Tony Snow and Hamilton Jordan are two recent examples of famous people whose illnesses have been broadcast for the world to see. The media can go crazy with a new diagosis, publishing pre-obituary headlines. Can you imagine if it were you?
For most people, illness is a fairly private affair. Only your family and close friends see you dazed, reeling from the shocking news. Or weepy, sad about what's happened and afraid of what's to come. Or angry, frightened, withdrawn or stoic, if that's your style. As for bloggers who share their story with dozens of people, and sometimes millions (like Randy Pausch, my Model Healthy Survivor), they get to choose the image they submit to cyberspace scrutiny.
Just imagine facing a sea of microphones and cameras that are picking up every grunt and grimace as you are wheeled out of the hospital. Or think about what it must be like to be sipping your morning coffee and opening your paper to grim statistics and grimmer stories about your illness.
I applaud celebrities like these two public figures. We owe much to these brave people who let the world in to see their misfortune, often using their celebrity as a platform to raise awareness and money for more research or better support services that will help others, if not them. How many people could do that? Could you?
The article Tears for Teddy got it right: Don't bury the famous just because they've been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Famous people are people who deserve the same encouragement, hope and support as you and me.
Comments