Phil Robertson faces a difficult road with his health, but his family and faith keep him going.
above “I have no shame towards the Robertson family.” Phil's son, Jace, initially broke the news to fans that his father was suffering from “the early stages of Alzheimer's disease” and was “not able to sit down and have a conversation.”
“It's kind of accelerated and it's causing problems throughout his body. And he's in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. So when you put all these things together, his condition is really not good. He's suffering. ” he continued.
Phil's son, Willie Robertson, spoke to FOX News Digital over the phone and said Phil was “struggling with a lot of things right now.”
Phil Robertson's son, Willie Robertson, told Fox News Digital that his father is “struggling with a lot of things right now.” (Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
“He has a blood disorder and also has mental health issues that may come on earlier.” [on-set] Alzheimer’s disease…and maybe a small stroke because of his blood,” Willie explained. So we're still reviewing them all. But he also has back problems and has broken his back, which is causing him pain. So it's like he's fighting a lot of different things at the same time. ”
Willie said Phil's back pain was the biggest problem affecting his overall health on a daily basis.
“Especially in any situation where you stand up from a sitting or lying position. [it’s] “It was very stressful and very painful for him,” he said.
“We're looking at some other things and trying some different medications. And, again, the back pain issue is a little bit more difficult because it's Because it seems to dominate a lot of his day – today started with that, so we're trying a few different things to get him at least moving around. [are] I'm just trying to get the best care and the best things that I can and then figure out what to do next.”
Willie said Phil has lower back pain and a blood disorder, as well as early Alzheimer's disease and a mild stroke. (Courtesy of Phil Robertson)
'Duck Dynasty' Stars' new movie shows family origins and faith: Without God 'we wouldn't be sitting here'
The “Duck Dynasty” star didn't reveal details about the blood disorder, but said his father produces “a lot of blood,” which can thicken and potentially cause a mini-stroke. .
“Mentally it's difficult,” Willie said. “It's difficult to determine exactly what these causes are, especially with early signs, whether it's brain damage from a stroke or Alzheimer's disease.”
He added: “I know it runs in their family. It happened to some of his other siblings as well. This happened to almost all of his siblings who passed away.” he added.
Willie said Phil has an “enlarged spleen, which can put pressure on his stomach and cause loss of appetite.”
“He broke his back and that's where he's feeling the pain. So he's dealing with a lot of things at the same time.”
In “Unshamed”, Jace said that Phil was “not hungry at all” and had to “feed himself.”
“There are some issues that we're trying to get to the bottom of, and that's probably where some of the issues are coming from. There may be pain, but blood disorders create issues that need to be addressed. 'That's also true,' Willie said.
Phil's son Jace, second from the right, spoke about his father's health issues on the Unshamed with the Robertson Family podcast, revealing that his appetite has significantly decreased. (Robertson family)
'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson forces himself to eat as he battles Alzheimer's disease, plans to 'stick to his beliefs'
However, the family is doing their best to feed the patriarch, and Willie said, “I just received a message from the patriarch asking me to bring him more food. He seemed to like my cooking.” ” he revealed.
“I make burgers, I make some crawfish dishes, I make all kinds of dishes that I think he used to like and eat a lot. I don't know if they're as good as mom's. I don't know, but I'm trying my best,” the 52-year-old shared, adding that Phil is unable to “normally do the things he normally does for food.”
WATCH: 'Duck Dynasty' stars Willie Robertson and Phil Robertson look back at growing up together, the show's surprising origins
The family was able to stay on top of Phil's health issues by seeking help at the first sign of potential Alzheimer's disease.
“We noticed some problems, so we took him to the doctor and started looking into what exactly was wrong,” Willie said.
Willie said the family started noticing problems with Phil's memory and took him to see a doctor. (AP)
Click here to sign up for our entertainment newsletter
“It's hard to know if the person is just getting older and becoming more forgetful or if there's actually some damage. That's what we're trying to figure out.”
Willie said Phil has “some good days and some not-so-good days” but tries to “have as normal a conversation as possible”.
“He still quotes the Bible and talks about his faith in God, so I think that's comforting and something he hasn't lost yet.”
'Miss Kay', Phil's wife and Willie's mother, is dealing with her own health issues after breaking her leg in the summer, which has affected her mobility.
Willie said he wishes he could have helped more, but in the meantime, the nearly 60-year-old couple is quietly spending time together.
Willie said his parents have health issues and they look out for each other. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images, A&E Networks)
Like what you’re reading? Click here for more entertainment news
“They're both there, in the same spot, sitting in the chairs, doing the same thing. So they definitely keep each other.”
Despite his health, Phil is “as sharp as ever” when it comes to his Bible faith and knowledge.
“I could tell they seemed to comfort him because he would go right back to that,” Willie said. “He still quotes the Bible and talks about his faith in God, so I think that’s comforting and something he hasn’t lost yet.
“He's taking a little bit of a break from his podcast and other work because he can't speak like he used to or teach classes like he used to. But it's still something that's strong and essential to him. Thoughts that I think he would like to create, just not being able to say the words all the time.”
Willie said Phil's faith is strong and has been a “comfort” to him. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Missy Robertson details life after 'Duck Dynasty', new faith-based series 'Restore' will change lives
Willie continued, “His faith is a very important part of his life. And life is short and temporary, and he always knew that. And we… We have always had an eternal perspective on life itself. We are not sad, we recognize that this is what is happening on this earth and we are dealing with it. ”
WATCH: 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson talks about finding faith over fame: 'God speaks through people'
And faith will help the whole family get through this difficult time.
“In times like these, the element of faith really comes into play,” Willey said. “This is what we're about, this is what he's living for, living for the hope that there's something beyond that. And he's definitely proving that. Also about where he is in his life right now.”
Willie said that during difficult times, “the faith element really strengthens.” (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He added, “But you never know. God might do something amazing. I know there's a lot of prayer coming in. So if God has his turn I wouldn't be surprised if he did something great. So you never know.” ”
