Billy Joel’s wife shared a message from the iconic musician’s Instagram page on Monday, thanking fans for their love and support during her husband’s brain damage diagnosis.
Joel, 76, cancelled the date for his upcoming concert on Friday, sharing that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH.
Alexis Roderick Joel said on Monday that their family is “very grateful for the amazing care we received and the prompt diagnosis.”
A statement posted on Joel’s Instagram on Friday said the condition was “immortalized by recent concert performances, leading to hearing, vision and balance issues.” This is most commonly diagnosed in older people, usually around the age of 70.
Joel is undergoing treatment for the condition, including “specific physical therapy,” the statement said. Doctors told NBC News that NPH is often treatable and can even be reversed.
“Bill is loved by many, and for us, he is his father and husband at the heart of our world,” continued Roderick Joel. “We look forward to his recovery and look forward to seeing you all in the future.”
The message was accompanied by a photo of the couple with their two young daughters, Della and Remy.
Joel’s diagnosis comes after the fall of February during a show in Uxville, Connecticut. A video posted to Tiktok showed Joel throwing Mike and Mike’s stands into the crowd before losing his balance and falling to his side. He then rolled onto his back, stopped and tried to stand up on his own.
It is not clear whether this fall is related to the diagnosis of NPH, and doctors said no one knows what causes the condition.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, is a disorder that affects mostly the elderly. This is what you need to know.
NPH can cause memory loss, bladder control issues, and walking problems. In many cases, patients are diagnosed after meeting their doctor about concerns that they have dementia.
Joel’s ex-wife, Christy Brinkley, shared her well-read and literacy for the “Piano Man” singer over the weekend in an Instagram post featuring a video of Joel and her daughter, Alexa Ray Joel at a recent concert.
“As we all sway in unison, you turn the arena of strangers into a living room full of friends,” Brinkley wrote in the post. “When I say it, I’m sure I’m talking for everyone in that room. Take care of yourself. We all want you to return to that white hot spotlight. You’re our piano guy. And we’re always in the mood for your melody.
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