When ‘famous’ people have a disease…
Does it change our feelings toward them? I wanted to take a moment and reflect on my thoughts about famous people we learn have chronic illnesses/diseases.
Let’s review a very short list of names and their chronic illness and/or disease:
Michael J Fox - Parkinson’s Disease
Selena Gomez & Nick Cannon- Lupus
Lena Dunham - Endometriosis
Tom Hanks - Diabetes
Kim Kardashian - Psoriasis
Montel Williams & Jamie-Lynn Sigler - Multiple Sclerosis
Wendy Williams - Graves Disease
Yolanda Hadid - Lyme Disease
Lady Gaga & Morgan Freeman- Fibromyalgia
Lil Wayne - Epilepsy
When I look at these it makes me realize, they are all human. No matter their career choice, talents, or status level in society they are human, just like you and me . It puts us all on a level playing field and perhaps makes me feel for them and connect with them more.
Personally, I loved learning that Selma Blair has MS. No, it’s never good news but I love her as an actress and I love her as a mother and person. It made me connect more with her, at a deeper level. And now more than ever as she is an advocate and sharing her story, giving those that loved her before her illness another viewpoint into her life. Her documentary was moving, her book was something I could connect to and connected so many dots for her and made me think of my own life and growing up closer.
To learn that Christina Applegate also has MS and the struggle is real with even those elite in the world around us makes me feel like we are equal. They are human. I am human. They struggle. I also struggle.
When I heard Selma was going to be on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) my first, immediate response was fear for her. What if she falls, what if she struggles and doesn’t get past the first night? Why would they ask her to fail like that?
Oh, how I was wrong. I tune in weekly and am often left with chills and in tears. She has made it yet another platform to tell her story, share her struggles and show what MS can do to a person’s body. She rises above the limits that MS tries to lay down in front of her and she overcomes and with such power and grace. The emotion it brings to me, gives me hope, for her, for me, and for all of those with MS. Where there is awareness, there are dollars/funds to put toward research in finding a cure.
People magazine recently published this article about her experience being on DWTS, it makes it all so real.
I have read some posts on social of those with MS, or people with MS (PWMS) sharing their displeasure with her thinking she’s making light of the illness/disease. Embarrassing us all or making those that don’t have her current capability feel ‘less than’. I don’t believe this is her intention at all, she’s out there practicing, dancing, and sharing all of herself with the world to watch and learn about MS.
To see her leave her cane behind and lean into her dance partner to hold, guide and support her is how I see my network of friends and family. I lean on them to hold and support me. Selma is doing great things and representing those of us with MS with strength, dignity and transparency.
It’s all I could ask for from a ‘famous’ person living with the same ailment as myself. Be true to yourself and honest with those around you. #BeYou
Well done Selma Blair! Thank you for representing yourself so gracefully and showing that even though we may have MS, MS doesn’t have us!
