Patrick Swayze at the 61st Academy Awards, 1989
Patrick Swayze, best known for his roles in Ghost and Dirty Dancing, has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 57. Though lasting for some 20 months since being diagnosed with a particularly lethal form of pancreatic cancer, Patrick quietly died surrounded by those that loved him most.
Many might not remember that Patrick also battled another demon, one he had in common with millions of other people around the globe.
Patrick Swayze entered rehab in the early 1990's for treatment of alcohol abuse. His father died from alcoholism in 1982 if you remember, and his sister committed suicide. It was shortly after her death that he went into treatment for heavy drinking.
It should not be surprising that Patrick was able to overcome his troubles, not with alcohol, but with the emotional problems that drove him to heavy drinking in the first place. Having a father die of alcoholism doesn't necessarily mean that the children of one won't go on to do the same thing, however. Quite the contrary, children more often than not mimic their "observed" behavior.
In Patrick's case, however, he fought his way back to reality by beating back the demons that must have been plaguing him. It takes a lot to overcome an alcohol or drug problem, but Swayze proved true to character in overcoming it. He will be sadly missed, but not without leaving a legacy behind; his movies.
Who doesn't remember this following scene, and song in Ghost when he and Demi Moore were at the pottery wheel?
Patrick's interview with Barbara Walters
Despite the obstacles in Patrick Swayze's life, he managed to hurdle them and come out on top. That says a lot about someone's character. His 33 year marriage to Niemi was a long-term commitment rarely seen in Hollywood circles which also says loads about the man. And his wife was there to support him along the way. She must truly be shattered by the loss, yet proud to have been a major part of his life.
This article is for you Patrick, for making us laugh, cry, and hope because of everything you did in your life to make those feelings happen for us. You were a rarity in life, and a shining example of hope on the other side of adversity. And even though you lost your battle with cancer, you did so with a determination to fight it to the end; not letting the beast deter you from what you loved best. Heaven will be a much richer place with you onboard, dude, especially when God get's a hold of your Ghost story.
If you or a loved one needs help with any type of drug problem, contact these sites depending on where you reside. SEMCA (Wayne County residents), CARE (Macomb County residents), PACE (Oakland Countyresidents), Drug Free Detroit (City of Detroit residents).
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Patrick Swayze battled adversity by Michael Velardo, a.k.a. Crash Test Addict is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.examiner.com.
(Photo by Alan Light)
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Comments
Good information, Michael.
Your concluding paragraph was so moving, and eloquent. Such a lovely tribute to a Hollywood rarity. Nicely done, Michael.
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