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Tearful Harrison Ford reveals daughter has epilepsy: 'She's my hero'

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Gemma Strong
Online Digital News Director
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Harrison Ford has revealed that his daughter Georgia suffers from epilepsy. The 72-year-old became emotional as he spoke for the first time about Georgia's battle while attending a gala for FACES – Find A Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures – in New York City on Monday, describing the 26-year-old as "my hero"."When you have a loved one who suffers from this disease, it can be devastating," Harrison told the New York Daily News. "You know how it affects their lives, their future, their opportunities and you want desperately to find mitigation. You want to find a way that they can live a comfortable and effective life."

harrison georgia © Photo: Getty Images

Harrison Ford revealed that his daughter Georgia suffers from epilepsy

Of his daughter, who attended the event with him, the actor added: "I admire a lot of things about her. I admire her perseverance, her talent, her strength. She's my hero. I love her."Later, during a speech at the event, Harrison – who also has four sons – said Georgia had had her first seizure as a child during a sleepover, and was prescribed medicine for acute migraines.

harrison speech

The star became emotional as he gave a speech at the FACES gala

"A few years later, she had another a big one, this one on a beach in Malibu, where a Hollywood director found her, luckily," he said of his daughter with second wife Melissa Mathison. "I said to myself, this is Los Angeles, we have some of the best doctors in the world, they must know what's wrong with her. But nothing was diagnosed as epilepsy. "The Star Wars actor said that after another attack while Georgia was studying in London, they finally went for a consultation at NYU. "Dr Orinn Devinskly, who is a dear friend, made the diagnosis: epilepsy," Harrison said, as he fought back tears. "He prescribed the right medication and therapy; she has not had a seizure in eight years."

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