Back to the Future’s Lea Thompson shocks fans with unexpected double tragedy: ‘It was such a devastating blow’
We all fondly remember actress Lea Thompson from the iconic Back to the Future series, where she played the role of Lorraine, mum to Michael J. Fox’s character Marty McFly.
However, recently, the talented actress made headlines, not for her incredible acting skills, but due to a deeply personal and heart-wrenching revelation.
The actress, who is 62, disclosed that her two elder brothers were both diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in a short span of time.
‘Both of my beloved exceptional big brothers have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s within a few months of each other,’ Thompson wrote in a social media post.
‘It was such a devastating blow.’
Although the family had observed a noticeable slowdown in her brothers’ movements, they never suspected Parkinson’s to be the reason.
We noticed that they were slowing down but never thought it could be this.’
‘But because of the efforts of so many researchers funded through Real Mike J Fox (@realmikejfox) and Team Fox MJ FF (@teamfoxmjff) foundation, there are drugs and tools for an early diagnosis that have really, really helped them,’ she continued, referencing the actor Michael J Fox and The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease in her post.
Thompson posted a photo of herself and her two brothers enjoying a day of golf, followed by another image of her brothers embracing each other.
The actress expressed feeling ‘honoured’ to shoot a ‘Public Service Announcement’ (PSA) for The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s gala and provided a glimpse with a behind-the-scenes snapshot from the campaign.
‘Thanks to the work of so many scientists and philanthropists and my movie son, there is hope.’
‘Thank you, Marty,’ she wrote.
Thompson’s admirers and followers quickly filled the comments section of her post with messages of support.
‘Lea, sending love to your family,’ one follower shared.
‘Sending you hugs full of hope that the research helps your brothers and many others more and more,’ wrote another.
Someone else shared: ‘Fingers are forever crossed for a cure.’
‘My dad has Parkinson’s, so I can relate. I’m so sorry, Lea,’ added a third.
‘They have found numerous aids, though!’ One more chimed in.
‘My dad had DBS (deep brain stimulation) and HIFU (high intense focused ultrasound) and has eliminated tremors!’ Another responded.
‘Will be praying for your family,’ one social media user commented.
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson's disease is a progressively worsening neurological ailment defined by a range of symptoms.
It ranks as the second most prevalent neurological condition, affecting over 100,000 Australians.
Typical symptoms encompass tremors, slowed movements, and stiffness.
‘People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the cells that produce dopamine have died,’ the Parkinson’s Australia website reads.
‘It is not easy to diagnose Parkinson’s.’
‘There are no laboratory tests (such as a blood test or brain scan).’
‘Often a diagnosis is made by a specialist, such as a neurologist, based on clinical signs and symptoms.’
Michael J. Fox and Parkinson’s
Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 when he was just 29, notably younger than the average diagnosis age of 65 for most people.
He has since become one of the most prominent figures associated with Parkinson’s, playing a pivotal role in elevating awareness and setting up a foundation dedicated to researching its causes and potential treatments.
Despite his high-profile advocacy, Fox revealed that he hid his diagnosis for seven years and faced challenges with alcohol overuse.
Video Source: Facebook/@appletv
He made this confession in Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, showcased for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
In the movie, Fox discussed his prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s, mentioning that even with the diagnosis, he's had an ‘amazing life.’
Yet, during a recent conversation with Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning, the 62-year-old acknowledged that each day is becoming more challenging.
‘I’m not gonna lie,’ Fox said.
‘It’s getting harder.’
The actor shared that he recently had spinal surgery to remove a benign tumour. He also endured two fractured arms, a broken hand, and facial bone injuries due to falls.
‘(Falling) is a big killer with Parkinson’s,’ Fox said.
‘It’s falling, and aspirating food and pneumonia — all these subtle ways that (it) gets you.
‘You don’t die from Parkinson’s, you die with Parkinson’s.’
However, the actor noted that he's lived with the disease for ‘30 plus years’ and has structured his life in a way that allows him to ‘pack Parkinson’s along with me if I have to’.
‘I recognise how hard this is for people, and I recognise how hard it is for me, but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff,’ he said.
‘And I realise, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable.’
‘If you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and you carry on.’
Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Do you have any words of encouragement, advice, or support for those with Parkinson’s and their families? Share your sentiments in the comments below!
However, recently, the talented actress made headlines, not for her incredible acting skills, but due to a deeply personal and heart-wrenching revelation.
The actress, who is 62, disclosed that her two elder brothers were both diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in a short span of time.
‘Both of my beloved exceptional big brothers have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s within a few months of each other,’ Thompson wrote in a social media post.
‘It was such a devastating blow.’
Although the family had observed a noticeable slowdown in her brothers’ movements, they never suspected Parkinson’s to be the reason.
We noticed that they were slowing down but never thought it could be this.’
‘But because of the efforts of so many researchers funded through Real Mike J Fox (@realmikejfox) and Team Fox MJ FF (@teamfoxmjff) foundation, there are drugs and tools for an early diagnosis that have really, really helped them,’ she continued, referencing the actor Michael J Fox and The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease in her post.
Thompson posted a photo of herself and her two brothers enjoying a day of golf, followed by another image of her brothers embracing each other.
The actress expressed feeling ‘honoured’ to shoot a ‘Public Service Announcement’ (PSA) for The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s gala and provided a glimpse with a behind-the-scenes snapshot from the campaign.
‘Thanks to the work of so many scientists and philanthropists and my movie son, there is hope.’
‘Thank you, Marty,’ she wrote.
Thompson’s admirers and followers quickly filled the comments section of her post with messages of support.
‘Lea, sending love to your family,’ one follower shared.
‘Sending you hugs full of hope that the research helps your brothers and many others more and more,’ wrote another.
Someone else shared: ‘Fingers are forever crossed for a cure.’
‘My dad has Parkinson’s, so I can relate. I’m so sorry, Lea,’ added a third.
‘They have found numerous aids, though!’ One more chimed in.
‘My dad had DBS (deep brain stimulation) and HIFU (high intense focused ultrasound) and has eliminated tremors!’ Another responded.
‘Will be praying for your family,’ one social media user commented.
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson's disease is a progressively worsening neurological ailment defined by a range of symptoms.
It ranks as the second most prevalent neurological condition, affecting over 100,000 Australians.
Typical symptoms encompass tremors, slowed movements, and stiffness.
‘People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the cells that produce dopamine have died,’ the Parkinson’s Australia website reads.
‘It is not easy to diagnose Parkinson’s.’
‘There are no laboratory tests (such as a blood test or brain scan).’
‘Often a diagnosis is made by a specialist, such as a neurologist, based on clinical signs and symptoms.’
Michael J. Fox and Parkinson’s
Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 when he was just 29, notably younger than the average diagnosis age of 65 for most people.
He has since become one of the most prominent figures associated with Parkinson’s, playing a pivotal role in elevating awareness and setting up a foundation dedicated to researching its causes and potential treatments.
Despite his high-profile advocacy, Fox revealed that he hid his diagnosis for seven years and faced challenges with alcohol overuse.
Video Source: Facebook/@appletv
He made this confession in Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, showcased for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
In the movie, Fox discussed his prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s, mentioning that even with the diagnosis, he's had an ‘amazing life.’
Yet, during a recent conversation with Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning, the 62-year-old acknowledged that each day is becoming more challenging.
‘I’m not gonna lie,’ Fox said.
‘It’s getting harder.’
The actor shared that he recently had spinal surgery to remove a benign tumour. He also endured two fractured arms, a broken hand, and facial bone injuries due to falls.
‘(Falling) is a big killer with Parkinson’s,’ Fox said.
‘It’s falling, and aspirating food and pneumonia — all these subtle ways that (it) gets you.
‘You don’t die from Parkinson’s, you die with Parkinson’s.’
However, the actor noted that he's lived with the disease for ‘30 plus years’ and has structured his life in a way that allows him to ‘pack Parkinson’s along with me if I have to’.
‘I recognise how hard this is for people, and I recognise how hard it is for me, but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff,’ he said.
‘And I realise, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable.’
‘If you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and you carry on.’
Key Takeaways
- Back to the Future’s actress Lea Thompson revealed that her two older brothers were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease within months of each other.
- Thompson’s online post mentioned there are drugs and tools available for early diagnosis, thanks to the efforts of many researchers and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
- The actress filmed a public service announcement for the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s gala and expressed hope through the continued efforts of scientists and philanthropists.
- Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 29, is one of the best-known figures with the condition, and his foundation aims to raise money for research into its causes and treatment.