Alex Trebek Tells Fan With Autism 'I'm Going To Keep Fighting' To Help His Depression

Nov 05, 2019 by apost team

A mother in New York had a brilliant idea to help cheer up her son who has autism while he was going through a depression battle—she asked his favorite game show host Alex Trebek to call him up and have a chat.

Debbie Stevens’ son Michael Kneeter, 32, is a big game show fan and was devastated to hear the news about Alex Trebek’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis. A mother couldn’t stand by to watch her son go through so much sadness so she hatched a plan to get the TV star to speak with Michael.

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Debbie found out that Alex Trebek’s son Matthew owns a Mexican restaurant in Manhattan, so the next thing she did was call them right up. "I'm a very driven person," she told CNN. "I can't take 'no' for an answer."

Matthew passed on their message and father then called them back. Unfortunately, Michael missed the call but Alex left a voicemail thanking him for being a fan of the show.

When the two finally got in touch after a follow-up call, they spoke for a long conversation lasting about seven minutes. Debbie commented to CNN that "It wasn't rushed," and that "He was really concerned and caring for Michael."

The two chatted about hobbies like bowling, and reminisced about a ‘Jeopardy!’ taping in Madison Square Garden that Michael attended. Debbie told the New York Daily News that Trebek reassured her son, and said “I’m going to keep fighting. With God’s grace and prayers from people like you, and good wishes from folks everywhere, I’m going to come through like you.”

It was a kind-hearted gesture for a busy game show host also coping with health issues, but to Alex Trebek it was no big deal.

"I get these kinds of calls quite often now, where somebody who has special needs feels that they would be helped by talking to me, and it's no great imposition on me, to tell you the truth," Trebek told CNN. "If I'm in a position to do it, I do."

Have you ever heard of a celebrity reaching out to fans in such a way? Tell us about it and pass on this heartwarming story.