Gray’s Anatomy alum Steven W. Bailey has been identified with a uncommon neuromuscular dysfunction referred to as Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome (CMS).
Bailey, 54, defined by way of X on Friday, January 2, that he has “spent years being cautious, personal, and quiet” about one thing that has been “shaping [his] life and [his] work.”
“That point is over,” he vowed. “What follows is an Open Letter to you all.”
Bailey started his letter by expressing hope that his leisure business friends are “nicely and never too overburdened with life’s troubles,” earlier than revealing his personal wrestle.
“Say, talking of troubles, it’s the darndest factor, nevertheless it seems I’ve a quite uncommon genetic neuromuscular dysfunction. Bizarre, proper? It’s referred to as Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome, or CMS,” he introduced.
The Cleveland Clinic describes CMS as a bunch of “situations that trigger muscle weak spot that will get worse with bodily exercise.”
The actor mentioned that he’d hid his situation for 5 years “out of profession warning, diagnostic uncertainty, and being personal about such issues,” although he now felt it was “time to cease” shying away from the reality.
“CMS is a genetic illness that disrupts the communication between the mind and the muscle on the ‘nerve/muscle junction’… or no matter docs name it,” he defined. “There are billions of those junction dodads in a physique, and an growing variety of mine appear to be on the blink. Troublesome, little buggers — proper?”
Bailey broke down the details about CMS, writing: “The purpose is: my muscle tissue aren’t clearly receiving all my mind’s orders to do all of the swell issues muscle tissue are supposed to do. It’s a drag.”
“The outcome being that my palms, legs and arms tire faster than they need to, which makes them weaker than, nicely … anticipated,” he continued. “Sustained repetitive actions are significantly troublesome and may trigger my muscle tissue to briefly tighten and shut down.”
Steven W. Bailey (middle) on an episode of ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ season 2. ABC / Courtesy of Everett Assortment
Bailey joked that whereas his prognosis has helped get him out of “doing the dishes and folding laundry in [his] family,” it has additionally more and more hindered his skill to stroll.
“I’m lucky that I’m at present nonetheless in a position to stroll the canine across the block, navigate my dwelling, pop into the shop for a fast few objects, and the like on my ft,” he famous. “However the fact is, as my illness progresses, I’ve been utilizing a powered wheelchair increasingly to get round.”
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum confirmed that he can “nonetheless carry out on [his] ft” in a restricted capability for appearing roles, together with nonetheless with the ability to “rise to my ft to object to the decide, derail a city assembly, or yell at a cop for being a free cannon” when crucial.
“Virtually talking, transferring ahead, it’s time for my work, like in my life, to start out skewing extra wheelchair, if you’ll. Handed that point, actually,” Bailey acknowledged. “However now I’m right here — finished hiding — with a transparent understanding of my illness, wheels firmly beneath me, prepared for the following chapter in my life and profession.”
Bailey reiterated his perception that there’s “nonetheless room for [him] on this business” as he depends extra on the usage of a wheelchair.
“I stay up for performing as characters who stay their lives with a chair, making a extra consultant world in movie and tv,” he added. “And now that I consider it, I don’t must leap to my ft to object to that decide I discussed earlier. They’ll hear me. And I can derail any city assembly from my chair — no downside. And so far as free cannons go — nicely, you get the purpose.”
Bailey closed his poignant message to followers with a self-affirming description of himself: “Similar man. Similar actor. Similar artist. Now with wheels.”
The star obtained well-wishes from lots of his followers, with one X consumer replying: “Thanks for sharing your story! I hope to see you once more quickly on the television and I hope you proceed to discover a constructive and fulfilling path ahead personally and professionally.”
Bailey is probably finest recognized for showing on greater than 30 episodes of Gray’s Anatomy as Joe, the proprietor of a fictional bar close to the present’s Gray Sloan Memorial Hospital, throughout the first seven seasons. He has additionally made memorable appearances on NCIS, Angel, Fashionable Household and Scandal.
Extra not too long ago, Bailey had a multi-episode arc as union lawyer Mike Knowles on Chicago Hearth, along with visitor starring in You and Swiped.
