Ryan Reynolds opened up about his father, James Chester Reynolds’ long battle with Parkinson’s disease. It is well known that the ‘Deadpool’ actor had a complicated relationship with his late father. However, as he, with Blake Lively, welcomed his fourth child, the actor confessed that now he better understands his parents.
‘The Proposal’ actor took the opportunity to spread awareness about the disease and the difficulties in its care. Ryan has collaborated with More To Parkinson’s, an educational campaign by Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. The actor related the issues his mother faced as the primary caregiver for his father throughout his battle with Parkinson’s.
Ryan Reynolds On His Father Experiencing Hallucinations Due To Parkinson’s
Hallucination and delirium are lesser-known symptoms of Parkinson’s. Ryan’s father started to experience them 10 years after being diagnosed. His relationship with his father was already strained. The actor revealed in an interview with People that the hallucinations caused the divide to grow deeper. Ryan shared that his father “was a boxer, a cop, a hard-ass.” Since James started hallucinating, Ryan felt he could not recognize his father. “Wild departure from the man that I grew up with and knew.” The actor added, “Subsequently everyone else in his life was losing the bedrock faith and trust that they had on his point of view.”
The ‘Free Guy’ actor related that he regrets that he could not be with his father when he passed away. However, he said that during his last days, Ryan sent him a letter and penned down all that he was grateful for. “I sent my dad a letter about five months before he died, which I’m very grateful I did. The letter was basically a list of every amazing thing he ever did — every time he showed up or every time he had a catch with me outside after baseball practice. Every time he just was there,” he recalled.
Despite sending the letter, Ryan rues that he could not be with James during his last hours. “I’m super grateful that I sent that letter. I know for a fact it meant the world to him. So I did get that closure, but I wasn’t with him when he passed away, and I do wish I was,” he said.
Ryan Talks About Caregiver Fatigue
Tammy Reynolds, Ryan’s mother was the primary caregiver for James. Ryan explained that the caregiver struggles equally with their patients. “My mom, I think, lived a life of true isolation with my dad for many, many years. And when somebody is not necessarily speaking from their baseline or right mental state, they can make life really tough for the only person [there],” Ryan said.
He further added although Tammy was a rock for James, the labor “really broke her.” Ryan opened up about how caregiver fatigue is the least discussed symptom of a permanent disease. He stated, “Caregiver fatigue is very real — it’s one of probably the most unreported side effects of diseases like this. I wish the resources that are available now to treat that part of Parkinson’s existed, or at least we knew about it then, because it would’ve really given a lot of hope.”
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