PARKINSON'S DISEASE

by

Brandi Bard

Partially reprinted with permission from people magazine

Meet the phenomenal Real "Family Ties" Family Man Michael J. Fox who recently announced his retirement from the award winning Situation Comedy show "Spin City". In 1991, Fox first noticed a tremor in one of his fingers while filming "Doc Hollywood" . The beloved actor stunned his fans and friends when he announced on January 18, that he is quitting "Spin City" due to his now acknowledged diagnosis of PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

After 4 (four) seasons as the star of the wonderfully funny show. Fox has said that he feels his time would be better spent devoting his energy to his family and getting involved with Parkinson's advocacy, he has said that he can't do both. “I didn't suddenly take a turn, it's not a case where I've hit a wall and said I can't do this anymore. Certainly it's a progressive disease, so that it changes, it doesn't get better, you know, but at the same time, it hasn't debilitated me. I wanted to make the choice while I could. I feel good, I'm happy and I have energy and there's stuff to do. I happen to believe there is a "God", and perhaps I'm in this position, so I can do something”, he added. "This is what was in the book for me".

Still Fox is doing more than just hoping. The day he announced his retirement from the sitcom "SPIN CITY" he phoned the President of the PARKINSON ACTION NETWORK to reaffirm a commitment to fundraising that began last September, when he appeared before Congress to lobby for a hike in Federal spending on Parkinson’s research. "With the help of medications, I can still perform my job, in my case in a very public arena", he told a Senate Sub-committee headed by Senator Arlen Specter.

Michael and his beautiful wife actress Tracy Pollen, have a son, and twin daughters. They are a very close and loving family, and have been there, with their understanding of how one succeeds in between the stress and tension of a 14 hour work day, to properly finish the "SPIN CITY" season. All of us wish Fox and his family, the very best. We've known Michael and admired his work, since he played the "quintessential" Alex P. Keaton in the 80's sit-com "FAMILY TIES".

Portions reprinted with permission from People Magazine.