Chuck Norris Sacrificed His Career To Take Care Of His Wife After She Received 'Brain Damage'

Dec 03, 2021 by apost team

Chuck Norris is undoubtedly one of the most famous men in the entertainment industry. Known for his impeccable skills as a martial artist, as well as his work as an actor, producer and screenwriter, Norris is an unstoppable force. His best profession, though, is his role as a husband.

Norris met his wife Gena in 1997, and the couple quickly moved forward with the next stage of their relationship, getting married just one year later. They went on to have a pair of twins together, as well as having other children from previous relationships. It was clear, though, that Norris and Gena had a romance for the ages, despite their astonishing 23-year age difference.

Norris has had a very busy and popular career starring in a handful of shows and movies, such as "Walker, Texas Ranger," "The Way of the Dragon," "Invasion U.S.A." and "Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos." As an expert in various martial arts systems, Norris was able to implement these skills and use them to become a highly successful action star. However, he put all of that to the side when his wife became sick.

For a few years during the 2010s, Norris put his career on the back burner while he tended to Gena, who was struggling with some very serious medical issues. Norris stayed by her side through thick and thin, and together the pair weathered the storm and have even gone on to spread awareness about what happened. Read on to find out more about this emotional story.

Realizing Something Was Wrong

According to Bright Side, Norris and his wife first met in 1997 after they completed a small role in a television series. Norris later decided to invite Gena to Dallas, Texas, so the two could spend some quality time together getting to know each other. Their relationship quickly turned romantic and the happy couple tied the knot just one year later.

The pair have a beautiful relationship that has lasted the test of time and all of life's obstacles that have been thrown their way. In 2013, Gena had some major medical complications that resulted in her needing help from her husband, according to Bright Side. Without hesitation, Norris put his career on hold and tended to his wife's every need.

Gena previously had to do MRI scans and contrast imaging, which required receiving an injection of a type of dye that served as a "contrast agent," according to Bright Side. This method helped to see tissues, blood vessels and organs better so radiologists would be able to see the extent of medical issues.

However, something went wrong when Gena was given the injection as it contained gadolinium, a type of heavy metal with magnetic properties, that resulted in her becoming very sick. She was given three injections in just eight days. Gadolinium can be deposited in areas of the body, including the brain, and at times can potentially cause concern or damage. According to the Daily Mail, Gena had nerve pain, muscle weakness and brain fog. She grew increasingly worried about the contrast agent, but was told that it would be out of her system soon enough.

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Caring For His Wife

Norris began to realize that something was seriously wrong, and he tried to figure out what to do next. "I can take her anywhere in the world, I'm blessed enough to have the money to do that, but where do I take her?" he asked. Finally, he was able to reach a doctor from Nevada. When the doctor told Norris that his wife's condition was "critical," the actor dropped all of his work projects at the time and put Gena and her health first. 

According to Bright Side, Norris didn't leave Gena's side for five months, and slept on the couch next to her as she focused on her recovery. Since then, Norris has not appeared in a movie and has had very little work in television as well.

In 2017, Norris reflected on what it was like during this time. "Well it's the helpless feeling, you know 'cause I'm kind of a take-charge guy, and then here I have something where I cannot do anything and it was horrifying," he said, as per WND. "And I just thank God that we were able to weather it and that she did get better and I got my wife back."

Nowadays, Norris and Gena are raising awareness about the usage of gadolinium for contrast screening. "Everyone that takes gadolinium is not going to get sick," Norris said. "It's ones that are sensitive like Gena. I've taken them and I've never gotten sick. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't do something about the other people that are getting sick from the gadolinium."

Did you know about this moment in Chuck and Gena Norris' life? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.