John Driskell Hopkins has supplied an replace as to his ongoing battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) over a 12 months after being identified.
“Hop” went public together with his prognosis again in Could 2022, however has continued to tour with Grammy-winning nation music group Zac Brown Band since then. Not solely that, however the 52-year-old singer-songwriter has launched a nonprofit, Hop On a Treatment, devoted to funding analysis and constructing a neighborhood for fellow victims of the illness.
At present there is no such thing as a treatment for the illness, and since its progressive, these residing with it expertise a worsening of their signs over time.
Even so, John Driskell Hopkins is refusing to be downbeat about his prognosis, telling followers that while he’s not taking the situation probably, he gained’t let it change his life.
As per Fox Information, Driskell Hopkins mentioned: “I had one woman ask me … she was identified proper across the identical time.
“She mentioned, ‘How come you’re not crying all day?’ I’m like, ‘Crying sucks.’ You realize, I’ve accomplished my share of crying, and I do know I don’t need to.”
The singer added: “And I’m stuffed with s—. I’m all the time making jokes. I’m not going to make mild of this, however I’m going to poke enjoyable at it and at my expense.”
“I need to keep in mind that I’m a songwriter and a musician, but it surely’s troublesome to sit down up right here and carve away all day when there’s a lot occurring,” he mentioned.
“However, I’m accepting it. As a result of I’m doing fairly properly, I nonetheless really feel like one of many new children on the block. I’m watching different individuals progress quicker round me. I’ve already misplaced a brand new pal who was 36 years previous … I don’t need to be [with this diagnosis].
“I don’t need to be on this enterprise, however as a result of we’re, as a result of we’re pressured into it, I’m honored to not less than present some kind of distraction as an entertainer.”
In line with Fox Information, the Hop On a Treatment basis, based by Driskell Hopkins, raised $1 million in its first 12 months, and has large plans for the approaching 12 months.
Hop mentioned: “I’m making an attempt to maintain a lighthearted angle, however I definitely don’t need to play that it’s not extraordinarily troublesome, particularly for people who find themselves coping with this on a extra intensified degree.”
We’re sending all our love and help within the course of John Driskell Hopkins, and certainly all others who’re battling ALS and comparable situations the world over.
