Visibly frail, Jean-Marie Bigard revealed that he had suffered three strokes. At 72, the comedian now suffers from balance problems and speaks frankly about aging, his health, and death with his two children, aged 13 and 15.
Three strokes, two of which occurred recently
Jean-Marie Bigard is going through a difficult period medically. The comedian explains sir Sirens having suffered a first stroke two years ago, then two more much more recently: "I'm slowly coming to terms with my strokes, three in total. One two years ago and two more recently. It affects my life because, obviously, I have balance problems, among other things.", he confides.
Despite these lasting effects, he says he receives regular medical care and can count on the constant support of his loved ones. His wife, Lola Marois, remains particularly attentive to his health, as do his children.
“I’m receiving excellent medical care, my wife is very keen on that, and so are my children. They keep telling me, ‘Dad, don’t die, we need you.’”, he says.
"Things aren't going to get better and better."
Jean-Marie Bigard makes no attempt to hide the effects of age or the physical decline he feels. The comedian admits to finding this gradual loss of abilities difficult to cope with. “Feeling myself get old makes me…"Yesterday, things aren't going to get better, nor are they going to get worse. I'm simply observing my decline."he says frankly.
Her three strokes directly altered her daily life. Her balance problems are now the main visible consequence of these cerebral accidents.
His children are begging him not to die
Father of two teenagers aged 13 and 15, Jean-Marie Bigard is also thinking about his children's future. He says he isn't worried about their paths, while acknowledging that his presence remains essential in their lives. "I've already seen my children start their lives, their careers, I'm not worried about them at all. But it's surely better for them when Dad is still there than when Dad is gone.", he explains.
The comedian regularly talks about death with them. He chooses to approach the subject with humor, in order to defuse a prospect that has become more present since his health problems.
“I talk about it with them very often, as often as possible, and jokingly. I tell them: ‘Be careful when you yell at me or when you find fault with me, because when I’m no longer here, I won’t have any more faults.’”, says Jean-Marie Bigard.
