Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson has been battling debilitating health issues in recent months but has found a reason to “hang in there.”
In early December, Phil Robertson’s family revealed that he had been diagnosed with a blood disorder and was in the early stages of dementia. Specific details about Phil’s blood disorder weren’t disclosed at the time, but his family suspects that it was causing mini strokes that were further exacerbating his health problems.
In a recent interview with CBN News, Al Robertson, the oldest son of Phil and Kay Robertson, shared an update on his dad’s health. Al shared details about Phil’s initial diagnosis, how he’s feeling now, and why he keeps “hanging on.”
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Al told the outlet that Phil’s health problems started when the elder Robertson started having back problems. In fact, his back problems became so severe that he had to undergo “two or three procedures” last year alone.
The intense pain caused by the back problems made his dementia symptoms noticeably worse.
“We had noticed a little bit of forgetting words and things like that, but you know, he’s 78 and you’re not sure if that’s just getting older,” Al said. “It seemed to happen very fast.”
How is Phil Robertson doing?
Al shared that Phil is no longer in pain and that the doctors have “his back in order.” But, he does have good and bad days, as expected with someone who is battling Alzheimer’s.
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Phil and Kay’s children and their spouses take turns spending time with their parents and cooking for them.
“We figure mom and dad cooked and fed us as a family for many many years, and so we owe them a few years of what they’ve trained us to do,” Al shared.
The visits allow Phil and Kay’s offspring to spend some “super quality time” together.
Phil Robertson Still Has A Sense Of Purpose, according to his son.
Al said that despite his ongoing health struggles and recent health issues with Miss Kay, Phil still has a sense of purpose.
“He still has a sense of purpose in watching out for mom. She had a pretty bad year last year, physically had a lot of issues.”
Robertson revealed that his mom had fallen and broken her foot, among other things. Knowing that he needs to take care of Miss Kay, his wife of nearly 60 years, has forced Phil to keep going and fighting through deteriorating health.
“I think he feels like that’s part of the reason he has to hang in there and hang on. Because he helps take care of her, and she helps take care of him,” Al shared. “To be honest with you, it’s a really sweet thing to watch … my older parents still cling to one another and take care of each other.”
Watch Al Robertson’s discussion about his dad, Phil, in the video below.