Celebrities with Parkinson's Disease

Perhaps this is a bit morbid of me, but I actually like it when a celebrity advertises the fact that he or she has an illness. Like Christopher Reeve, and quadriplegia. Or Lance Armstrong, and cancer. Not only does being public about a disease make the celebrity seem more human, but it brings light to a dirty little secret: people get sick.

Two names come to mind when most people think of Parkinson’s: Muhammad Ali, and Michael J. Fox. Both have been publicly candid about their illnesses, and I think this does good things for both Parkinson’s research and for public awareness.

There are two things that make me a little sad, however. One is that you don’t see either of them very often any more. Of course, I imagine that if I were a celebrity with Parkinson’s, I would prefer to stay out of the public eye as well. I would want to be remembered for the way I used to be.

This brings me to the second thing: I think many people are shocked when they watch these two formerly vivacious men speak. Their hands shake. Their heads wobble. They don’t speak as clearly. People get uncomfortable, when instead they should be impressed.

The sacrifices that these celebrities make in order to make their illnesses known, and to fund research for the future is amazing. If anything, I think people should commend them for putting themselves out there. Instead of saying things like “look how sad that is,” they should be saying “how wonderful that he is out of seclusion, so unafraid of the public eye.”

I believe that keeping Parkinson’s disease in the public light can only bring good things. Instead of hiding it away when it gets ugly, we should keep it out there so that everyone knows exactly what we are fighting. Instead of being uncomfortable, we should be accepting. Instead of pitying individuals with the disease, we should celebrate all that they can do as they continue to live their lives with a debilitating illness.

Keep bringing it on, Muhammad and Michael.