Robin Williams’ Wife Describes His Last 10 Devastating Months

KTLA ^ | 10/01/2016

[BenLurkin]

She describes how, toward the end of his life, “Robin was losing his mind and he was aware of it.” He was struggling with paranoia, anxiety, delusions, insomnia, and other symptoms both physical and mental, and for months, he and his wife could get no answers about what was happening to him.

He was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but as his symptoms continued to worsen, he grew “weary” and it felt like they were both “drowning.” Then, ultimately, he took his own life.

It was only after his death that an autopsy revealed Williams actually had Lewy body disease — his clinical symptoms mirrored Parkinson’s, but his brain pathology showed that almost all of the neurons throughout his brain and brainstem had been besieged by Lewy bodies, Schneider Williams writes.

When she found out, she wasn’t surprised: “The mere fact that something had invaded nearly every region of my husband’s brain made perfect sense to me,” she writes.

[bonfire]

Yes and I had no idea. :(

[Ciaphas Cain]

You should care, if for no other reason than because it could happen to anyone. At any time. Including you.

I have a mental illness. Bipolar disorder. It struck almost seventeen years ago and only since this past winter has it come under control. It cost me a marriage, friendships, jobs, and MANY times it drove me to the brink of suicide. Sometimes it was because I wanted to escape the pain and other times it was because I wanted to escape the numbness. Being unable to feel any emotion, be moved to do anything...

It is a hell I would not wish on my worst enemy. God has brought me a very long way. I am more blessed to be where I am today than I possibly deserve to be.

[willk]

Poor Robin. Suffered through depression years before. Goes 6 years depression free and then gets this nightmare of a disease.

[hinckley buzzard]

Lewy bodies dementia is akin to Alzheimer's only worse. Love is a wonderful thing but it won't replace deadened brain tissue. If the Dx is accurate, as it should be post mortem, Williams had no chance.

[Vision Thing]

So do doctors always misdiagnose lewy bodies as parkinsons?

[freespirit2012]

Very sad.. we need more research into Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders..

[golux]

Hey Buzz,

I am the subject of a number of attacks for my comment. I’ve loved and lost Alzheimer’s sufferers including my father and best friend, and I myself - I suffer from a light tremor.

Alas I was only trying to encourage people to kiss their moms and Dads, because I regret not doing it quite enough when I could.

This is what matters, in the end, to a Dad.

Maybe I am wrong but please hug me as MR hugged RWR and knew it was the best thing he could do...

[Berlin_Freeper]

Robin's comedy routine was always somewhat crazy. One can easily imagine him doing his weird strut from one side of the room to the other with belt in hand, arguing with himself the pros and cons of suicide for hours till he finally darted to the door and hung himself in exhaustion. RIP.

[Rusty0604]

My mom didn’t know who anyone was. Not sure I’d call these diseases “fancy”, they are cruel.

[PghBaldy]

Casey Kasem had this. Not sure about Robin Williams’ wife though... maybe the kids were lying, or maybe they have better PR.

[higgmeister]

I am sorry you took it so hard, but it was obvious to anyone that had a brain, he was a total basket case from the moment he came into the spotlight.

I never watched his inane show but from the few clips I did see, he was a mindless idiot that took nothing seriously. He was possibly the most liberal man in Hollywood by most accounts (read brain dead). What lesson could we learn from the last ten decrepit months of this man? I cannot shed a tear or even a piteous thought.

[hinckley buzzard]

LIke I said, love is a wonderful thing. But in the end, death wins. I would never want someone to neglect a loved one even in the ending days, especially because we never know what the loved one might be hearing and understanding. .But I would also not want to raise false hopes. The neuropathology of progressive dementias is implacable and the end result is certain. With AD and Lewy's the patient eventually and tragically loses all memory and reaches a point where former loved ones are no longer recognized. After that you do what you need to do out of love alone. It is enough because it must be.

[Rusty0604]

Obviously you don’t care, but you don’t stop there. No, you have to post your cruelty to dig at someone that may care, maybe someone like me whose mother went went through the same thing.

[golux]

You are right. I only meant that from my living experience affection is so important - more important than drug reps’ remedies SOMETIMES. Look - I’ve been there more than once. I AM there.

[tumblindice]

Lewy Body is the disease Kelsy Grammer’s character, ‘Tom Kaine’ mayor of Chicago, was suffering from in the TV series ‘Boss’.
Terrible thing as described on the show.

[Persevero]

I wonder how much serious stained drug abuse contributed to it. No rejoicing over the man’ s death, here. But he had a reputation for heavy cocaine use. Don’t know if it’s true. But if so that can’t be good for your head.

[Rusty0604]

Thanks for the explanation. Sometimes it’s hard to get what a person means when they are not talking to them in person.

[Rusty0604]

I’m sure it’s not good for your brain and it’s even worse on your heart.

[higgmeister]

Obviously you don’t care, but you don’t stop there. No, you have to post your cruelty to dig at someone that may care, maybe someone like me whose mother went went through the same thing.

I am sorry you felt the need to internalize this. I said nothing about anyone but this Liberal Hollywood enemy of our way of life. I am sorry your Mother went through something like this. Your Mother's story is probably knowing, unlike RW's.

[dfwgator]

I'm having a hard time with the one liners in light of the article. Robin Williams was an American gem.

Right there with you. Yes, he was a liberal, but he was also a regular fixture on USO Tours.