#Socialites, join us in sending prayers and love to the Crews family as Rebecca King Crews bravely opens up about her health journey and battle with Parkinson’s disease… a diagnosis she says doctors didn’t catch right away.
While appearing on the TODAY show, Rebecca shared that her journey started years ago with what seemed like a small but scary moment. One morning, she reached to put on lip gloss and noticed her hand shaking. That moment instantly raised alarms for her because tremors ran in her family. She recalled knowing something wasn’t right, especially since her grandmother had experienced similar symptoms.
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Her first major signs showed up around 2012, starting with numbness in her left foot during workouts. At first, it seemed minor but over time, that numbness turned into a limp. Even as the symptoms progressed, she says doctors initially brushed it off, thinking she might just be overdoing it in the gym. Her personal trainer, however, began noticing changes too, especially how her left arm wasn’t moving the sam as her right during workouts. Despite the warning signs, Rebecca said doctors kept pointing to anxiety as the cause.
To make matters worse, a neurologist also struggled to pinpoint what was really happening. It took nearly three years of confusion, frustration, and unanswered questions before a Parkinson’s specialist finally recognized the condition and confirmed the diagnosis in 2015.
Even with the challenges, Rebecca shared some encouraging updates about how she’s doing today. “I feel good,” King Crews said during the segment. “I’m able to write my name and my dates, and I’m able to write with my right hand for the first time in probably three years,” she told the outlet.
Recently, she decided to take a big step forward in managing her symptoms by undergoing a newly approved, non-invasive procedure known as bilateral focused ultrasound. The treatment received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just last year and is designed to help reduce tremors and improve movement.
Experts say focused ultrasound can deliver fast results and is often considered for patients who either cannot or choose not to undergo deep brain stimulation, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Still, it’s important to note that the procedure isn’t a cure and doesn’t replace the need for medication, it works alongside ongoing treatment.
Rebecca went through the procedure on March 4 and says she has already seen noticeable improvements since then. After living with Parkinson’s for more than a decade, she decided now was the right time to share her story, not just for herself, but to help others who may be facing the same battle.
The 60-year-old explained that her motivation for speaking out goes beyond her own journey. She wants to raise awareness about the procedure and the hope it brings, especially since it’s not widely accessible yet.
“I wanted to potentially make it more available to others, because it’s an expensive surgery, it’s not covered (by insurance) yet,” King Crews said. “And (I want) to give hope to people with Parkinson’s, because I believe that we’re going to find the cure.”
Through it all, Rebecca’s transparency is shining a light on how important it is to listen to your body and push for answers—even when doctors don’t get it right the first time. And right now, fans everywhere are keeping the Crews family in their prayers as she continues to fight with strength and faith.