COPD is a disease resulting in difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and other breathing-related issues which get worse with time and is a result of long-term exposure to substances that irritate or damage the lungs. Roughly 12 million people in the United States alone have been diagnosed with COPD but there are likely millions more that have yet to be diagnosed. Its symptoms develop slowly but as you can imagine, simple tasks will become cumbersome and even impossible once the disease progresses far enough. In fact, Nimoy was spotted in January being toted around in a wheelchair at JFK airport with a breathing tube in his nose. He went so far as to sweet “I’m doing OK. Just can’t walk distances. Love my life, family, friends and followers. LLAP.” As the third leading cause of death in the United States, it is a serious health concern with no known cure. Doctors have conducted research into reversing the damage but have thus far been unsuccessful. The typical course of treatment revolves around lifestyle changes, including exercising, eating healthy, and obviously a cessation to smoking.
Nimoy continues to plug along despite surpassing the average life expectancy of someone born in the United States and dealing with COPD. He recently taped comments for Star Trek Fest along with George Takei which aired on EPIX in the middle of February during their 24-hour movie marathon and continues to tweet regularly. The past several months Nimoy has tweeted about quitting smoking, how he quit with Smokenders (a smoking cessation seminar program), and on current events. He may be slowing down, but certainly he is full of the spirit and determination we all are used to seeing form him. Even now, he has received messages and tweets from fans that they stopped smoking because of his message. I believe this shows not only what type of man he is, but that as a society we look to those people that we see every day or every week for guidance. While not every “famous person” should be a role model, it is important that we realize the impact they can have on our lives. They have the potential to do good and help others; the fact that Nimoy continues to do this even now with his condition speaks volumes about his character, both on screen and in real life. He was never one to shy away from facing the facts, making tough choices, or even accepting that the end was near.
We thank you for all of your contributions to not only the Star Trek community but to humanity as well. We wish you the best Leonard; live long and prosper.
