Book Review: Michael J. Fox’s: No Time Like the Future: An optimist considers mortality. By Dr. George Ackerman, Ph.D., J.D., M.B.A. Conducted 6/24/2023 through 7/9/2023.
This book explores Mr. Fox’s life and journey from family man to exile on pain street to the head games he had to venture through his own personal journey and discovery of a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Finally, an inspirational story of hope and perseverance through the Michael J. Fox Foundation raising awareness, research, and funding to help the Parkinson’s community combat the disease for good.
Family Man
Fox was diagnosed in 1998 and since his life changed through progression of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) trials and tribulations. He has helped raise over $800 million dollars for research and awareness.
As many know, celebrities get more attention throughout the world. Sadly, when a celebrity is diagnosed with a disease like Parkinson’s they can take different stances. One aspect would be to shelter down and vanish. The alternative which Mr. Fox continues to take is to fight, fight and then fight again. His fight has not been an easy one and continues today until there is a cure for PD. However not likely planned he has become the face and voice for so many others who struggled with PD, families, and caregivers of loved ones with PD as well.
One day Mr. Fox discovered the lack of mobility in his normal routine. Fast forward 30 years since his diagnosis and he feels “control is out of the question” (Fox 2020). The book describes his ever-longing struggle adapting to the new comings of PD. Trying to manage the symptoms daily was no easy feat. He describes his change from independence to walker and back again due to injuries caused by losing his focus and abilities.
The loss of luck also brought Mr. Fox trouble news of other medical issues which further hindered his health along the way.
Fox turns through his story to his family. He expressed how important family is and how close he is with his children and wife who have stood by him throughout this process. He explains his life and children but how they just saw his signs of Pd throughout their entire lives. Many regular Dad tasks now became difficult after his first child from teaching the kids how to ride a bike would be too difficult due to PD. Foix also struggled with alcohol addiction earlier in life.
Gradually he learned to live with PD and got help for his drinking problem.
Fox also discussed the birth of his children while showing the signs of PD along the way. His second, third and fourth children grew up with him already being diagnosed so it became a sense of normality. Fox believes that Parkinson’s “it’s another way the disease has been a gift” because it has slowed him down and given him the ability to watch his children’s growth and appreciate every moment. He also formed an incredible bond with his family and valued that most of all.
Dog Years
Fox loved animals and brought us back to the past describing his favorite fluffy friends. He remembers traveling the world and filming movies in the industry as a young teen. Discovering a dog in Thailand during one of his movies filming days and falling in love the moment he saw it. He named his newly adopted stray dog “Sanuk” meaning peace. Fast forward to his other pouch “Gus” and then “Astro.” He does in detail about how difficult it became late 2008 to run much anymore. He lost the ability to leap and jump but was still able to walk. He often took long walks with his pets and loved letting them get their energy out daily.
Act Too
Fox began showing more signs of PD, but he was still playing characters in his films and television productions that did not have PD. This was getting more difficult as the disease progressed. People would question his acting ability due to the movements that did not match an individual without the disease. He decided at only age 40 to end his career in the entertainment business. His tremors and movement issues forced him out of the business. He then entered intensive therapy, diet and fitness and it helped Fox control the disease for some time.
Soon after, his fellow actors created roles for Fox that included a character with signs and symptoms of a different disorder, OCD but he went right back to work. He then hid PD and continued forward while trying to hide the tremors in the back rooms during breaks during filming. He was able to use a disability as a “blueprint” for his future path back into entertainment.
Later, he decided he would continue to work but now he wanted to bring Parkinson’s to the forefront and would play roles of characters that had PD. Once he accepted this news ironically as an individual in the spotlight with PD the floodgates and opportunities opened wide quickly. He went on to star in some of the most famous television shows in history from Spin City to Curb your Enthusiasm.
High Times
Fox has traveled around the world and provides an instance over the Himalayas. He shares once in a lifetime experience due to his entertainment days to his days in the Paro River Valley. Travel was a constant for him throughout his career.
Parkinson’s slowly crept bringing additional symptoms though and depending on his medications at times were rare until it progressed as time went on. Struggles with his symptoms left him troubled, upset, and unknowing as to his future. He also traveled to Delhi where he must visit the hospital due to his symptoms.
Double Bogey
We head down into the world of sports and an outlet for Fox known as golf. Despite his decline due to PD, he decided to take up Golf which later was a major fundraiser for the MJF Foundation. He reminisced about Gold Mentors and how much of an impact the sport had on him even with PD. He was never great but still enjoyed it, anyway, explaining his experiences where one time he hit a golf ball into the parking lot.
Loco Motion
Fox describes his life through walking. He walked everywhere growing up and explored many various places through walking from school to extracurricular activities. He tried many sports as a teen and embraced fitness through sports like boxing, hockey and running to name a few. Movement was the focus here and how ironic that PD affects that such thing, movement. As a neurological disorder, PD causes the “corruption” of movement.
Physical fitness is a key to combat the challenges of the disease. He hired a trainer and would work on core workouts but did have struggles as the disease progressed. His trainer tried to teach him that his mind can be trained to do exercises while his body is focusing on other ones which are new methods of “compartmentalizing” actions and words.
Unsafe at any speed, Exile on pain street
Mr. Fox reminisced on his life and time with his family growing up. Vacations, rock stars and a summation of such incredible experiences. From happiness to struggle, he sets out his past from family vacations to the changes in his lifestyle due to his PD diagnosis. He wrote about “weakness in his limbs” to tremendous pain as well as burning sensations on his skin. Spending many hours and days testing through a neurologist, he tried to discover what the changes meant and hoped to adapt to a new life with the disease. Fox recalled the moment he was told he was diagnosed with young onset PD and the uncertainty that came with it. He knew his future would be challenging from that moment on. He shared the most intimate moment of a lifetime, when he told his wife “I have Parkinson’s.” That is the most touching moment in the book as his wife responds by crying and in turn Fox did as well.
Feelings of uncertainty, lack of understanding for what would come and feelings of being puzzled were the next steps coming for the Fox family.
What to expect from my back in the future
Fox would spend a lot of time coming with specialists, therapists and doctors trying to get a grip on PD. He also found other medical issues creeping up. He was able to see an expert neurologist, the best of the best who tried to support the Fox family.
No margin for error
In 1998, Fox had a procedure to assist with specific cells of the brain dealing with involuntary movement. It was a life-threatening surgery and the resilience of his wife and family support helped him through the toughest moments. He had hoped that he would be able to slow down the progression of PD through procedures and surgeries, but he had hoped that it would work.
Showing some spine
Sadly, Fox had to go through many surgeries, some related to PD while others not due to PD alone but he always kept his spirit up. His family support was one of the most incredible and inspiring facts of all throughout his journey. He discussed many days through surgery recovery and taking us through those specific experiences.
Metaphysical Therapy
Risky Business, Whac-a-mole & Occupational Hazard
We dive into the recovery of Fox after a major surgery. Challenges and tribulations set forth a new journey or regaining his ability to live with PD. Struggling to take a shower and do normal routines took a toll. From independence to PD diagnosis and not relearning how to walk with a walker has brought him full circle. He continued onto rehabilitation, therapy, and other experts in the field to gain back movement. Using occupational therapy to relearn how to walk was also a tough task but was part of the new progression of living life with PD.
Walk this Way
Rehab is no easy feat. Fox describes it as “rigorous and strange.” Parkinson’s forced him into adjusting to a walker, cane, and other various methods he did not want to utilize. He did many various episodes in rehabilitation and explained the process throughout. At times he was also in a wheelchair and described the feeling of being held hostage. When someone is independent and does not need to rely on others for daily assistance it can be a struggle to adjust. Relearning how to be mobile is challenging and like re-educating yourself as to younger childhood like taking your first steps again.
With PD and multiple surgeries, the future has challenges, but perseverance can get you through. Fox had a will to walk and did not let PD win. PD he described, “hates crossing thresholds” and causes individuals to freeze while at the same time interrupting progress.
Fox also participated in speech therapy as PD causes neurological issues of the entire body. He announced words and practiced sentence structure all over again.
A Crowded House
Sleeping is another important area that PD also affects. The brain is affected so in turn dreams are as well. Tons of physical therapy were in store for Fox, and he felt that PD robbed him of the usual “spontaneity” in his life. Someone who was once dependent, now he had to reply to family and others to make it daily.
Through therapy, progress is used as a measurement of success. Walking was one difficult but important exercise for Fox. It takes focus and relearning as well as tricking your brain to remember simple skills. Throughout the book Fox discusses the importance of his wife Tracy and family. Their support, care and constant attention is what keeps him going.
Breaking Dad
Fox dives into his friendships and support with individuals like George Stephanopoulos and his ability to regain independence. Vacations, tennis, and gold were all ways to cope with PD and try to regain a sense of normalcy in his life. His long talks with his daughter on life and his fall which led to further possible complications and bodily injury. He fell and broke his arm when he was rushed to the hospital. This seems to be the way of life now as PD progresses and affects his entire system.
A Wind and a Proverb
Another hospital visit, Fox dealt with so much trauma and bodily injury stemming from the difficult PD progression and adaptation to life with a neurological disorder. The support from his wife was unmatched, always standing by him even when they thought his marriage may be “doomed” due to the disease.
From changing diet, how to walk and everyday methods of life, Fox fought through the challenges. At times successful and others unsuccessful. However, he always pushed through. Mental challenges also occurred, not just the physical. At times Fox felt “emotionally diminished” and “incomplete.” Many hours with doctors, therapists and losing time outside of coping with PD was ever present.
Parkinson’s and a tumor in his spine were a few of the daily battles which followed by a broken arm due to the loss of ability from PD. All these also affect a person’s mood which is yet another added adventure.
Homeland Security, Head Games & Maryland, My Maryland
In the next few chapters, Fox reveals his ideas on optimism and fears as well as courage. Going through a Parkinson’s diagnosis is life changing for the individual, family and all those involved. He questions life overall and the future.
A discussion on the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the research they have produced and how it was only an idea but became reality. When creating the Foundation, they accepted it would become something bigger than themselves.
The goal is now to “find a way to relieve symptoms, halt progression, discover a cure and solve PD.” Optimism and idealism along with realism rather than only hope.
The Only Thing to Fear, Father Time
Fox enters the talk on a famous quote by Franklin Roosevelt “the only thing to fear is fear itself.” A life of traveling around the world, family, and memories spur Fox’s excitement of the past and hope for the future. Seeing his first live leopard on an African sightseeing tour helps him cope with reality at times.
His attitude is magnificent and ability to keep going is infectious as he writes about his adventures and journeys over his lifetime. However, the idea of PD progression in his mind is always still with him. He often thinks about the future and how PD as a movement disorder causes slowness, tremors, and slows his ability to achieve his goals down. His abilities are limited more due to the disease rather than time or aging.
People without PD age and encounter changes in ability but with those who encounter PD, it can be further frustrating, and the PD drugs also cause “depression, paranoid thinking and hallucinations… “
All things Considered, Shake it Off & Midnight in the Garden
Loss came over the Fox family when his father-in-law passed. He looked back at the lessons he learned over time to cope. He believed “the opposite of fear is faith.” Continued exams for PD, assessments and ongoing treatment were in store. The continual progression of the disease caused other medical issues over time and the struggle was real. Doctors encouraged him but feeling the symptoms is never easy. He mentions positive assessments but that would differ from individual to individual. Nothing about this disease is “normal.”
Finally, Fox goes back to his golf games and celebrity golf playing rivals for solace. He also continued his entertainment career but was not as involved as much due to the disease.
Leading up to the incredible Gala held every November in NYC for the Fox Foundation. They raised over 5 million dollars for Parkinson’s research and mingled with the PD community.
Jimmy Choi
Fox highlights the incredible story of Mr. Jimmy Choi from Ninja Warrior. In my opinion, another story of an individual fighting PD that deserves a full motion picture about his journey and a major positive fighter for PD awareness & hope for a cure across the world.
In conclusion….
Fox ends this incredible story on a positive note with one word, gratitude. He expresses his gratitude for everything from the good to the bad, from the right to wrong turns. Reality is key and optimism is enduring.
Reference:
Fox, M.J. (2020). Not Time Like The Future. Flatiron Books.