Chronic illnesses can pose a problem not just in terms of treatment, but also because many are stigmatized by it. Based on the reports by the CDC, 6 out of 10 adults in America are diagnosed with at least one chronic illness. This includes several actors and celebrities whom we have seen on TV and on film. Though many have negative views about these conditions, those who are diagnosed with chronic illnesses are being brave in coming out with their diagnosis and sharing their experiences in order to educate others. These celebrities have been quite candid about their diagnosis in order to share their plight as well as others to the world.
Many of them are coming forward to give their fans and the world a glimpse of what they do on a daily basis living with their conditions. They are speaking out about the stigma, and how they are dealing with it in their own ways. Here are a few of these celebrities that are bravely speaking out about their illnesses.
Michael J. Fox
Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox has had a stellar career. He had numerous projects under his name and his future in Hollywood just seemed so secure. There was no way he wasn’t going to be one of the best stars out there. However, fate had something else in store for him. He was diagnosed with early Parkinson’s at the young age of 29. This was a blow to the young actor as Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease that affects the nerves in the body. However, in true Michael J. Fox fashion, he learned to live with it and even used his investment money to fund research to find a cure for it.
The actor has had his fair share of ups and downs because of his chronic illness, but he refused to self-pity. Even his wife, actress Tracy Pollan, did not treat him as a patient which has helped him stay focused on his craft. Though his acting projects were significantly cut back, he still appears in shows from time to time such as in The Good Wife and Rescues Me. His acting may have changed somewhat, but his stage presence is still on point.
Selma Blair
Hollywood star Selma Blair has been battling multiple sclerosis for some time now that she had already embraced its effects on her mind and body. She rose to fame for her works in films like Cruel Intentions, The Sweetest Thing, Legally Blonde, and Hellboy just to name a few. She started out in TV shows before transitioning to film, much to the delight of her fans. The actress went on to take more projects but soon experienced occasional falls, having a foggy memory, and even dropping things. She was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The actress has since found ways to handle her condition and is even in talks with fashion designer Christian Siriano about coming up with a fashion line about adaptive clothing. It seems that the actress is going to be busy with this possible collaboration on top of her charity works too. After all, Blair is not one to quit, and with her investments in the entertainment industry, it is high time that someone speaks about this condition and helps others in the process too.
Frankie Muniz
Many were wondering what happened to Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz after he disappeared from the entertainment industry. It appears that the child actor had been going in and out of hospitals because of transient ischemic attacks. This led to multiple concussions starting when he was a child. In 2012, the young actor suffered from a mini-stroke. His battle with transient ischemic attacks has also taken a toll on his memory that he has already forgotten his time as a child star.
Though he may not remember his time in the popular TV show, it was one of the highlights of his career. His salary here gave his net worth a huge boost and with the aid of a financial advisor, it may help him live comfortably too as he gets older. The actor, who is a successful entrepreneur, married his long-time girlfriend last year and welcomed his first child earlier this year.
Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams has carved a name for herself as a TV host in her own show called The Wendy Williams Show. What started out as a career in radio turned out to be her stepping stone to stardom. Her candidness about the ups and downs in her personal life endeared her to her fans that her show was syndicated across the country. It was her interview with Whitney Houston that helped give her a taste of stardom, which eventually turned out to be a career on TV.
Williams was riding high in her new TV show, but in 2019, she had to take a step back because of her chronic illness called Graves’ disease. Though the TV host did come back, she is currently taking some time off as a precautionary measure. This particular disease causes her thyroid to go in overdrive, which has been affecting her health for some time now. Hopefully, she gets back on the saddle as her investments in her work and in her career are still waiting for her.
Yolanda Hadid
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Yolanda Hadid has been battling Lyme disease for some time now. The former reality star and model did not know when they contracted the disease, but they used to live on a farm in California where they spent most of their time outdoors. Hadid reported that she dealt with various symptoms including brain fog, anxiety, severe fatigue, and even muscle weakness.
Fortunately, in 2019, the former model said that her Lyme disease was in remission but stated that her battle with the disease was a nightmare. To her credit, she has been open about her sickness which helped gain attention to this otherwise obscure disease. The reality star was supported by her family throughout the ordeal which helped her live her life day by day. She hopes that through her advocacies more information will be shed about this disease.
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