Singer Carly Simon has shared details about her recent health struggles, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and cancer. She explained that her silence in the public eye was due to learning how to live with Parkinson’s, which affects more than just physical movement. Simon described how the illness started with arthritis in her knees and hip, leading to multiple surgeries that did not fully resolve her mobility issues.
She detailed the increasing difficulty of simple tasks like standing up from low furniture and how her condition worsened to the point where she needed help walking. Simon noted that Parkinson’s can bring a range of symptoms beyond physical ones, including anxiety, depression, and apathy. She also revealed that she was treated for basal cell carcinoma, which affected her appearance and made her more self-conscious about public appearances. Despite her health challenges, Simon found solace in music and began recording a new album called Comes in Waves.
The album included songs that had been waiting for her to finish, some written years earlier. Simon emphasized that she does not view Parkinson’s as a gift or blessing, but rather as a difficult and frustrating condition. She expressed gratitude for the support of her family, friends, caregivers, and medical professionals during her journey.
Simon shared that she has learned to accept that each day will look different due to her condition.
IMAGE: Alan Light → https://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/210255316/ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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