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Jennifer Aniston and her boyfriend, Jim Curtis, shared a rare public appearance Wednesday as Curtis opened up about a serious health struggle from his younger years.
The Friends star, 57, interviewed Curtis, 50, at New York City's 92nd Street Y on Sept. 2 during an event celebrating his upcoming book, The Book of Possibility. During their conversation, the hypnotist and life coach discussed the diagnosis that changed his life when he was in his 20s.
Curtis recalled experiencing severe pain that eventually led him to a hospital, where doctors discovered lesions on his spinal cord. The condition resulted in partial paralysis and chronic nerve damage, and he now walks with a limp.
He described the diagnosis as "an ultimate low," recalling how frightened he was while waiting in the emergency room.
"I was there for 13 hours," Curtis said, explaining that a nurse eventually told him he had received a diagnosis. "It was a really scary diagnosis."
Curtis said he later searched for information about his condition online while still in the hospital, which only intensified his fear. He recalled feeling his body "freeze and seize up" as he considered what the diagnosis could mean for his future.
Over time, however, Curtis said he learned to approach his circumstances differently. He emphasized that accepting a difficult reality does not mean giving up, but rather finding a way to move forward.
"You don't have to live as the victim. You don't have to live in your suffering," he said. "It can become your power."
Curtis also acknowledged that accepting his condition was not easy. He admitted that he once felt ashamed of his medical history and would tell people he had been involved in a motorcycle accident when they asked why he walked with a limp.
"I was so shameful that I had a medical condition," he said, adding that he once believed he was "broken in some way."
He eventually said he overcame much of that shame through self-acceptance and self-love, although he described it as a lengthy process.
During the discussion, Aniston also asked Curtis what he would tell someone who feels trapped in a career or lifestyle that no longer feels right. Curtis cautioned against simply abandoning responsibilities, noting that people still have bills and families to consider.
"But I will say this: you don't have to let fear stop you from living your dream," he said.
The couple has been romantically linked since 2025.
The Book of Possibility is scheduled for release Sept. 8.
