NEW YORK, March 9 (UPI) — Harrison Ford is grateful to New York University’s Langone Medical Center for helping his daughter, Georgia, keep her epilepsy at bay.
The “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” actor relayed the story of his 26-year-old daughter’s experience with seizures during the medical center’s recent Find a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures (FACES) gala Monday night.
“She is joining me to thank FACES. I admire a lot of things about her. I admire her perseverance, her talent, her strength. She’s my hero. I love her,” the actor said to New York Daily News.
According to Harrison Ford, NYU and FACES were of great service to his family.
“I am grateful for that,” he added, “so I’m happy to be here.”
The “Indiana Jones” star acted as chair of the event, dedicating his role to the organization’s founder Dr. Orrin Devinsky, who personally helped treat Georgia.
“Nine years ago my daughter was admitted to NYU Langone to be treated for epilepsy, and she has not had a seizure since the day she left,” Ford said, according to a release from FACES. “My family and I are grateful for Dr. Devinsky’s help and all the support that FACES provides for those who suffer from epilepsy and seizures.”
Later Monday night, Ford — also the father to four sons — said it took years for his daughter to get diagnosed before his family turned to NYU. Although Georgia experienced several seizures throughout her life, her first being at a sleepover when she was a young girl, she hadn’t been diagnosed until her college years.
“When you have a loved one who suffers from this disease, it can be devastating,” he told Daily News. “You know how it affects their lives, their future, their opportunities and you want desperately to find mitigation. You want to find a way that they can live a comfortable and effective life.”
