Photo: Getty Images
Eric Dane is opening up about his difficult ALS journey in his posthumous memoir.
The Grey's Anatomy star, who passed away earlier this year after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), revealed in his new autobiography My Book of Days: A Memoir of Moments that his was initially misdiagnosed with a treatable condition before ultimately getting his ALS "death sentence," per Page Six.
Dane recalled being passed around to different hand specialists after he started "gradually losing any use of [his] right hand" before he eventually met with a neurologist. The doctor posited that he had "contracted some form of neuropathy" but the condition was "above his pay grade."
"I shuttled from doctor to doctor and underwent a battery of tests, including one called an EMG, an electromyography test," he said, noting that his medical team gave a "diagnostic consensus" of multifocal motor neuropathy.
Dane explained that the condition is a "rare autoimmune disorder causing extreme muscle weakness" and had treatments that were "90 percent effective." However, his doctors realized something else was wrong when he didn't respond to treatment and told the Euphoria actor that they had "been discussing ALS" but had to "wait and see."
"Frustrated and fed up," Dane underwent more tests, including brain scans, a lumbar puncture and spinal fluid extraction before he was eventually diagnosed with ALS in 2024, calling it a "death sentence." He publicly announced his diagnosis the following year.
Dane died on February 19 at the age of 53, nearly one year after revealing his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. His family confirmed in statement that he had passed away following his "courageous battle" with the disease.
"He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife [Rebecca Gayheart], and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," the statement read. "Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight."
The statement continued, "He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he's received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time."