Rebecca Gayheart shared that she halted her divorce proceedings with Eric Dane after he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
The actor, known for his role in Grey’s Anatomy, disclosed his ALS condition in April, initially attributing his early symptoms to excessive texting. Unfortunately, the reality was far more severe than he had anticipated.
Every year, approximately 5,000 individuals in the United States receive an ALS diagnosis.
The Mayo Clinic describes ALS as a progressive disorder that impacts nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to worsening muscle control, making activities like moving, speaking, swallowing, and breathing increasingly challenging over time.
As of now, there is no known cure for ALS.
In October, Dane was seen using a wheelchair during a rare family outing to Sushi Park in West Hollywood with Gayheart and their daughter Georgia.
Married in 2004, Dane and Gayheart, who is a model, have two teenage daughters, Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13.
In 2018, Gayheart filed for divorce after 14 years of marriage, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’.
SHE had sought joint legal and physical custody of their children, as well as spousal support, according to PEOPLE. However, Gayheart dismissed the divorce in March, seven years after initially filing, just weeks before Dane publicly disclosed his diagnosis.
Gayheart recently appeared on the Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen podcast, where she elaborated on why the divorce never finalized.
Despite being separated for eight years, she wanted to set an example for her daughters, emphasizing the importance of ‘showing up for people no matter what’.
“…And he is our family, he is your father,” she said. “We show up and we try to do it with some dignity and some grace and just get through it, and that we will get through it the best we can.”
“I mean, it’s super complicated for me.”
During the podcast, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress reflected on the challenging experience of supporting her daughters through their father’s diagnosis, describing it as ‘humbling’.
“I think one piece of this that I hope I’m passing to my kids is the idea that you can show up for someone and be there for them, but you also have to show up for yourself, and that this is life,” she said.
“Life, sadly, is just moments, good and bad, strung together. There’s gonna be good ones, there’s gonna be bad ones, there’s gonna be exciting ones, it’s gonna be really sad.”
In a June interview with Good Morning America, Dane expressed his appreciation for Gayheart’s unwavering support.
Calling her his ‘biggest champion’, he shared, “I talk to her every day. We have managed to become better friends and better parents.”
“And she is … probably my biggest champion and my most stalwart supporter. And I lean on her.”