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Wednesday, November 13, 2002
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Jerry Lewis
With an alarming weight gain, his appearance on this year's Labor Day telethon shocked millions of viewers and raised serious questions about showbiz legend Jerry Lewis's health.
In a candid conversation with "Extra," the 76-year-old comedy king reveals the swollen face and 45-pound weight gain is a side effect of medication he's on to treat pulmonary fibrosis, an inflammation of the lungs that scars the tissue. He says, "It helps your lungs, but it kills you everywhere else. Puts on 50 lbs in the first four weeks."
But it was Lewis's unbearable back pain that almost drove him over the edge, sitting in his den despairing for weeks on end. He says, "I had a 9mm in my house and I go, ‘I am going to do it tonight, put it in my mouth and just finish it.’"
It was his 10-year-old daughter Danny who kept him from taking that drastic step. He says, "She said, ‘Daddy, I don’t think you're going to get better unless you use your courage.’ And she and this made the difference in my whole life."
After four decades of consulting the world's top doctors, Lewis says it was a medical breakthrough that provided relief. The remote-controlled pain pacemaker is implanted under Lewis's skin, which delivers electric impulses to the spine, leaving Lewis pain free.
He says jokingly, "It also opens my garage door."
Lewis reveals it was the years of his legendary pratfalls that led to his debilitating back condition. He says, "I would say I’ve hit the deck and ruined my spine, maybe six or seven thousand falls at least."
But now Jerry's back on his feet, finally pain free, enjoying a new lease on life.
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