Last week, we reported that the country music star Phil Robertson had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Now, Phil’s son Willie is speaking out to reveal that his father is battling additional serious health challenges as well.
Willie Speaks Out On Phil’s Health
Willie,52, told Fox News that Phil, 78, is “battling a lot of different things right now.”
“He’s got a blood disorder, and then he’s got the mental issues that could be early [on-set] Alzheimer’s … and probably some ministrokes because of his blood,” Willie explained. “And so, it could be some stroke stuff happening, that has happened.”
“So, we’re still checking on all that,” he continued. “But then he also has a back issue, he’s fractured his back and that’s where the pain’s at. So, he’s kind of battling many different things at the same time.”
That seems like quite the understatement!
Despite the many issues that Phil is currently facing, back pain is the worst thing impacting his day-to-day life, according to Willie.
“Especially in any situation where he’s getting up from the seated position or laying position, [it’s] super stressful for him, too, and very painful,” Willie said. “We’ve got several other things we’re looking at, trying some different medications.”
“And, again, it’s a little bit more difficult with the pain issue, with the back, because that seems to dominate a lot of just his day-to-day is just from that, so we’re trying to get his back fixed up so that he can at least move around. We’re trying several different things,” he added. “We’ve seen many doctors and [are] just getting the best care we can and best things that we can and trying to figure out what’s next.”
Backstory: Phil Robertson, 78, Of ‘Duck Dynasty’ Fame Is Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s
Phil’s Difficult ‘Mental Stuff‘
While Willie didn’t elaborate on what exactly the blood disorder is, he revealed that it’s caused Phil to produce “too much blood.” This has made the blood thicker and could have led to the ministrokes.
“It’s hard with the mental stuff,” Willie lamented. “It’s hard to determine exactly what these causes are, especially with early signs, it’s hard to determine brain damage from stroke or is that Alzheimer’s?”
“I know that’s in their family. Other siblings he has have had some of the same type of things as well,” he revealed. “This has happened with just about all of his siblings that have passed away.”
This comes after Willie’s brother Jase told the world that Phil has Alzheimer’s. According to Jase, the disease has already progressed to the point where Phil is “unable to sit down and have a conversation.”
“It’s like accelerated, and it’s causing problems with his entire body. And he has early stages of Alzheimer’s,” Jase said. “So, if you put those things together, he’s really not doing well. He’s struggling.”
Phil’s Christian Faith Is Still Strong
Despite this, according to Willie, Phil is still “as sharp as ever” when it comes to his faith and biblical knowledge.
“He goes right back to that, and so we find those are things that seem to comfort him,” Willie said, adding that Phil “still quotes the Bible and still talks about his faith in God, so I think that’s been comforting and something that he hasn’t lost yet.”
“He can’t speak like he used to and teach his class, and so he’s kind of taking a break from that and his podcast and stuff,” Willie continued. “But it’s still strong and vital to him, he just can’t always make the words and thoughts that I think that he wants to make.”
Phil’s strong Christian faith has been such a major part of his life that it has transcended Alzheimer’s and any other potential mental issue for him.
“His faith is such an important part of his life,” Willie explained. “And life is short and temporary, and he’s always known that. And we’ve always had such an eternal perspective, really, on life itself. We’re not sad, we realize this is, you know, these are things that happen on this earth, and we deal with them.”
Related: ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Phil Robertson Reveals How His Christian Faith Helps Him Take On Cancel Culture
Entire Robertson Family Leans On Faith
In the end, faith is getting the entire Robertson family through the difficult experience of seeing the patriarch battle these health problems.
“In these times, that’s where the faith component really steps up,” Willie said. “This is what we’re about, this is what he’s living for and for the hope that there’s something beyond. And so, and he’s definitely a testament to that, even where he’s at in life right now.”
“But who knows? God could do some amazing things. I know there’s a lot of prayers going up,” Willie concluded. “And so it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a turn and ends up doing great, so you just never know.”
This is clearly a very difficult time for Phil and the entire Robertson family. Please join us in saying a prayer for them!
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