Selma Blair’s Strength While Battling Multiple Sclerosis Is an Inspiration to Us All
When actress Selma Blair announced her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis (MS) last year, she was already showing incredible resilience and grace despite the pressures of the disease. Symptoms surrounding MS can range drastically, but Blair’s experience is on the much tougher side of things. However, thanks to her own personal strength and help from others — like her 8-year-old son, Arthur — she’s not letting the disease get the best of her.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Blair explained just how awful MS can make her feel on a regular basis. On top of overall weakness, which also affects her vocal chords, and constant fatigue, she admitted, “I feel like throwing up all the time.” Still, she has her good days, too, and she makes a point to celebrate every win — even if it’s something the rest of us might take for granted, like applying eyeliner on her own.
Blair regularly updates her Instagram feed with raw, brutally honest, and inspiring captions about how she’s coping with the latest curveballs MS throws at her. As she revealed in the post below, she previously allowed herself to feel bullied when opening up about her journey with the disease, but isn’t letting that get to her anymore.
Her son is clearly the biggest source of strength Blair relies on to keep her going, no matter how painful or difficult a new day might seem. “This is it. The only life we get,” she explained, “My disease isn’t a tragedy, but I tell myself, ‘You’re going to live in a way that would be an example for yourself and your son.’” Arthur does sometimes see her at her worst, like rushing to the bathroom when she’s feeling sick or falling down the stairs when her coordination fails her. But that hasn’t changed how much love there is between the mom and son. “He says, ‘Mommy’s not sick. Mommy’s brave.’”
Famous friends like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jaime King have also helped her to cope with the hard times. Blair met Gellar on the set of Cruel Intentions and the pair have remained close ever since. Gellar spends plenty of time with Blair and even started a meal train to make sure there’s food on the table even on days when Blair feels too drained to provide it herself. “I get weekend meal packs like I’ve never feasted on before from Reese Witherspoon, from Constance Simmer, and so many people I don’t even know through Sarah.” We should all be so lucky to have a friend as kind as this!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BubkPrUHegf/Before her diagnosis, Blair preferred being fiercely independent and more isolated. Letting herself be vulnerable and accept help has been part of the healing process. “It’s so important for my son to see me interacting with people and to see mom laughing with them,” she said, explaining the good side of being “forced to open up and allow people in.”
We’re sending the actress lots of happy, healthy thoughts and hope for more good days than bad.
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