{"id":1901,"date":"2025-10-04T22:53:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T22:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/giantnews.us\/?p=1901"},"modified":"2025-10-04T22:53:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T22:53:13","slug":"eric-danes-friends-give-devastating-update-in-als-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/giantnews.us\/?p=1901","title":{"rendered":"Eric Dane\u2019s friends give devastating update in ALS fight"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Eric Dane. Credit \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Eric Dane, best known for his role as Dr. McSteamy on Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em>, is now reportedly using a wheelchair and struggling to speak, according to heartbreaking updates from friends following his ALS diagnosis..<\/strong><\/p>\n

For years, Eric Dane was best known as Dr. \u201cMcSteamy,\u201d the charismatic Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em>, captivating fans with his charm and confidence.<\/p>\n

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But in April 2025, the 52-year-old star revealed he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) \u2013 a progressive, incurable<\/a> neurological disease<\/a> more commonly known as Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease \u2013 launching him into a heartbreaking health<\/a> battle off-screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been diagnosed with ALS,\u201d he told People<\/a> at the time. Expressing his gratitude to his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters \u2013 Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13 \u2013 the star of Euphoria<\/em> added, \u201cI am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next\u2026I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Fatal disease<\/h2>\n

Over time, ALS robs patients of the ability to walk, speak, and even breathe independently.<\/p>\n

ALS \u201coften begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing or slurred speech,\u201d the Mayo Clinic<\/a> explains. \u201cEventually ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for this fatal disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

While survival time varies, the disease has taken the lives of many high-profile figures, including actress Sandra Bullock\u2019s longtime partner Bryan Randall in 2023 and SpongeBob SquarePants<\/em> creator Stephen Hillenburg in 2018.<\/p>\n

One of the most well-known people to live with ALS was physicist Stephen Hawking, who defied the odds by surviving more than five decades before his death in 2018.<\/p>\n

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ALS treatment advocacy<\/h2>\n

Despite the devastating diagnosis, Dane has vowed to keep fighting. Recently he traveled to Washington, D.C., advocating for more research and support for neurodegenerative diseases, CNN<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

While meeting with U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell of California, Dane \u2013 slurring his speech \u2013 described ALS as \u201cthe last thing they want to diagnose anybody with,\u201d underscoring the devastating reality of the disease.<\/p>\n

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