JAKARTA - The shocking news comes from No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont, who has just revealed to the public that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease for several years.
The announcement was made by Dumont via a video upload on his personal Instagram account, before No Doubt prepared to start their residency concert schedule at the Sphere, Las Vegas.
The 58-year-old guitarist explained that his illness began when he felt a number of unusual physical symptoms, which then led him to undergo a series of intensive medical examinations.
"A few years ago, I experienced a number of symptoms. I saw a doctor, went to a neurologist, and had various tests, until I was finally diagnosed with early Parkinson's disease," said Dumont.
Even though he had to face a degenerative condition that attacked the central nervous system, Dumont emphasized that his musical spirit had not died.
He admitted that every day he lived was a new challenge, but he was still able to hold his mainstay instrument.
"This has been a struggle. It's a daily struggle. The good news is, I can still play music. I can still play guitar. I've been doing it really well," he added optimistically.
Dumont's move to be open about his health condition is based on the desire to remove the negative stigma against people with Parkinson's. He was inspired by many public figures who dared to talk about health issues on social media to increase public awareness of the importance of research and prevention.
According to data from the Parkinson's Foundation, currently there are more than 10 million people worldwide living with the disease, with nearly 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States alone.
Dumont joins a long list of musicians and celebrities who have battled Parkinson's, including Michael J. Fox, Judas Priest's Glenn Tipton, and Ozzy Osbourne.
However, this condition does not prevent him from appearing in 18 No Doubt performances at the Sphere which is scheduled to take place from May 6 to June 13. The concert preparation also became a moment of reflection for Dumont over his long career with Gwen Stefani et al.
"The last few months, preparing the No Doubt show at the Sphere has been a lot of fun. Relearning old songs and practicing makes me think how grateful I am for the life I've lived as a musician over the years. I'm really excited for this show and can't wait to see everyone," he concluded.
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