Chuck Norris had a fantastic career as a martial arts master and celebrity trainer, Hollywood actor, and author of two New York Times bestsellers.
He has over 30 karate studios under his belt and has trained celebrities such as Steve McQueen and Priscilla Presley. In addition to Way of the Dragon, Missing in Action, Code of Silence, and The Delta Force, the former US Air Force officer has acted in a number of successful films.
But, with 5 kids and thirteen grandkids, the Oklahoma native is also a dedicated family guy.
The 82-year-old is married to former model Gena O’Kelley, with whom he will celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary in November.
On their 24th anniversary, he resorted to Instagram to share his feelings. He captioned a photo of the two of them peering into one other’s eyes, “My love, my life, my best friend, my universe.” Happy 23rd Anniversary to my lovely wife, whom God blessed me with 25 years ago. “I love you from the bottom of my heart.”
It’s evident that the two are still madly in love. But it wasn’t long ago that Norris was worried about his future with the woman of his life when she fell ill.
Norris met Gena nine years after divorcing his first wife, Dianne Kay Holechek, of 30 years. The actor from “Walker, Texas Ranger” and model Gena married in 1998.
Chuck and Gena became parents to twins two years into their marriage.
However, in 2013, Gena saw a doctor and had scans to diagnosis rheumatoid arthritis. Gena received a contrast agent injection before to the MRI scan.
The material was designed to produce contrast in her organs, giving her medical team a clearer picture of her organ’s status and detecting anomalies.
In an interview, Gena stated that she was apprehensive about the safety of the contrast agent but was persuaded by physicians that it was.
The 59-year-old mother of two said she felt strange a few days later but wasn’t too worried until a month later when she began to have “severe scorching” throughout her body And the agony became terrible.
As Gena’s health deteriorated and she began to exhibit new symptoms such as speech and memory problems, as well as constant tremoring, Norris stepped away from Hollywood to cater for her.
Norris had his wife moved to a specialty doctor in Nevada, where she received good pain treatment. The hospital visit would be one of several she would have to make in order to get respite from the searing feelings she would be experiencing.
In her interview, Gena stated that it felt like acid being spilled on her insides. She required round-the-clock care, which her loving husband supplied by resting on the sofa at her side to ensure he was available to assist her with everything she required.
On her road to healing, he even read her 17 novels.
The couple sued multiple health-care providers in connection with the gadolinium-based MRI that triggered her discomfort, saying Gena was poisoned.
The complaint was filed in a San Francisco court, with the pair seeking $10 million in damages. They went on to say that the litigation was intended to raise awareness about the hazards of gadolinium in MRI contrast agents.
Chuck Norris said in a statement in 2017 that his attention has been on Gena’s health for numerous years. And now they’re banding together to raise awareness about the hazards of MRI contrast chemicals.
The couple stated in 2020 that they were withdrawing their case without reaching a settlement.
Chuck Norris appears to have retired from the film industry, yet he can still be seen in a variety of ads. He is now focusing his efforts on caring for his wife, who has made considerable success in her healing.
This couple’s love story is inspiring, and hopes Gena recovers completely and they may continue to enjoy life together.
