Eric Dane Says Teen Daughter Saved Him When He Realized He Can No Longer Swim Due To ALS

There are two universal truths when it comes to celebrities and illness. First, dangerous diseases with names that are difficult to pronounce are not reserved for TV shows.

Second, celebrities are just as capable of becoming ill with one of these diseases as their fans.

Fan favorite Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane, nicknamed "Dr. McSteamy" on the show, shared earlier this year that he was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

ALS is a rare degenerative disease that affects the body's nerves, leading to paralysis of the muscles. The progression of the disease is usually on one side of the torso and then the other, followed by the legs, and in the process, it impacts speech and other abilities.

Generally, people who are diagnosed live for just three to five years after their initial diagnosis, but they maintain full mental faculties and awareness of what is happening while losing their ability to communicate and move.

Like most patients, Dane's first sign was decreased sensation in his right hand.

He thought at first that he might be texting too much, but when the symptoms didn't subside, he saw a series of hand doctors and neurologists before being diagnosed nine months later.

In a vulnerable interview with Diane Sawyer at Good Morning America, Dane revealed that what he fears the most is that he lost his father at the age of seven to suicide, and quite similarly, he might be taken away from his daughters, Billie and Georgia, at a young age (15 and 13), as well.

An eye-opening moment was when Dane went with 13-year-old Georgia on a snorkeling trip, and as a confident, competitive swimmer, Dane thought nothing of getting into the water.

But he soon realized that he didn't have the strength to swim, and his child had to help haul him back to the boat.

Dane had to convince her that he was okay and that he still wanted her to snorkel with the instructor and the rest of the group, rather than miss out on the rest of the experience.

Dane remains strong, saying that he does not believe that his ALS diagnosis is the end of his story. He continues to fight, maintain hope that answers will come, and he tells his wife and daughters that he loves them every single day.

You can watch the first part of the interview here:

  - YouTubewww.youtube.com

Fans were touched by the interview and empathized with Dane's condition.

Others urged everyone to educate themselves on the symptoms and treatments of ALS.

In a follow-up segment to the interview, Sawyer spoke with Dane alongside his doctor, Dr. Merit Cudkowicz, a leading ALS researcher and neurologist. According to Dane, she provided him with "a sense of hope" that other doctors had not given him about his condition.

Cudkowicz admits that the size of the population being diagnosed with ALS is increasing "moderately fast, too fast," causing the population affected to increase by 40% by 2040. Some of the risks are exposure to plastics, pesticides, and even serving in the military.

Fortunately, there is extensive research being done to find answers and a possible cure for this disease. The viral Ice Bucket Challenge raised $200 million in the United States alone, put toward ALS research. She's hopeful that while Dane's journey will not be easy, this does not have to be the final answer for him.

You can see the second part of the interview here:

  - YouTubewww.youtube.com

ALS is a devastating disease, but with research in the works, there is hope that answers and even a cure will eventually come.

We hope there will be much more to Eric Dane's story.