Navigating Life As A Mom With Multiple Sclerosis
- Actress Selma Blair, 53, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018, is encouraging fellow parents living with the disease not to “give up before the miracle,” promising the struggles ease up over time.
- Blair says she chose to go public with her diagnosis to reach others struggling with the disease, as well as their families.
- Multiple sclerosis causes the immune system to attack cells that form the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers in the spinal cord. The disruption leads to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.
- Currently, there is no cure for MS, although some people treat the disease using chemotherapy and other medications.
- For treatment, Blair turned to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (also called bone marrow transplantation), a form of therapy that helps “reset the immune system” and led her to remission.
- Additional resources for patients and families in search of treatment options are available through SurvivorNet’s doctor-backed AI tool, My Health Questions.
Blair, known for her iconic roles in “Legally Blonde” and “Cruel Intentions,” was diagnosed with MS in 2018 and has since become a powerful voice of resilience and honesty about the chronic condition.
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Blair reflects on a time when she felt she had few close friends, crediting “the kindness of strangers” she found on social media with helping her get answers and simple, meaningful support.
For treatment, Blair underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (also called bone marrow transplantation), a form of therapy that helps “reset the immune system” and led her to remission. She urges those facing a new diagnosis to look to loved ones and within to find the strength to push through the tough times.
“I hope people don’t give up before the miracle and also our kids grow and it gets a little easier as time goes on,” Blair says. “So I know especially for a lot of new parents and new mothers, it can be especially scary and overwhelming when you’re faced with the diagnosis and you are responsible for the loves of your life.
“So just hold that love and be. I talked to my kid personally and told him I would be okay, but that I was going through something and once he kind of knew and had information … what he said would make him feel better and in control of it.”
She encourages others on a similar journey to prioritize sleep and show themselves compassion.
“They were really hard times,” Blair says. “I don’t know how to sugarcoat that. They were some of the hardest things. I got through raising my son and being unwell for a long time. Incorporate anything you can into resting with your kids and making it bearable and loving.”
Looking back on how going public with her diagnosis was a “huge relief,” Blair says, “It just made sense to make a documentary and to be able to just put one perspective at least of someone searching for relief who’s a single mom, who’s trying to keep it together and it’s so rewarding.”
The impact the documentary had on people facing similar struggles, like a man who said it saved his marriage because it opened his eyes to the reality of what his wife had been enduring with MS, was especially rewarding, Blair says.
“It was the most rewarding thing for me to feel like if any example of what I lived or showed could help strengthen someone’s understanding of what someone they love or know is going through.”
Finding Resources And Support
For patients and families navigating MS or another serious illness like a cancer diagnosis, gaining access to new treatment or trials can feel overwhelming. That’s why SurvivorNet encourages patients to use its proprietary Clinical Trial Finder, a free tool designed to help patients identify relevant trials quickly and easily.
Every year, new early-phase studies come online, each one representing another step forward in disease management.
SurvivorNet’s AI-powered “My Health Questions” tool was also built with patient needs in mind, to give patients and their caregivers access to health information vetted by professionals right when they need it.
It handles both complex clinical issues and everyday logistical concerns with accuracy, clarity, and personalization.
Users can create a tailored health profile by entering details such as age, gender, and location, allowing the platform to refine responses over time. This reflects SurvivorNet’s mission: pairing cutting‑edge technology with physician‑driven expertise to make complex medical information accessible and actionable.
The tool guided him with the same safety‑first approach that clinicians emphasize.
Crucially, the tool is doctor‑supported. Leading oncology experts review the information to ensure it is accurate, safe, and easy to understand.
The goal is not to replace clinicians, but to help patients arrive at appointments better prepared with informed questions and a clearer understanding of their care journey.
This combination of AI efficiency and medical oversight is already making a difference.
Living With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis causes the immune system to attack cells that form the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers in the spinal cord. The disruption leads to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.
Once the protective barrier is damaged, the spinal cord struggles to communicate with the body’s arms, legs, and other parts to function normally.
WATCH: SurvivorNetTV Presents: Defying All Odds – A World-Renowned Doctor’s Incredible Journey Through MS
There is no cure for MS, but there are methods and treatments available to help manage symptoms.
People living with MS also often use tools like wheelchairs, canes, leg braces, and some medical treatments called disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to make life easier.
A study in American Family Physician found that DMTs “have been shown to slow disease progression and disability; options include injectable agents, infusions, and oral medications targeting different sites in the inflammatory pathway.”
Research published in Frontiers in Neurology says autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), like what Blair underwent, used for multiple sclerosis therapy helps “reset the immune system.” Several studies and clinical trials using AHSCT have shown promise.
“In a meta-analysis of published studies using AHSCT for MS treatment, the pooled estimated transplant-related mortality was 2.1%, the two-year disease progression rate was 17.1%, the five-year progression rate of 23.3%, and a pooled 83% of patients had no evidence of disease activity at two years. Patients who had the most benefit and the least mortality rate were patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).”
Additional research published by NEJM Journal Watch says that AHSCT helps MS patients reduce relapses better than other forms of MS treatment.
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, there are several different kinds of MS, including:
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS): This means an individual experiences a single neurological episode lasting 24 hours or less. CIS is what MS is diagnosed as until there is a second episode.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): The most common MS among the million people battling the disease in the U.S., RRMS is marked by sudden flare-ups, new symptoms, or worsening of symptoms and cognitive function. The condition will then go into remission for some time before reemerging with no known warning signs.
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS): These individuals have no flare-ups or remission, just a steady decline with progressively worse symptoms and an increasing loss of cognitive and body functions.
- Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): This is an almost transitional form of MS that progresses from RRMS to PPMS.
Treatment options vary by type and severity.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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