I love Michael J. Fox. I always have. My brother, AJ and I grew up watching Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties (my sister born 1982 was a little young to remember). We loved all of the Back to the Future movies, Teen Wolf, and Secret of My Success. As we grew older, movies like Doc Hollywood, American President, and Atlantis became favorites as well. Ironically, as much as I love Michael J. Fox, I never saw one episode of Spin City. I attribute this lack of attention to one of my all time favorite actors to college. Spin City's four years with MJF were during the period of my life where I didn't get to watch a lick of TV. I'm making up for the lost time now, so don't worry. Although I've always loved MJF and thought he was a wonderful actor, it wasn't until reading this book, I've realized how incredible he is. He is a fantastic writer. Just enough humor, story telling, and wise adage to make for a wonderful autobiography. And, if that isn't enough, he took me through every emotion from devastation and sadness to anger and frustration to joy and of course OPTIMISM. MJF is a hero. Not perfect, but a hero to so many of us that have never had a debilitating disease. So many of us who say, how does he do it? Why doesn't he just give up. In his book, Michael borrows Christopher Reeve's definition of hero, "an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure." The book is broken into 4 topics: work, politics, faith, and family. And, if you will indulge me, I would like to share tidbits from each with you, my avid readers (by the way Dad, you need to finish this book. The best parts of it were ahead of you).
Work. When MJF stepped away from the public limelight, he started/created/runs the most successful non-profit organization ever. He sought guidance from Lance Armstrong and took major risks. Because of the generosity of people around the world and this foundation, stem cell research was able to continue in the last decade even though the President of the United States (George W. Bush) restricted all funding.
Politics. MJF was in his late 20's when diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and at the start of the 21st century, he was certain a cure would be found in the next 5-10 years. How devastating when the President slashed his dreams of a better life. How crushing when certain political reporters accused him of "faking" his symptoms. Being the granddaughter of a beautiful, talented, artistic woman who died a terrible, horrible death from this disease, I feel his anguish. Too see a woman whose beautiful, soft hands once made works of art no longer able to hold a spoon is horrific. She remembered everything, knew everyone, but was a prisoner in her own body. I have tried so hard in my classroom to open the conservative eyes of my students to the bigger question of what God has called us to do. I have found that when given the same explanation that MJF gave as to why stem cell research should be allowed if the embryos are donated, that most of my students feel it is the kind and humane science to pursue. His argument is this, "In vitro fertilization creates a surplus of embryos, which are discarded in numbers greater than will ever be used in research. Many of our friends are parents of children who, without in vitro, would not exist - I have no reservations about it. However, to favor one and forbid the other is fundamentally inconsistent, or plainly inequitable."
Faith. I did not realize until reading the book the Michael's wife and children were Jewish. But, from his discussions of raising his children in this ancient religion, I found myself wondering if some of the rituals of generations should be applied to children today. When speaking of his sons bar mitzvah, "structure and ritual around this transition [from child to adult], instructing these emerging life forms to recognize and accept their responsibility to themselves, their families, and others. They are claimed and celebrated just when they are most susceptible to feeling unwanted and misunderstood." Could our modern culture utilize these ancient practices. If we could embolden young people to take more responsibility and be accountable, could be prevent many school shootings, teen (or pre-teen) pregnancies, and high school dropouts. Could we give them purpose during times of self doubt.
Finally Family. Incredible insight that as teachers, we try to teach parents. Michael J. Fox discusses how it doesn't help anyone to protect our children from all types of failure or problems. He discusses what a disservice we do our children by saving them from all childhood ales and troubles. He talks about how those childhood challenges prepared him to face a life with a debilitating illness.
This book was wonderful, and as I read the final pages where he describes going to bed knowing on 11/5/08 that a new President who would reinstate funding for stem cell research was going to the White House, I found I had tears in my eyes. Tears for all of those like my grandmother who may never have to suffer so senselessly. Tears for the hope for millions suffering from not only Parkinson's, but diabetes, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. Maybe this decade is the one where we conquer and place emphasis on saving God's living children rather than focusing on who gets to police what God would or would not approve of.
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