Robin Williams’ wife of four years, Susan Schneider, issued a statement about her husband’s death yesterday. Schneider said that her husband had not relapsed at the time of his suicide and that he was sober. He was, however, in the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, something that he was not ready to disclose. Here is Schneider’s statement:
Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the frontlines, or comforting a sick child — Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid. Since his passing, all of us who loved Robin have found some solace in the tremendous outpouring of affection and admiration for him from the millions of people whose lives he touched. His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles.
Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.
It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.
Among all the incredible, heartfelt memories of Williams’ wit, warmth and kindness, this touched me the most. We have no idea what he was going through and Schneider just shed a small amount of light on it. Williams was brave and he was dealing with more than we realize. Many experts are coming out to say that Parkinson’s can both cause depression and exacerbate existing depression.
Someone close to me has had Parkinson’s disease for many years. He battled with depression that predated his diagnosis. His ability to do things for himself has greatly diminished, and he became nearly incapacitated when doctors changed his medication. (His family advocated for him, got him off that medication and he’s somewhat stable now.) It seems like a struggle for him every day. I cannot imagine what he goes through, just as I cannot understand what profound, deep depression feels like, even if I think I’ve experienced it in the past. You can only be there for your loved ones, and sometimes that is not enough.
Michael J. Fox has tweeted a response to this news. He wrote that he’s “stunned” to learn that Robin had Parkinson’s and added that Robin has been a longtime supporter of his foundation for Parkinson’s research.
Stunned to learn Robin had PD. Pretty sure his support for our Fdn predated his diagnosis. A true friend; I wish him peace.
— Michael J. Fox (@realmikefox) August 14, 2014
photo credit: WENN.com and FameFlynet
Bless his sweet heart. Depression and PD – it was all just too much
It’s really sad. My dad has Parkinson’s and I’d like to add that some of the possible medicines can increase depression. We had to take him off of a medicine because he was getting paranoid and quite depressed WITHOUT even realizing it. He didn’t even realize how he was acting; meds can do weird things.
You make a good point about the medications exacerbating some symptoms. I’m sorry to hear about your father. Huntington’s Disease – which is similar to Parkinson’s – runs in my family. It’s a dominant, hereditary disease, and every child of someone who has it has a 50% chance of contracting it. My father died before he could be tested, so we have no idea if he actually had it, but the possibility of one day contracting it is extremely daunting. It’s influenced every major life choice I’ve made since I was a teenager.
Raindrop
Live each day with grace, beauty and purpose and the future will be a blessing no matter what happens. But I pray for your health and happiness. You seem like a brave soul 🙂
Oh, that makes perfect sense. Few people would ever decide to go through with a neuro-disease, they are so crippling and overwhelming. It is a huge battle to have one, and to know whats coming… if I knew what was coming, I would evaluate my situation too.
So sorry to hear about your Father’s condition, Mmhmm. I can only imagine how stressful it is for both him and your family. I also agree about the meds; I have two friends, both suffering from depression, and BOTH had to get off all anti-depressants as they worsened their respective conditions. Each person’s brain/bio chemistry is unique; not everyone who suffers depression can even touch a med.
Such a gentle soul. I’m still so sad about it, especially knowing that he was depressed and afraid and unable to find solace. I think his family has shown enormous grace and strength through the aftermath of this tragedy. My heart aches for them. I can’t bear to mentally put myself in their place. It’s too horrifying.
Yes…RIP sweet and gentle man.
The Daily Mail is running an article with photos of Robin allegedly taken the day before he committed suicide. It’s now getting to be too much. Let this man rest in peace and let his family grieve in peace.
Jessica6, Agree. It’s like the media cannot slow down their coverage. It’s time for them to back the eff off and as you said, let the grieving and healing go on without the glare of the spotlight.
I agree.
Completely agree. He seemed to only want to put a smile on peoples faces. Hope everyone is giving his family peace as well.
I think the press has enough info on this.
I feel exactly the same way.
Jesus, this just gets sadder…
I’m glad that she’s said he hadn’t lapsed in his recovery. I’m not sure why but I think some awful people were quick to say he was back drinking and doing drugs and that’s why he did it.
I thought the same thing, and I am horrified by the fact that because of trolls and all the speculations about Robin’s death his wife had to make a statement.
It is so sad. I heard that Parkinson’s causes depression so he must have really been dealing with a lot. He is finally at peace.
And the man already suffered from depression for years. Add on Parkinson’s. Poor man.
I can’t with this, my mother has multiple sclerosis, it is another thing, but I know how such a diagnosis can be overwhelming and awful, you see your body refuse to do stupid normal things, it’s very difficult to accept. Now I understand why he felt the need to go in rehab to renew his commitment to sobriety, he was battling.
I am very sorry.
Sorry to hear about your mother
thank you she is (luckily) pretty stable, it is an horrible disease it can be silent for years then wake up and kick you in the a@#. But we try to stay positive and live day by day. Yesterday we were to the doctor and he found her even better than he thought 🙂
I honestly don’t think I would be able to handle that. I can’t imagine not being able to take care of myself or knowing I may be confined to a wheelchair or bed until my demise. The thought alone would put me in a severe depression, I couldn’t imagine how it would feel if I was already in a depressed state.
Ditto.
Ack that’s tough – my Mom has MS too .. her’s is pretty stable too but there are things she can’t do and it’s sad .. She’s seeing her neurologist next week, she’s been having memory problems. And she’s bipolar so .. it’s tough.
One of my uncles has parkinsons and it’s really sad to see how much he has deteriorated through the years. He’s so frail now and so hard to understand when he talks. He refuses to accept he can’t do things and gets hurt.
My best wishes for you and your mum. I hope the best for the visit.
I’m sorry to hear about your mother 🙁 My husband has MS and was diagnosed when he was 18. He’s 35 now. It’s incredibly difficult watching a loved one struggle with their disease and the progression of disability that can change their life so much. It devastates me every time when he gets hospitalized when he has a major flare up. The medication he is on causes depression and the nurse hotline calls every 6 months to ask questions about his general mood and if I have noticed any mood changes. Considering he has been living with MS for 17 years and can still walk on his own is amazing and he always has the nurses laughing when he gets his infusions but sometimes there are moments where he’ll let his guard down and you can see a quiet sadness that no one can really understand.
My heart goes out to the Williams’ family 🙁
Heartbreaking. Prayers and positive energy for you and your husband.
A big hug to you and your husband, it’s a rollercoaster, my mum suffered of a big depression episode in may, luckily it went better.
Parkinson’s would explain his physical changes in his last months. It could have been meds or the disease itself that left RW so thin and pale
Bless him and give him peace. I’ve dealt with Parkinson’s in my family and thankfully there have been more good days than bad. But if your depression left you unable to “feel” those good days? I just can’t begin to imagine.
For the less intelligent media sources I’d like to remind them…the diagnosis was not the “reason”. It was not “why”. He had awful clinical depression. Searching for a “why” is futile. There is enough misunderstanding about depression and suicide, let’s not be simple-minded about it now.
Well put. +1
I was trying to say essentially the same, but got cut. Off to the other threads.
My father has Parkinson’s, and he is pretty long-suffering about it. He just doesn’t complain, and gets on. I have never heard a morbidity rate concerning suicide, for those so afflicted. Unfortunately, depression is a killer, and when one starts isolating, because of that downward spiral of self-hate, depression becomes deadly. How sad that he felt that he wasn’t able to find help, in restoring his hope. In that finality, he probably saw no way out of his pain.
So sorry to hear about your Father’s condition, wolfpup. I have a friend whose mother is afflicted with this, and she states it’s a disease that afflicts the entire family more intensely than many realize.
Thank you @Mia
The media and amateur psychologists really need to take several seats. Severe clinical depression is horrible all on it’s own with a high suicide rate. People who have never reached those low depths will never understand. You can have mild or moderate depression all your life but when you reach the SEVERE level it’s like being hit with a Mack truck. You are knocked to your knees and find it impossible to get back up.
The Parkinson’s could have pushed him from moderate depression to severe depression or it could have happened all on it’s own. We don’t know and it should stay his private business. His wife shouldn’t even have to disclose his new Parkinson’s diagnosis but ignorant people are forcing her to tell more just because they don’t understand depression.
I second this, wholeheartedly, and well said! Robin Williams’ medical history is really none of any one else’s business. I also think that we’ve reached the point as a society, where we are hypercritical and quick to think that if people have problems, that they’ve somehow brought them upon themselves, or aren’t trying ‘hard enough’ to overcome them.
..and the story just gets sadder.
I watched Mrs Doubtfire with my niece yesterday and my two year old niece couldn’t understand why I was crying. It makes me a little sad that people her age might not appreciate his movies the way I did cuz I grew up in the 90s. I’m going to miss him so much.
You said it perfectly. I shed a tear the moment I found out and I never cried for any celebrity that passed on. This just feel so personal because I grew up in 90’s too and he was everywhere! (comedies/drama/tragedy/suspense movies). He brought us so much joy and greatness into his movies. Just like somebody mentioned on Robin’s thread, it’s like losing a fun and amazing uncle!
My immediate thought after learning that he had Parkinson’s was that maybe he took his life believing that doing so would mean not “putting” his family through the progression of the disease. Given all we’ve read about him, he was likely keenly aware of the impact his alcoholism may have had on others and maybe blamed himself. Just my guesses. This story gets sadder and sadder. As a friend of mine said “Alcoholism, depression, paranoia, anxiety, Parkinson’s, those individually are lifelong battles. I can’t imagine how hard it was to deal with them all concurrently.” My heart is still sad for Robin and his family.
I Agree, after reading articles about all the things that he was battling. I don’t think I would be able to deal with all of that. It’s sad.
So now that his wife has revealed this, can we let him rest in peace?
+111111111111111111111
This please… Let him rest in peace….
These revelations could help other people dealing with similar illness. OTOH, Robin might have felt embarrassment and didn’t want the public to know he had a debilitating disease and that drove him to depression.
Amen.
I agree. I’m still in shock he’s one. rip funny man.
That poor man, he just never got a break from his struggles, he had to battle one thing after another.
I know it sounds crazy but my heart actually hurts when I think how he suffered.
No, it’s not crazy. Most of us grew up watching Robin Williams. He was so open about his life, most felt a connection to him. Robin made us feel happy when we were sad, and he will continue to do so. But it’s not strange in any way to feel as though we actually knew him, to have loved him and to miss him. I like to picture him in Heaven, telling jokes, dancing around, happy. He is at peace now. My thoughts and love go out to his loved ones.
He was suffering more than anyone knew. He is at peace, and I hope his family finds peace also.
i’m not a gamer, but my husband is, and so apparently was robin. i thought this was sweet and touching.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/08/14/340412878/robin-williams-an-avid-gamer-to-be-remembered-in-world-of-warcraft
I’m so sorry Robin. I really hope that there will be a cure one day soon. This deeply saddens me because MJF has been publicly advocating for more attention and research for this disease. Gosh, I can’t even begin to fan thin what poor Robin was going through. It’s hard to stabilize depression on its own, but to have a disease that heightens it. I can’t fan them struggle. I hope that there will be a cure for this disease one day soon.
Unfortunately there’s no incentive to “cure” any type of disease.
The drug industry would much rather treat diseases by requiring those that are affected to take medication every day for the rest of their lives.
It’s all about the money.
this type of conspiratorial thinking is really counterproductive, and not at all reality-based.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/demonizing-big-pharma/
You got THAT right about big pharma, Tippy. Couldn’t agree more about that corrupt industry and the sheer and utter hell and havoc they inflict.
Tippy, you are correct! As someone that has lived with Multiple Sclerosis for over ten years now, I can attest to what you speak of about the drug/medical industry. MS, Cancer, etc are huge moneymakers and that is not ‘conspiratorial thinking’ by any means. Talk to people who live this rather than link an article, such as Ag has done! There are always new, extremely expensive “medicines” coming out for these diseases (usually with horrendous side effects, such as depression) …It’s all about the money!
Yeah a link to “sciencebasedmedicine”, they certainly have no dog in this fight! Follow the $, like always. Where’s the money in curing a disease? My stepdad died of MS, I have RA and the meds are often worse than the disease itself.
No one will ever know with certainty what pushed him to his limit that night. One of my husband’s first comments was that for all anyone knew, Robin might have been diagnosed with a serious health problem.
My father was diagnosed with PD at 62, within weeks of his retirement. He had never taken medication before, but his daily life now revolves around them. Doing simple things is challenging and the tremors are awful. Rather than worry about the future, we just take it one day at a time. But getting to this point after 12 years has been a journey.
I help my parents daily, and I try to do my part to keep things upbeat, because emotional upheaval makes PD symptoms much worse. If someone already has depression, I can imagine it would be even more challenging.
For me, one of the nicest articles I read about Robin Williams was the one where he reunited with his old co-star, Pam Dawber, when she made a guest appearance on his cancelled series, “The Crazy Ones”. I was so happy that he and Pam had a chance to meet up again prior to his death. Robin and Pam had not seen each other for 20 years (the last time they saw each other was way back when she took her eldest son to visit Robin on the set of “Hook”). Robin and Pam were very close during the making of “Mork and Mindy”. Robin stated Pam could read him like a book.
When the producers of “The Crazy Ones” suggested to Robin that Pam make a guest appearance, his eyes welled up with tears – he had really missed her, and she him. They had a ball making the episode, and kept in close touch after the episode was filmed. It was, in a sense, for Robin, coming full circle with his reunion with Pam. I’m so glad these two had the chance to meet up again. She is said to be beyond devastated and just gutted by his death.
Rest in peace, dear man.
I’ve been feeling guilty for only giving The Crazy Ones like half an episode before ruling it out. I’m sure he felt like it was a professional “failure” and that didn’t help anything else he was battling. It’s nice to know this reunion with Pam came out of it.
TQB, Robin shouldn’t have viewed his series cancellation as a failure, as, let’s face it, networks today do NOT give any new series any chance to grow and fine tune their scripts/casting, etc. But, it was sad that Robin felt he had “failed”.
TQB, I have been feeling guilty about that show myself. I know it is silly, but I feel terrible for not even watching one episode. I love his comedy, but I don’t watch a lot of network tv, so I didn’t even try to watch it. Deep down I know what happened was probably the result of other factors, but my irrational side still feels some guilt.
I was actually starting to enjoy it when the cancellation was announced. I don’t think their ratings were all that bad either, but CBS is just overloaded with all those CSI NCIS type shows that people for some reason watch in droves.
The best part was always the blooper clips at the end – it seemed like they all had a really fun time making the show, so it’s nice they had that experience together.
I actually did watch it, and it wasn’t nearly as awful as everyone says. I recommend revisiting it and watching a few episodes, even if you do it out of order. He played a recovered alcoholic with an adult daughter he loved very much, and you could tell his whole heart was in that role. Some of the improvisation and gags were hilarious, too.
I thought the same thing.
I actually enjoyed The Crazy Ones, and loved when they played he bloopers at the end of each episode. I think it was more the writers, the script wasn’t the greatest in my opinion, and a lot of things were so back and forth with the characters. The execution just wasn’t done well.
I understand people writing that it’s time to let him rest and such, but I feel that most articles I’ve read have been positive, and I see nothing wrong with those articles, I enjoy reading them I enjoy seeing that Robin was human, and had struggles. I feel more articles are helping.
Yes, a lot of coverage, but it will not slow down until all the results from autopsy are back. Most of the coverage is positive with the occasional bad, but I feel the positive articles outweigh the negative.
Also, articles about Robin are raising awareness for diseases that are often brushed under the table or rug. Now, since it’s more public, it could actually help those struggling.
RIP Robin Williams.
Ash, I agree with you and since we’re on the subject of awareness, some of the effects of speed and other drugs from that era (look up MDMA on wikipedia) are probably responsible for some of the Parkinson’s disease in this age group. Maybe not in Robin’s case, but be careful what you put in your bodies, folks. Recently there’s been some reports that MDMA might actually help the symptoms but it can leave you with a bad-ass depression, per Wikipedia. I hope he wasn’t self-medicating, trying to treat his diease
I am actually aware if the effects of drugs from his era. My dad and him were close to the same age, and a good portion of the people he knew from them are being diagnosed with similar diseases. I also learned about different drugs, both legal and illicit, in my medically training. I’m glad I never did anyone those drugs in my youth. And to think, a good portion of drug being manufactured are worse, because they’re more potent due to mixing with other hard drugs. Scary. I read that study, it interesting.
I get the impression that he was probably not self medicating, because he was in treatment for depression. Most likely they put him on medication.
I know this is negative, but I don’t think I would be able to deal with having to battle all those either. My dad and I were talking yesterday after we finished doing our routine yoga DVD, and I read the article. We both said that we don’t think with of is would be able to even being to fathom how to deal with all those.
Like someone mentioned above, each of those things he struggled with (anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s, recovering addict, etc) are in themselves, individually, a battle.
I glad, that in a way, Robin is free.
While I believe it important to have empathy and understanding for depression and suicide, I think it’s important not to shift toward absolute canonization or to romanticize the act itself.
I’m not judging Robin for his own decision. It was his and he was a grown-up with much life experience and a long history, so therefore he knew his own limitations. And my heart goes out to the family who are deeply wounded by this loss. He was, by most accounts, a truly lovely person in life. At the same time, it’s critical to consider young people experiencing clinical depression, who are exposed to this narrative, who may have ideations of suicide, who begin to view suicide as a real option in receiving love in death with a clean slate. “They will miss me and truly love me when I’m gone” is a dangerous mindset for impressionable minds. It may not have been selfish to commit suicide, but it shouldn’t be made into a Shakespearean heroic act either. Everyone is human. In life we love people, warts and all. Their death doesn’t change that.
I was trying to romanticize it if that’s now my comment came off. I’m in no way trying to condone suicide, but more so, that I don’t know what I would do if presented with the same situation. I think other routes should be taken before anything bad happens.
I see your point, and you make a clear statement. I may not have completely thought out my responses, I’m still not completely awake, and had to play with the breaker box before finding out the own town’s electricity was off due to a fire.
I don’t condone or support suicide, but I can understand why people do it.
Thank you for saying this, Kiddo. It also doesn’t help sufferers of chronic illnesses to hear the “no wonder – who wants to live like that” commentary. If we get to live long enough, something is going to eventually fall in our path. You play the cards you are dealt in life as best you can.
If anything positive comes out of this, maybe it’s increased compassion and recognition that everyone carries their own personal burdens and we should help each other as best we can.
I’m not picking on any one comment, either, because I am seeing a lot of the same themes across different comment boards.
@POe, I apologize for making it sound directed specifically at you. Your post was a bit of a jump-off point on my thoughts for the general tone.
@kiddo you’re all right, but you made a valid point, I must admit. I didn’t feel attack, more so, I figured someone would take my originally post wrongly and it was best to clear the air.
No need to apologize, but thank you.
@Christin you bith make valid points. I think some good will come out of it. People are already talking more openly about depression and suiced, and some of the people I know have changed their negatives views in mental illnesses, it’s a start.
Don’t worry guys, I didn’t feel attacked or anything like that. You’re fine.
@Poe, I am glad you understand. I’m reading so many comments about how people understand and support his decision, which is fine. No matter how many photos and stories surface, we’ll never know for certain what he thought in those final moments.
I have two parents with significant physical issues due to chronic Illness. My mother was diagnosed with the most severe form of arthritis after my birth. Both my parents were clean living, healthy people up until the day they found out that a devastating disease was lurking inside and would slowly rob them of independence. They have each said they wish they could just go to sleep and not wake up.
I am trying to use Robin’s death as an opportunity to better understand the effects of severe depression, and I hope maybe someone will gain a better understanding of the compassion and support people with chronic physical illness need.
Sometimes those who complain the least are the ones who suffer most.
@Christin I always try to be open minded, I may only be 25, but I always try to have an open mind about anything and everything. Sorry to hear about your parents illnesses, I hope they can be as comfortable as possible. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be to be you or your parents.
I only some understanding about severe depression from my teenage years, because I net through major depression, and it changed my opinions about many different subjects, it would take hours to do so. I don’t know what I would donor think if I was ever diagnosis with an illness that limited my thinking and physical abilities, I love yoga, and I love my independence. Depression was hard enough.
The articles that have come out talking about depression and suicide since Robin passed has been some of the best articles I’ve read that explain it.
Godspeed to you and your family.
@Poe, thank you for sharing your experience and your kind words. I am glad (hope) you are doing much better. You sound really mature and insightful.
I have a lot to learn about depression and mental illness. It has been enlightening to read comments and articles that help describe what goes on.
I have so many mixed feelings about this sad situation. I read an article today about a young athlete who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and his comments now compared to just a short time ago show he’s adjusting and his outlook is better. But there are some horror stories, to be sure. The unknown is scary.
I truly believe Robin could have had a few good years once his medication was worked out for Parkinson’s. Every case is different. If he worried a lot or stayed stressed, though, it makes the symptoms much worse. And if he had financial concerns, working might have been more difficult for him. MJF has been very open about how he times his medication to be able to do the simplest of tasks. He’s done well to have had Parkinson’s for more than 20 years. I wish Robin would have reached out to him.
@Christin, no problem, and think you for the compliment. I get told I’m mature and insightful a lot, which tend to find funny, because those words are usually not used to describe a 25 year old often. But, thank you. I’ve been through a lot in my short 25, hence why I’m so easy going and open minded.
I can’t imagine being an athlete diagnosed with Parkinson’s. That would be hard. I still don’t know what I would do if I were ever in those situations.
On a side note: I am much, much better than I was in my teens. The depression originally started when my heart condition got worse, and the possibility of a second open heart, then it got severe when my brother passed when I was 15. I got help as an adult, and am much better. I still have my days when I get down, but I’ve not be in deep depression for a long time, and plan to keep it that way. I never want to feel like that again. My heart miraculously cured itself, and now I no longer have to see a cardiologist.
I remember watching an MJF interview, and remember him shaking so much, and having some difficultly talking. That would be so tough to deal with. It takes a lot of strength to be the person doing it or assisting someone with that condition.
Given what you have already gone through, it’s no wonder you are a wise soul! I may be presumptuous to assume this, but it sounds like you went straight from child to adult.
Maybe it’s because I try to convince myself, but I think people who endure hardship at a young age can end up being able to roll with the punches better than others who don’t have those type of bumpy roads.
Not presumptuous at all to assume that. People have been through worse than me, I just try to have a level head in everything I do and say. I have the occasional hiccup, but I know life can be taken at any moment.
I’m on the same wavelength with people being through hardship young being able to row with the punches.
Parkinson’s Disease. Unbelievable.
After being diagnosed with heart disease.
It’s just too sad for words.
This makes things make a lot more sense to me for a few reasons, mainly that PD drugs can sometimes come with nasty side effects that worsen depression, hell even some anti-depressants can cause suicidal thoughts in people if it reacts badly with you. When we heard the Dude said his theory was a combination of all those factors and now we get this and personally I get it. I went through cancer treatments as a kid and if I was diagnosed again…depending on the position of the disease I can fully admit I would choose my own time to go out. It’s hard to explain if you haven’t been there but I know even from my fuzzy memories of it all that I never want to feel like that again. I’m not talking small easily treated cancer/other diseases but if I had a terminal diagnosis or debilitating disease. I would not want to put my family through all that; we’ve done it many times already. Anyway ramble over, flame on.
I’ve felt the same way, about the possibility of a diagnosis of some terminal disease. Fight or let nature run its course? Most days, nature would win. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder when I was just barely into puberty, and the monthly doctor’s visits, the tests to diagnose the damn thing, x-rays, pills, all this on top of a less than great home life and depression, it wears a person down. To know my parents and siblings resented me, because I required so much, for something I never even asked for, I kind of wonder now how I managed. Guess we’re stronger than we think, until the day we just aren’t.
Do hope the fervor lets up soon. This has felt triggering for me in some way, but knowing the majority of news items about him are overwhelmingly positive, that he was loved, he will hopefully continue to be, is some small comfort. And the negative ones are not even worth the time. But for the sake of his loved ones, maybe it’s time to stop talking about it, remember him as he was, with a thankful heart, and continue to enjoy the gifts he left us all. I like to think he’d prefer the world to forget him and smile than remember and be sad.
I am speaking from a broken heart but was everything done to save/revive him on Monday? Is it too late? The call was made around 11.50/55, meds didn’t get to the scene until noon and then they tried for a few mins. Couldnt/can’t something be done?? Anything ???? It can’t end this way, it’s way too sad. I even considered holding a seance or finding a way to communicate with him, I am that devastated.
Is it really over?
Rigor mortis had already set in by the time he was discovered, so, there was literally nothing they could do to bring him back. Coming from a person who’s watched a lot of medical do time documentaries, and has a dual degree in medical assisting and surgical technology, not an MD, but we learn a lot of the same things.
Sadly bad unfortunately, there was literally nothing they could do for him. By law, paramedics have to attempt a rescue even if it’s not actually possible to bring them back.
I don’t want to go into much more detail about rigor mortis or his death, because sometimes, it can be gruesome to describe, and I don’t know how old anyone is.
Please don’t hold a seance. The only things those do, if you truly believe they work, is cause bad things to happen.
Do NOT do a seance or anything like that!! Contacting spirits is extremely dangerous and immensely stupid! They are not who they claim to be and can be evil, and then you will have a big problem. You will not likely reach Robin Williams and they can lie, so PLEASE don’t do it!!
Poor Robin. Depression, struggles with his recovery, a diagnosis that would distress even someone who wasn’t in a fragile place, and some career bumps on top of it. Some people can struggle through that, and for some people it’s just too much. Hopefully his family finds peace.
I can’t imagine what it must have been like for him. That diagnosis would be scary for anyone. And after having had open heart surgery and being bi-polar. Wow. I will miss him. I missed him the minute I heard what had happened. Peace to his family and friends.
Still so very sad. I cried watching Hook last night when Peter is trying to save his children and they urge him “don’t give up. Please don’t give up.” That broke me down. I watched one of his more recent interviews and you can tell he was just tired. He was tried of fighting. He faced demons that none but himself could ever fathom. I think he fought as long as he did for his children and family and all those who loved him, but he was just tired. I hope with all my heart he comes to know the peace he couldn’t find in this life. Rest in Peace Robin 🙁
I was quite young when a doctor did a procedure on my mother and caused her to suffer a major stroke. For three months she was comatose and we didnt know if she would ever wake up or if she did would she be ok. When she came out of her coma she had no memory, was unable to speak, walk or take care of herself. She lasted twenty eight years in that state. At the time of her death she had a vocabulary of approximately fifity words, one of them being the word dead. She said it most days. She had been a very vibrant person prior to the stroke. To think for twenty-eight years she would prefer death but had to suffer through a life she didnt want. I wonder sometimes if death is a blessing to those who suffer so much.
Sorry to hear that, Mrs. McC. Had to be tough to deal with. I, too, wonder about death being a release for those in agony….I think it is.
When I was thinking about this today, I remembered Casey Kasem (who was initially diagnosed with Parkinsons but later re-diagnosed with Lewy Body). Either which way, the disease left Kasem at the mercy of others. Even though he had made a legal order years before his death & which dictated who (his kids) would control his health care management when he became incapacitated, it still ended up a nightmare for him towards the last few years of his life. And there was nothing he could do about it as he didn’t have the strength & mental capacity to re-take control over his own self.
I can understand why someone like Williams, whose career & personality was based on how frantically he could use & control his body would feel about losing that control. This on top of the depression would probably have seemed overwhelming and frightening to him. Though I don’t know if Williams had Kasem’s circumstances in his mind, I wonder if he was worried about what would happen to him when he would be much more elderly with this disease. But also, I’m not saying Parkinsons was the sole or majority or however much reason for his decision to commit suicide. We won’t know for sure what were the exact reasons since he didn’t leave a note.
Robin lived to work. It was who he was. Probably, with a mind that went 20,000 miles an hour, work was soothing to him. He did everything to extremes. When he started biking, he went at it it full force. The heart surgery years back changed him in some ways and his outlook on life and looking more inward, but he still worked. I think battling his demons as he already was and facing a devastating diagnosis must have been just too much for him. I read once that years back when he was so depressed he didn’t take meds because he worried it would affect his creativity. And like others have said, often the Parkinson’s meds can exacerbate pre-existing depression. But I think Robin was battling severe depression for many reasons, not just one.
It’s still so sad. And for his family the way he died and also no note, it appears, these must be devastating things to deal with on top of dealing with the grief and the shock of losing him.
I thought about Casey as well, and how some media outlets repeatedly said he had Parkinson’s. That widely reported and very unfortunate family drama (which involved second wife versus his children) very well may have been noted by Robin. Once you know someone close to you who has Parkinson’s, you pay attention to every story because you wonder how they’re going to fare.
And I fully agree that we’ll never know the real background of what he was thinking. I did read today that the police are being vague as to whether there was a note. Initially, it sounded as if there was not a note, but now it seems they are wording that differently (not confirming or denying).
The way reporters are responding to questions regarding a note, I’d say there’s a good chance that there’s a note, but for his sake I hope it’s not released un less he specifically says in the note, if it exists, that he wants his fans to see it.
Lewy Body Disease, a form of dementia, is part of Parkinson’s disease as it progresses. Usually seen at the late stages of Parkinson’s. You eventually die. Nasty, Nasty disease. I am conversant on the symptoms and complications of LBD and Parkinson’s because a close relative has it. Any comments are appreciated.
I can fully understand that Williams, having experience depression for most of his life, would feel unable to cope with another debilitating disease and would want to leave.
It’s scary to think the amount of pain he was feeling to decide he had to take the step, and even with all his resources and family support he couldn’t find relief. It seems like he had a gem of a wife, who would have stuck it out with him. The financial burden from his last divorce made his mental state even worse 🙁
Manic depression. I miss the “old term.” So less-clinical than “Bipolar I” or whatever the current DSM is. Alternating mania and depression runs in my family. The day Robin Williams appeared on Mork and Mindy, I strongly suspected he had it. The eyes are the big reveal. I’m sure heart disease, meds and a world of sorrow played contributing roles. The gene skipped me, but I think last word on Robin Williams’ depressing suicide belongs to novelist David Foster Wallace, who took his own life after going off meds: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/200381-the-so-called-psychotically-depressed-person-who-tries-to-kill-herself
Thank you for sharing. Very enlightening to have it explained in that way.
Wow. Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing that link. One of the most perfect descriptions I’ve read. I’ve copied and pasted it and sent to many I know. Haunting, yet apt.