Annette Funicello Part 2

If you've reached Annette Funicello Part 2 first, and would like to read Part 1, click here.

Annette's story, cont'd.:

After phone calls from tabloids to neighbors, friends, and family asking about her health, she finally decided it was time to go public with her illness. She called a publicist at Disney and told them to get in touch with USA Today. She was going to go nationwide with her diagnosis of MS.

She felt that no one wanted to believe that something bad could happen to "Annette Funicello". Once she went public, she received support from friends and family. They offered their love and prayers.

Many different therapies

She tried many different therapies that were available at the time. She tried steroids, acupuncture and acupressure, herbal medicines and vitamin B-12 shots in her legs. None of them seemed to help.

Her Catholic faith and her determination have helped her to cope with MS. Her family has become closer. Her husband has always been by her side. She knew she had to make certain adjustments to cope with her disease.

She exercised three times a week and tried not to stress out. She told herself that tomorrow would be better.

Annette is a fighter. She doesn't want to be treated like an invalid or have people feel pity for her. She lives each day with the hope that there will be a cure for MS.

Living Hopefully
"When I wake up in the morning, I like to imagine, "This is the day I'm going to hear about an MS cure on the news." I know it may be a long way off, but what a glorious morning that will be." ~ Annette Funicello
People Magazine – August 17, 1992

In 1993, she started the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders at the California Community Foundation. annette funicello autobiography In 1994 she published her autobiography - A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: My Story. This, in turn, was made into a TV movie. “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story” in 1995.

That same year, she began the Annette Funicello Collectible Bear Company. The last collection was released in 2004. You can still find a few circulating if you look.

In the past few years, MS has made life more and more difficult for Annette. She has vision problems, breathing problems and at times it's hard to talk. Her family makes things as comfortable and normal as they can. Through it all, she continues to be poised and hopeful.

If you like to reminisce, or even if you've never heard her before, watch her interview as she talks about her music. You can see why so many people love Annette Funicello.

Amazon.com Widgets

And here is a tribute to her by one of her long time friends - Vince Smith, a singer. He wrote this song, "My Annette" specially for her. In his later years, he also developed MS.

Amazon.com Widgets

Comments By Other Visitors

Click below to see comments by other visitors about this page...

Comments for Annette Funicello and Vince Smith
Comments for Annette Funicello and Vince Smith are here on this page. Annette and Vince are two wonderful people who have been a part of many of our lives. You are welcome to leave your comments as well.

Mr. Sam Contrasto Not rated yet
I am an Italian Canadian , (now Floridian for 25 years) and want to express my sincere best wishes for Annette. Her faith in a cure for MS is shared worldwide....

Annette and Vince
Annette and Vince are two great entertainers who met years ago. Unfortunately, years later they both developed the same disease - multiple sclerosis. They are loved by many.