Actor Eric Dane was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. The Grey’s Anatomy alum was recently seen out with his family and in good spirits, but of course, life has not been easy since the diagnosis. The diagnosis came as a huge shock for the actor, who recently revealed how and where the first symptoms arose.

Eric Dane was diagnosed with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in April this year. In a statement to People Magazine at the time, he said, “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter,”.

The former Grey’s Anatomy star has since been very outspoken about the disease, which he, in October, called “nasty.” He was set to appear at their reunion at the Emmy Awards, but sadly, Dane had to cancel after a bad fall that left him hospitalized.

“ALS is a nasty disease,” he said. “So I was in the hospital during the Emmys getting stitches put in my head.”

Dane said he was “really upset” about missing the milestone moment, but added that “there was nothing I could do about it.”

Dane has been spotted some times since the ALS diagnosis was announced. As late as last week, he was seen out with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart, and daughter Georgia. Dane, sitting in a wheelchair, was with his wife and 13-year-old daughter at a sushi restaurant in West Hollywood.

Eric Dane reveals first ALS symptoms
Per PageSix, the actor “appeared to be in good spirits, wearing a casual black T-shirt and beige pants.”

The couple also has a 15-year-old daughter, Billie. His wife, Rebecca, told People Magazine in September that the diagnosis has affected their daughters greatly.

“I mean, it’s heartbreaking,” she told People.. “My girls are really suffering, and we’re just trying to get through it. It’s a tough time.”

Eric Dane has been outspoken about his diagnosis, and in June, while appearing on Good Morning America, he revealed the first symptoms he felt. In the beginning, however, he didn’t think much about it.

“I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand, and I didn’t really think anything of it at the time,” Eric Dane explained. “I thought maybe I had been texting too much or my hand was fatigued. But a few weeks later I noticed it had gotten a little worse, so I went and saw a hand specialist, and he sent me to another hand specialist.”

The actor continued, “I went and saw a neurologist and they sent me to another neurologist and said this is way above [his] pay grade.”

“My left arm is going”
The search for answers took nine months. Then, Dane was diagnosed with ALS. A year after the first symptoms had been noticed by him, the 52-year-old said, “I have one functioning arm, my dominant side is [my right], my left side is functioning, my right side is completely stopped working.”

Dane concluded. “My left arm is going, I feel like a couple few more months and I wont have my left either, it is sobering.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eric Dane and his family.