First, I'm going to start this post with a YouTube video clip from a 2006 interview of Michael J. Fox by Katie Couric.
A fantastic Frontline 6-part PBS documentary called "MY FATHER, MY BROTHER, AND ME" aired February 3, 2009. The topic was Parkinson's Disease but so much of what was discussed could apply to many other chronic illnesses.
For some reason the code to embed the video clip here is not working. So I will include the links to the PBS site where you can view it online.
Michael J. Fox was interviewed for this documentary. I'm including two links below... one for the interview with him and another for the documentary itself (in which he's also interviewed).
The first link is to Dave Iverson's interview of Michael J. Fox. It's running time is 19:38. It is divided into 5 parts. I highly recommend watching the whole thing... but the 2nd and 5th parts are particularly interesting to me because Michael J. Fox covers a topic that many chronically ill patients can relate to. He talks about how he would never want to go back to his life before Parkinson's Disease and he says, "somehow I've been able process loss in a way that I see the things that fill those gaps". If you just don't have 19 minutes and 38 seconds to watch the whole interview, focus on these 2 sections:
2. His personal perspective on living with Parkinson's...
This is where he explains how he wouldn't go back to his life before Parkinson's.
5. "For me, right now, this is my life, and I wouldn't trade it for anything..."
This is where he ties up the notion that he is doing what he's meant to be doing at this moment in time and while he'd love to find the answers for Parkinson's (and other illnesses), right now he's doing what he's supposed to be doing (this is a paraphrase... watch the video for his exact words).
VIDEO LINK 1:
Dave Iverson's interview with Michael J. Fox in conjunction with the Frontline 6-part PBS documentary called "MY FATHER, MY BROTHER, AND ME"
I just love, love, love this interview. For so many of us with chronic illnesses, it can be too easy to slip into, "why me?" thinking. For many of us, this mindset slips in briefly during the especially bad times only to be replaced by a more positive outlook of hope and purpose the remainder of the time.
No one wants to be sick. However, to be chronically ill and constantly angry about it is not healthy. What I love about what Michael J. Fox says in this interview is that it is aligned with how I see myself in relation to my illnesses.
Of course I wish I could wake up healthy tomorrow. Who wouldn't? However, I wouldn't go back in time and "erase" any of my illnesses from happening... no matter how much they hurt or challenge me. As Michael J. Fox so eloquently describes in this interview, I believe everything that has happened to me is (my words here) "part of my path".
Here is a link to his foundation:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research
Let's just take the 1st major illness I was diagnosed with. If I hadn't had endometriosis, I would not have been in endo support groups at the local level since 1992. Through these groups, I have met some of the strongest, smartest, most caring, most resourceful, most compassionate people I've ever met. These fellow patients have been by my side as I learned to advocate for myself (and others) when interacting with healthcare professionals. They have checked on me after surgeries. They have called and emailed me to share experiences for mutual support.
If I hadn't had endo, I never would have started this blog. Through this blog, I have learned so much, met so many fantastic people, and given/received so much support.
I completely understand on a fundamental level what Michael J. Fox is talking about. Chronic illness really does change the way one looks at the world. Some might automatically think this to be a negative thing. However, I agree with Michael J. Fox that this can be a very good thing!
One little phrase has gotten me through many years of serious adversity:
"Everything happens for a reason"...
This phrase can be misused and uttered to people at times when it is not helpful. However, this phrase has been EXTREMELY helpful to me in coping with all sorts of things. When bad things happen in my life, I tell myself "everything happens for a reason" to get through the moment. I may not be able to see the reason something happens anytime soon (or even ever) but there have been many times over the years where something happened that I did NOT like at the time. Then, I have gone on at a later time to see that it was best in the long run... or that it helped me learn & grow, or that the negative happening was necessary somehow.
I just love the way Michael J. Fox words it in his interview. It's a great way to look at things.
The link below is to view the complete Frontline documentary. While the topic may be Parkinson's, much of this show could really apply to many other illnesses as well.
By the way, Dave Iverson is the man who interviewed Michael J. Fox in the link above. Mr. Iverson also did the documentary below. He, his father, and his brother all have Parkinson's Disease.
VIDEO LINK 2:
Frontline 6-part PBS documentary called "MY FATHER, MY BROTHER, AND ME"
In the full documentary, watch for Michael J. Fox's comments about 2 minutes into the 6th and final "chapter" of the online version of this show.
I really found this documentary very interesting!
Once you choose hope, anything is possible.
--Christopher Reeve
This article was posted by Jeanne via "Jeanne's Endo Blog" at www.endendoat.blogspot.com.
