“I don’t want to meet this with any resistance,” said the 47-year-old Broadway star, who was diagnosed with the incurable disease two years ago.
Aaron Lazar opens up about his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and reveals why he is not focused on fighting a disease for which there is no cure, but instead walks through life with courage and hope.
A veteran of the stage — known for two decades of Broadway and touring roles in musicals such as Light on the Piazza, Dear Evan Hansen, Les Misérables, A Little Night Music and The last ship — went public in January with the news that he has a progressive neurogenerative disorder, after being diagnosed two years ago.
During a candid interview on Broadway show with Tamsen Fadal, The 47-year-old actor and singer explained that since then he has been on a “healing journey” focused on taking care of his mind, body and spirit.
“When I was diagnosed, I thought, ‘Well, my new impossible dream is to beat this,'” Lazar said in an interview published Thursday, referencing the ballad “The Impossible Dream” from The Man of La Mancha which became his unofficial anthem. “And then I realized: ‘There is nothing to win.’ ”
“It’s not a fight,” he added. “I don’t want to meet this with any resistance. I want to meet it with ease, joy and healing. So my impossible dream is possible. It’s just about healing — not just the physical one, but the whole self.”
Young father defying the odds of his ALS diagnosis says the disease is ‘no longer hopeless’
Lazarus’ unwaveringly positive outlook comes on the eve of a brutal illness.
Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing a loss of muscle control that often begins with cramps and weakness in the hands, feet, arms, or legs. Over time, it progresses and worsens in other parts of the body, making it difficult to move, speak, swallow and breathe.
Life expectancy from the time of diagnosis for a person with ALS is three to five years, according to the ALS Association. Death generally results from degeneration or paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
The cause of the disease is unknown, and 90% of cases occur without any known history or genetic cause. Men are 20% more likely to be diagnosed than women, although the incidence is more equal with age.
There is no proven treatment for ALS, although exercise can help build strength to maintain muscle function. In September 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had approved Relyvrio, a drug that researchers found slowed the rate of falls in some patients. However, its overall effectiveness is still debated.
ALS treatment Relyvrio wins FDA approval despite lingering uncertainty about efficacy
Aaron Lazar in the Fox movie ‘Dirty Rich’.
FOX via Getty
What you need to know about ALS, a neurological disease for which there is no known cure
said Lazarus Broadway show he began experiencing symptoms of ALS — including muscle twitching in his quadriceps, abdomen and back — six months before he was officially diagnosed.
“ALS is sometimes hard to diagnose. It’s kind of a diagnosis of exclusion, which means they just try to rule out a bunch of things and say, ‘Well, I guess you have that.’ ” He said. “…And it’s scary for people out there dealing with it. I went through a really, really bad period of anxiety, insomnia and depression for months before my diagnosis.”
Finally finding out what he was facing was a big turning point for Lazar. “Everything changed at the diagnosis. I spent all that time very, very afraid. And then at the diagnosis I kind of said, ‘Well, whatever life I have left, I don’t want to be afraid.’ ”
In addition to drugs, Lazar supplements his treatment with drugs, art and spirituality. “I really take every day as an opportunity to get better at playing the game of life,” he told Broadway.com Editor-in-Chief Paul Wontorek in a chat taped at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall.
This includes asking, “How do I want to feel in my life? How do I want to feel when I’m sitting here with you right now? How do I want to feel when I’m washing the dishes?” he remembered. “I want to feel joyful. I want to feel relaxed. I want to feel relaxed.”
“My energy when I get out of bed is not ‘I have ALS and my legs are weak,'” continued Lazar. “I don’t focus on the disease. We create our lives by our perception of our lives. And maybe, I really need to try to give this nervous system some love.”
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Aaron Lazar.
Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Lazar spoke for the first time about his ALS diagnosis in the episode Taught Carefully: Teaching Musical Theater with Matty and Kikau podcast that dropped on January 2nd. He called this illness “a divine opportunity disguised as an impossible situation.”
Later that month, he was recognized by the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association with an Essay Spotlight Award for his dedication to raising awareness of ALS around the world.
Since sharing his story, he has received an outpouring of love from members of the Broadway community, including former actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Park, Matt Doyle, Kerry Butler, Max von Essen and Lena Hall. “The Broadway community has just opened their arms and their hearts to me so much,” he continued Broadway play. “I’m so grateful.”
That gratitude extends to his ALS diagnosis, which he says has allowed him to stop and appreciate each day.
“Sometimes you miss the moment,” said Lazar, reflecting on the hustle and bustle of the variety show. “And now I’m learning how not to miss so many of them. It’s like, full circle for me where I’m at, ‘[Life is] actually beautiful.’ We don’t know anything! So if I can embrace the unknown of everything… and just live in it? That’s what I’m trying to do.”Broadway show with Tamsen Fadal airs on weekends in syndication (check local listings).
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Source: HIS Education