Rebecca Gayheart Talks About Sharing Eric Dane’s ALS Diagnosis with Their Daughters
Rebecca Gayheart has shared her heartfelt insights regarding her estranged husband Eric Dane’s recent diagnosis of ALS in an essay published Monday in The Cut. In her piece, she details the sensitive process of informing their two daughters about the diagnosis.
In the essay, Gayheart reveals that she informed her teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, just a week after Dane received his diagnosis. “We wanted to have complete transparency and honesty with them,” she wrote. “They’re older now—Billie is 15 and Georgia is 14—and I’m a horrible liar. You can see right through me.”
To navigate this challenging situation, Gayheart consulted a mental health professional for guidance. "I asked a therapist, ‘What is the best way to do this?’” she explained. “I sought out professional help targeted toward teenage girls because it’s such a formative time in their lives—they’re trying to individuate while they’re having to deal with this really huge loss and anticipatory grief." The therapist advised that the children would signal when they couldn’t handle more information by stopping their questions.
Gayheart also facilitated communication between her daughters and Dane’s doctor to ensure they had an avenue for addressing their concerns. “They had a lot of questions that at that point I couldn’t answer, and I don’t even know if Eric could answer them,” she noted. “They’ve talked to her, and they know that she’s available at all times.”
Gayheart and Dane, who married in 2004, have been separated but remain legally married. Recently, Dane spoke publicly about his evolving relationship with Gayheart during an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. He expressed his continued commitment to their family, stating, “I call Rebecca. I talk to her every day. We have managed to become better friends and better parents. And she is probably my biggest champion, my most stalwart supporter, and I lean on her.”
As both navigate this difficult chapter, their focus remains on their daughters and the support they can provide during these trying times.
