Gray’s Anatomy alum Steven W. Bailey has been identified with a uncommon neuromuscular dysfunction often known as Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome (CMS).
Bailey, 54, defined by way of X on Friday, January 2, that he has “spent years being cautious, non-public, 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 trade friends are “properly and never too overburdened with life’s troubles,” earlier than revealing his personal wrestle.
“Say, talking of troubles, it’s the darndest factor, but it surely seems I’ve a slightly uncommon genetic neuromuscular dysfunction. Bizarre, proper? It’s known as Congenital Myasthenia Syndrome, or CMS,” he introduced.
The Cleveland Clinic describes CMS as a gaggle of “situations that trigger muscle weak spot that will get worse with bodily exercise.”
The actor stated that he’d hid his situation for 5 years “out of profession warning, diagnostic uncertainty, and being non-public 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 rising 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 mass aren’t clearly receiving all my mind’s orders to do all of the swell issues muscle mass are supposed to do. It’s a drag.”
“The consequence being that my palms, legs and arms tire faster than they need to, which makes them weaker than, properly … anticipated,” he continued. “Sustained repetitive actions are significantly troublesome and may trigger my muscle mass 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 analysis has helped get him out of “doing the dishes and folding laundry in [his] family,” it has additionally more and more hindered his means 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 reality is, as my illness progresses, I’ve been utilizing a powered wheelchair increasingly more 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 having the ability to “rise to my ft to object to the choose, derail a city assembly, or yell at a cop for being a free cannon” when mandatory.
“Virtually talking, transferring ahead, it’s time for my work, like in my life, to begin 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 subsequent chapter in my life and profession.”
Bailey reiterated his perception that there’s “nonetheless room for [him] on this trade” as he depends extra on the usage of a wheelchair.
“I stay up for performing as characters who reside 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 choose 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 — properly, you get the purpose.”
Bailey closed his poignant message to followers with a self-affirming description of himself: “Identical man. Identical actor. Identical artist. Now with wheels.”
The star acquired well-wishes from a lot of his followers, with one X person 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 optimistic and fulfilling path ahead personally and professionally.”
Bailey is maybe greatest 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, through the first seven seasons. He has additionally made memorable appearances on NCIS, Angel, Fashionable Household and Scandal.
Extra lately, Bailey had a multi-episode arc as union lawyer Mike Knowles on Chicago Fireplace, along with visitor starring in You and Swiped.
