Everyday we witness examples of people who prove that life is worth living, no matter how difficult it gets or what challenges one might face.
That people can, by and large, pick themselves up and dust themselves off in the face of adversity, is a truly admirable facet of human existence, and inspires others to always keep going until they find that light waiting at the end of whatever tunnel they find themselves in.
Nevertheless, there are some conditions out there that make it exceedingly difficult for a victim to remain positive and upbeat. Degenerative diseases are, by their very nature, debilitating, and have a way of sapping hope from even the strongest of souls.
If you’ve ever witnessed someone battle with something like Alzheimers or Parkinson’s, ALS or MS, you’ll know all about the mental and physical toll such conditions take on the unfortunate sufferer and their loved ones.
Actress Christina Applegate recently opened up on her own MS diagnosis, dealt unto her while she was filming the final season of the popular Netflix series Dead to Me.
Applegate, known for her work in productions such as Married… with Children and Anchorman, revealed how she had to halt filming in order to begin treatment, having noticed symptoms such as numbness and tingling in her limbs years before her diagnosis.
“I wish I had paid attention,” Applegate said in a New York Times interview on Tuesday. “But who was I to know?”
Of the decision to stop filming Dead to Me in the immediate aftermath of her diagnosis, the 50-year-old said:
“There was the sense of, ‘Well, let’s get her some medicine so she can get better.’
“And there is no better. But it was good for me. I needed to process my loss of my life, my loss of that part of me.”
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Despite only being diagnosed last year, Applegate spoke to the New York Times recently to reveal that her condition is already exacting a heavy toll on the way she lives her life.
“This is the first time anyone’s going to see me the way I am. I put on 40 pounds; I can’t walk without a cane. I want people to know that I am very aware of all of that,” Christina revealed.
“If people hate it, if people love it, if all they can concentrate on is, ‘Ooh, look at the cripple,’ that’s not up to me. I’m sure that people are going to be, like, ‘I can’t get past it.’”
She later shared on Twitter: “I have a very important ceremony coming up. This will be my first time out since diagnosed with MS.
“Walking sticks are now part of my new normal. Stay tuned to see which ones make the cut for a week of stuff.”
Of course, fans may recall that another high-profile actress, Selma Blair, was diagnosed with MS only two years ago.
By all accounts, Blair and Applegate have stayed by each other’s side and provided support for one another during what must be a terribly trying time.
We’re sending all our love and strength to both Christina Applegate and Selma Blair.
If you, too, want to show your support for these two brave women as they battle adversity moving forward, leave a comment in the box on Facebook.
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