Carly Simon told exactly “how the problems started” with Parkinson’s disease in her vulnerable statement Monday.
The “You’re So Vain” hitmaker told Page Six in a statement that her initial symptoms were “arthritis in both knees and one hip.”
“In the end, all three joints were replaced, the old one removed, and a delicate bouquet of metal and plastic installed. After three replacement surgeries, I realized that the difficulty walking was simply an unfortunate and rather ironic part of the recovery process,” she explained.
However, the singer’s “mobility continued to deteriorate.”
“I had trouble getting up from low chairs or deep sofas without someone holding my hand. Overstuffed furniture became my enemy.”
“Once I sat down, I felt as though I might be swallowed up by the chair and remain there forever, like a guest who has overstayed its welcome.”
Mr Simon “eventually” required “significant assistance” to walk and “after extensive testing” he was diagnosed with a progressive brain disorder that affects his movement and balance.
She has since started “taking medication to relieve stiffness and other symptoms.”
Simon gave an update on his health in a lengthy statement on Monday, while also opening up about his battle with skin cancer.
“During the same period, I also underwent treatment for basal cell carcinoma of the face,” she wrote. “The cancer was removed, but the surgery affected my appearance.”
This led to Simon “retiring from public life,” with the Grammy winner calling himself an “all-season bear” in hibernation.
She has instead been working on new music and plans to release her first full-length album since 2008, Comes in Waves, in August.
The musician revealed, “I still write, sing, imagine, laugh, worry, remember, and sometimes get stuck in an overstuffed chair.”
She added, “I don’t think of Parkinson’s as a gift or a blessing. It’s neither. It’s difficult, frustrating, and sometimes scary. I’m still learning how to live with it and accept it without feeling like I’m giving up something important.”
Simon has two children, daughter Sally, 52, and son Ben, 49, with ex-husband James Taylor.
