Do you know who I am? This is ridiculous. You can't tell me that!'
Michael was shocked with the diagnosis and decided to keep the disease a secret.
His main struggle was to play the character, Mike Flaherty, whose limbs were not supposed to shake.
It was not until the hundredth episode that he finally talked publicly about his illness.
In the early 2000's medicine was far from curing Parkinson's
Michael was sure that his career was over….
Fox realized that there were so little efforts focused on Parkinson's disease
He was not the only one who was suffering: thousands of people were desperately looking for a cure
His strength of mind forced him to change that situation.
Michael J. Fox established the Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
to give a grasp of hope not only for himself but for thousands of people around the world.
Despite his dire circumstances, Michael didn’t give up
His sense of humor remains with him even now.
In 2013 he produced and starred in a sitcom about a news anchor
who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s
But critics were not one-shot, calling the show “studiously un-bad to the point of blandness”
At the same time saying that J. Fox shows promise for his career.
Can J. Fox still hope for a cure, and might is his greatest role still be waiting for him?
Only time will show but it often backfires too.
It's impossible to go Back to The Future.
All we can do is hope that the common efforts of science and medicine
will open the door to the real future that Parkinson’s patients, including Fox, are hoping for
The Foundation has already spent 800 million dollars to develop a cure
It is now the hub for the world’s collaboration in Parkinson’s research
The Fund also provides additional help for diminishing life and injuries as the collateral effects of the disease
Thanks for watching. Click on the Ossa icon to subscribe to our YouTube channel.