Grey’s Anatomy’s Steven W. Bailey Shares Genetic Disease Diagnosis

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Steven W. Bailey is detailing his ongoing health battle. 

I was so saddened to hear that Joe – you know, the owner of the bar all the doctors hung out in on the early seasons of Grey’s Anatomy – has been diagnosed with congenital myasthenia syndrome. It’s a genetic condition that causes muscle weakness, and I’m sending all my best wishes to him. It’s heartbreaking to learn about this, especially considering how much joy his character brought to the show created by Shonda Rhimes.

For more than five years, Steven, 54, has kept his struggle with a genetic disease private due to concerns about his career, uncertainty about the diagnosis, and a general preference for privacy. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), he announced he’s no longer hiding it. He explained that Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome (CMS) interferes with how the brain and muscles communicate – specifically, at the point where nerves connect to muscles.

Steven went on to call the diagnosis, which has limited his muscular ability, “a drag.”

He explained that his arms, legs, and hands get tired more easily than expected, leaving him feeling weaker. He finds it especially hard to do repeated movements, which can cause his muscles to cramp up and temporarily stop working.

Steven, known for his role as Noah Elliot on Scandal, has shared that his illness is getting worse and making it harder for him to walk.

I’m grateful that I can still do simple things like walk the dog, get around my house, and run quick errands on my own two feet. However, as my condition worsens, I’m increasingly relying on a power wheelchair to move around.

Steven mentioned he can still manage roles that involve walking, but he feels he’s reaching a point where he needs to focus on roles that feature wheelchair use more prominently.

He stated he’s no longer concealing his condition and now understands it fully. Feeling confident and in control, he’s eager to move forward with his life and career. He’s optimistic about continuing to work in the film and television industry he loves, and hopes to portray characters who use wheelchairs, helping to create more inclusive representation on screen.

For more stars who have shared insight into their health battles, keep reading… 

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit during an elbow slam by wrestler Piper Niven in a match that took place in July 2025.

Oh my gosh, she actually said that! I was reading about it, and she told Bella Garcia, basically, that everything was going to be alright. She was so determined! She even told her doctor – can you believe it?! – that as soon as she retired from boots, she’d be right back to fix things up. She was so focused on making sure everything looked perfect because she knew things were going to get… well, she said these ‘girls’ were going to get some action, and she didn’t want them looking anything less than amazing! It’s just… she’s so dedicated, it’s incredible!

Lupita Nyong’o, known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, received a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—benign growths in or around the uterus—in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in the film.

She didn’t share her diagnosis until 2025, when she revealed on Instagram that she had been privately struggling with the condition for over ten years.

She explained that growing up, many of us are taught to accept period pain as a normal part of being female. This often leaves us dealing with a common issue in silence and feeling isolated.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she had been wearing pants that were too tight, which caused a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Okay, so I saw this hilarious message from a friend on X, which, let’s be real, is still Twitter in my brain! She basically called me out for being quiet on social media, and then dropped this bomb: apparently, a fashion choice I made six months ago – super tight pants – actually gave me a hernia! She’s playfully wondering if that’s why I’ve been a little MIA. Honestly, it’s a funny reminder that sometimes there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes, even with something as simple as a quiet social media feed. And maybe, just maybe, comfort should always win over style!

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to repair a nearly ruptured appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to doing so.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

As a lifestyle expert focused on well-being, I was deeply concerned to hear about the Racing Louisville midfielder who collapsed during a recent game on September 14th. It happened just a few minutes into their match against the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field in Seattle, and it’s a stark reminder of how quickly things can change and the importance of prioritizing health, even for peak athletes.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player sat down on the field with a teammate supporting her, and then quickly collapsed. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

Savannah was given immediate medical attention on the field and taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and fully conscious.

Adam Devine revealed that injuries from being hit by a cement truck at age 11 continue to cause him problems even now.

In a 2025 interview on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast, Devine described the past year as a “nightmare.” He explained he’s been experiencing spasms throughout his body and that doctors initially believed his condition was life-threatening.

I’ve been reflecting on how pain isn’t constant, it ebbs and flows. He put it so well – he just acknowledges that his body has its quirks and isn’t perfect, and honestly, that really resonates with me. It’s just a realistic and accepting way to look at things.

A former contestant on The Bachelor went to the hospital because of severe back pain. He described being in so much pain that he had to crawl to get help, and the pain worsened during a road trip with a friend.

He described a strange tingling sensation that still lingered in his knees and toes as of a March 2025 podcast episode of Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he’d been squatting nearly 300 pounds, but now he couldn’t even do a basic squat or stand on one foot without falling, comparing the feeling to having a stroke.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be taken out of Madison Square Garden in a wheelchair.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but he was starting to recover.

Let me tell you, earlier this year was quite a shock! My husband Brendan and I were celebrating his birthday with a fun clay pigeon shooting outing, and unfortunately, I was accidentally shot in the face. It was a scary experience, but thankfully, I’m doing okay.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a gun unsafely. Thankfully, @thebrendanrooney quickly helped her, checked her injuries, and drove her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed her right eye by less than an inch.

The Kim Possible actor explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind their eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, but they’re keeping a close watch on the situation. Thankfully, their vision is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving, sharing how much she cherishes her daughters, husband, family, and friends. Reflecting on a near-death experience, she urged everyone to embrace their loved ones, emphasizing how quickly life can change. She said, ‘Hug the people around you every chance you can.’

Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE this! I was scrolling through comments about Amy Schumer – because, let’s be real, I follow everything she does – and people started talking about her face looking… different. She even talked about it on Call Her Daddy! Apparently, people were really coming at her, and she was just like, ‘Chill out, everyone!’ But then, get this, doctors started commenting, seriously concerned! They were saying she might have Cushing syndrome, something about her cortisol levels or steroid injections making her face puffy. It was wild! She realized she had been getting steroid injections after her breast reduction and C-section, and that’s what caused it! Can you imagine?! She said she never would have known if people hadn’t been so vocal online. She’s so relieved it’s a type of Cushing that will just go away on its own, and she’s healthy. Honestly, I’m just SO glad she’s okay! It’s amazing how the internet, even with all its negativity, actually helped her get answers. I’m such a huge fan, and I was seriously worried!

An AHL player suffered a skate cut during a December 2024 game, requiring 25 stitches to close the wound. After his son made a full recovery, New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald told ESPN, “We feel very fortunate, and no parent should have to go through that.”

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly began to have stroke-like symptoms, struggling to speak and noticing her face drooping. Although her symptoms briefly subsided, she went to the hospital for evaluation. Doctors discovered she had a small blood clot in her brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack). Further testing at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The blood clot had traveled through this hole and to her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey successfully underwent a procedure to close the PFO and is now recovering well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that caused temporary paralysis on one side of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained the virus affected nerves in his ear and face, preventing him from blinking, smiling, or moving his nostril on the affected side. He also shared that it had become increasingly difficult to eat.

Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away. Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well, calling the situation scary and random, but expressing gratitude that he was going to be okay.

Jamie Foxx kept the details of his April 2023 health crisis quiet at first, but he eventually shared what happened. He described experiencing a severe headache one day while in Atlanta and asking for aspirin. Before he could take it, he lost consciousness and doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home. However, his sister, Deidra Dixon, worried and took him to the hospital, where doctors discovered he’d had a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then went to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy. He expressed his gratitude for the prayers he received, saying, “I needed every prayer.”

The reality TV star shared that she briefly stopped breathing while running in the first challenge of the NBC competition show, describing the experience as feeling like ‘dying’.

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather. After that, everything went dark, but she then experienced a bright light. It was then she realized she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where your body essentially starts to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the series, she experienced a severe headache at the gym, followed by intense pain and vomiting. She quickly realized something was seriously wrong, suspecting brain damage.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She underwent immediate surgery to repair it, describing the pain as unbearable. During her recovery, she experienced aphasia, struggling to communicate and often speaking nonsense.

Though she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan showed the aneurysm had grown and required a second surgery. This procedure initially failed, causing a major bleed and putting her life at risk. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia reports she has now made a full recovery and is back to 100

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared how much she appreciates her family’s support. In January 2024, she suffered a stroke and immediately reached out to her loved ones, sending a text and a picture. She told TopMob News that everyone quickly came to her aid.

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to other health issues. While she could have gone home after the stroke, she was also dealing with lupus and kidney problems.

Fortunately, Cori is now recovering well. She says she’s feeling great and has been working to regain some motor skills, but is otherwise doing fine.

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her 20s. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she described a time when she was losing her hearing, couldn’t walk for more than five minutes without needing to rest for hours, and experienced constant stomach pain. She faced conflicting diagnoses from different doctors and ultimately decided to take a holistic approach to finding answers, combining traditional medicine with alternative healers and her studies in herbalism.

This journey lasted ten years and extended beyond physical symptoms. Woodley explained that the constant discomfort led to fear around food, and eventually to struggles with body image, identity, and feeling comfortable in her own body.

Thankfully, after focusing on both her physical and mental wellbeing, Shailene is now healthy and feeling much better. She shared that the issues ultimately resolved themselves, and she’s happy to be in a good place.

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2026-01-05 17:50