Baseball Icon Kirk Gibson Reveals He Has Been Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease
Kirk Gibson, 57, a Detroit Tigers legend, revealed today that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
In a correspondence with the Detroit Free Press, Gibson released this statement.
“While this diagnosis poses a new kind of challenge for me, I intend to stay true to my beliefs. With the support of my family and friends, I will meet this challenge with the same determination and unwavering intensity that I have displayed in all of my endeavours in life. I look forward to being back at the ballpark as soon as possible.”
Gibson had a long, illustrious career in the National League, stemming 18 years from 1977 – 1995 with teams including the L.A. Dodgers, the Kansas City Royals, and most notably the Detroit Lions. During his playing career, Gibson won accolades both in a team, winning the World Series twice (1984, 1988) and individually as NL MVP (1988).
Naturally, management followed Gibson’s playing career after being handed the Arizona Diamondbacks job in 2011. He led them to an unexpected NL Championship title. This masterclass in management from Gibson won him the NL Manager of the year award (2011).
Gibson now acts as a commentator for Fox News Detroit (since 2014), but hasn’t been present in the broadcasting booth this season.
As expected, the social media response to the news has been overwhelmingly positive from Gibson’s colleagues and fans alike.
Parkinson's is a tough diagnosis, but Kirk Gibson is one tough man. Thoughts and prayers are with him. http://t.co/jcmyxdLbAl #MLB
— Lindsay Berra ?? (@lindsayberra) April 28, 2015
Let's all pray for Kirk Gibson and his family, God will give you the strength to overcome this disease and to keep moving forward Gibby
— Ender Inciarte (@enderinciartem) April 28, 2015
On one hand, I am so sad about Kirk Gibson having Parkinson's. On the other, I feel badly for Parkinson's when Gibby gets through with it.
— Jennifer Cosey (@VivaTigres) April 28, 2015
Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological disorder, mainly affecting the central nervous system. The symptoms of this disease include tremors (of the hands, arms and face), postural instability, rigidity and slow movement. Parkinson’s is caused by the substantia nigra region of the brain losing nerve cells and thus causing a lack of dopamine (a chemical which helps regulate movement) in the brain, which results in the above symptoms. It typically affects those above the age of 60.
Parkinson’s disease progresses very slowly, and so people diagnosed with Parkinson’s can live relatively normal lives for years after diagnosis. There is currently no known cure, but the use of medication can slow the effects of Parkinson’s and thankfully, it is not a fatal disorder.
Other celebrities diagnosed with Parkinson’s include actor Michael J. Fox and fellow sportsman and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
[Photos by Mike Powell, Ralph Freso/Getty Images]
