Dead To MeactressChristina Applegatehas revealed to her Twitter followers that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The Emmy winner, who has appeared in many movies and TV shows since the 1980s made the announcement via a tweet earlier today, revealing that she was diagnosed with the potentially crippling disease a few months ago, and followed up with a second post which ended with a request for privacy.
The tweets read: “Hi friends. A few months ago I wasdiagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it.”
Her follow up tweet continued: “As one of my friends that has MS said " we wake up and take the indicated action”. And that’s what I do. So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo"
Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease, occurs when the immune system begins to attack the sheath that protects nerve fibers, making it difficult for the brain to communicate with the rest of the body. MS often makes it more challenging to walk and move, and for some leads to paralysis in the legs. While there is no exact cause of MS, the disease primarily impacts women, and although it is usually not fatal, it can lower life expectancy by an average of five to ten years.
This is not the first medical issue that Applegate has fought, after beingdiagnosed with breast cancerover a decade ago, which led to the actress having a bilateral mastectomy. In 2008 she appeared onThe Oprah Winfrey Showand told the host, “I cry at least once a day about it because it’s hard to overlook it when you’re standing there in the mirror. When you look down, it’s the first thing you see… So you’re reminded constantly of this thing, this cancer thing that you had.”
Still well remembered for her breakthrough role as a child actress playing daughterKelly BundyinMarried…With Childrenwhich ran for ten years between 1987 and 1997. Her success spread from TV to movies pretty quickly, gaining her hits such hasDon’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, The Sweetest Thing, Anchorman, Vacation, Bad MomsandCrash Pad.
Applegate has received multiple Emmy nominations, but won for her guest appearance inFriendsin 2003 and was nominated for the same role in 2004. She also received nominations in 2008 and 2009 for her lead role inSamantha Who?, and received more nominations a decade later for her lead role inDead To Me.
We join her fans in wishing her well and hope that the disease does not prevent her doing the things she wants to do in life for the foreseeable future.
