Rev. Jesse Jackson announced devastating news on Friday. The longtime civil rights activist has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“My family and I began to notice changes about three years ago,” Jackson, 76, wrote in a detailed statement. “After a battery of tests, my physicians identified the issue as Parkinson’s disease, a disease that bested my father.”
Parkinson’s is a severe neurological disorder that currently has no cure. Sufferers experience steady declines in their mental and physical states. Jackson is handling the news with poise.
“For me, a Parkinson’s diagnosis is not a stop sign but rather a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease’s progression,” Jackson wrote.
“I’m also spending some time working on my memoir so I can share with others the lessons I have learned in my life of public service. I steadfastly affirm that I would rather wear out than rust out.”
Jackson is a tough man. A lot of people disagree with his politics, but no one can argue against his sincerity. Throughout his career, he threw his soul into everything that he did. Millions of people were affected by his actions.
“I am far from alone. God continues to give me new opportunities to serve… This diagnosis is personal but it is more than that. It is an opportunity for me to use my voice to help in finding a cure for a disease that afflicts 7 to 10 million worldwide,” Jackson said.
“I will continue to try to instill hope in the hopeless, expand our democracy to the disenfranchised and free innocent prisoners around the world.”
Saddened to hear Rev. Jesse Jackson has been diagnosed with Parkinson's.
Keep hope alive, Rev.
— Jared Sawyer Jr. (@JaredSawyerJr) November 17, 2017
(Source: New York Post)