Chuck Norris gave up his entire career to care for his sick wife – she will always be his ‘best friend’

Being considered one of the most prominent martial artists there are, actor Chuck Norris has enjoyed enormous popularity over the years. Thanks to his successful career, he has become a synonym of strength and attracted millions of fans from all over the world.

He holds black belts in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo and is the founder of the discipline Chun Kuk Do, an American hybrid martial arts style based on Traditional Taekwondo styles such as Tang Soo Do/Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo.

Besides being a huge part of Hollywood, he is also a family man and a father of five. He and his wife Gena O’Kelley, a former model, a television host, and actress as well, have been together for over 22 years. What we love about Norris is that he never misses a chance to remind Gena, as well as all of us, how much she means to him.

Just like Chuck, Gina has also been married before. She was married to Gordon Hinschberger, with whom she had two kids, Kelley and Tim, but not much is known about their divorce.

Recently, the actor shared a photo of the two on their wedding day and wrote, “22 years ago I became the luckiest man in the world when Gena and I got married. Happy Anniversary my beautiful wife! There are no words to describe my love and appreciation for you. Thank you for sharing your life with me. I praise God for every day we are together.”

Chuck and Gina have two children together, Danielle and Dakota, and their marriage is a picture perfect one when it comes to the love they have for one another.

However, around a decade ago, their lives turned upside-down when Gina started experiencing health issues. According to the couple, it all started when Gena went for a routine MRI scan in 2013 and received an injection that is a standard process before someone enters MRI scan. At that same moment, she started experiencing tremors and burning all over her body. Her condition was hard to diagnose as doctors themselves have no idea what could have caused that awful burning sensation.

As time passed by, her condition only worsened. The pain spread to her ribs, and she started experiencing breathing problems, muscle weakness, and joint pain.

As doctors failed to diagnose her and treat her properly, Gina took matters in her own hands and did a thorough search of her symptoms. Eventually, it led her to a condition known as gadolinium toxicity.

After receiving a treatment, she started feeling a bit better, but the road to full recovery is still very distant.

“Within hours after the first jab, I felt like my whole body was on fire — as if acid had been passed through it. The burning was isolated at first, but it just kept spreading… I just lay in bed on an IV for five months and had to have round-the-clock nursing care. Chuck slept beside me on the couch and never left. I prayed that I would live to raise my children,” she explained.

During her battle with the illness, her devoted husband is always by her side. Chuck even left his film career in order to be able to take care of her.

“I’ve given up my film career to concentrate on Gena, my whole life right now is about keeping her alive,” Chuck said. “I believe this issue is so important.”

“It’s infuriating and heartbreaking,” Gena added. “It’s a vicious, ugly secret that has been kept hidden — something Chuck and I are determined to change.”

Since the start of her ordeal, Gena and Chuck have publicly sued 11 healthcare companies in a bid for justice.

We wish Chuck Norris and Gena all the best in the future. Hopefully, she will fully recover soon.