On Friday afternoon, Nov. 17th, civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr took to Twitter and shared a press release which revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
According to the document, Jackson and his family began to notice changes in the minister’s physical performance three years ago. After contemplating for some time, he finally went to the doctor and took a series of tests which ended up discovering the disease.
The announcement starts off with Jackson having a nostalgic moment as he recalls his days as a young freedom fighter who ended up in close quarters with Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
“I remember it like it was yesterday, for that day changed my life forever. From that experience, I lost my fear of being jailed for a righteous cause. I went on to meet Dr. King and dedicate my heart and soul to the fight for justice, equality, and equal access.”
The former presidential candidate nominee describes the moment of the diagnosis as being, “painful” and “personal,” and admits to the difficulty of facing its reality.
“…I have been slow to grasp the gravity of it. 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.”
In the wake of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Jackson will now become publicly vocal to advocate finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. The politician says he’d rather, “wear out, than rust out.”
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT to my friends and supporters on my health and the future. pic.twitter.com/JkuDNpxkix
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) November 17, 2017