Entertainment
Selma Blair is ‘in remission’ from her multiple sclerosis after being told to ‘make plans for dying’
Selma Blair says her MS is still in remission (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Selma Blair has shared a happy update with regards to her battle with multiple sclerosis as the actress is now in remission.
The 49-year-old was first diagnosed with the chronic immune disease in August 2018, and was even told to make plans for dying as she dealt with the painful flare.
MS is a lifelong condition that damages nerves in the body and makes it difficult for sufferers to do everyday things, including walking and eating.
There is currently no cure, with symptoms including fatigue, issues with vision and difficulty walking.
After years of dealing with physical struggles such as difficulty speaking and losing the ability to fully use her left leg, the Cruel Intentions star opted for a stem cell transplant and an ‘aggressive’ course of chemotherapy to restart her immune system.
Speaking to the press on Monday at the virtual discovery+ TCA panel, the Legally Blonde star revealed the transplant had a positive effect.
The actress was diagnosed with the chronic immune disease in August 2018, and recently underwent a stem cell transplant (Picture: BG015/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
As she promoted her upcoming documentary, Introducing Selma Blair, the actress stated: ‘My prognosis is great. I’m in remission. Stem cell put me in remission. It took about a year after stem cell for the inflammation and lesions to really go down.’
Understandably, The Sweetest Thing star kept the news private for a few months as she explained: ‘I was reluctant to talk about it because I felt this need to be more healed and more fixed. I’ve accrued a lifetime of some baggage in the brain that still needs a little sorting out or accepting.
‘That took me a minute to get to that acceptance. It doesn’t look like this for everyone. I have really felt unwell and misunderstood for so long that it’s just, me.’
Introducing Selma Blair will chart the actress’ journey following her MS diagnosis and her stem cell transplant.
In the intimate two-minute teaser for the Discovery+ documentary – to be released in October in the US – Blair shared her candid thoughts on her battle, revealing the toll treatment has taken on her body.
Blair – who shared her diagnosis with the illness in 2018 – was seen in the clip going between cracking irreverent jokes to struggling to walk and climb the stairs.
More: US Showbiz news
Revealing her diagnosis, Blair said she had been suffering with flare-ups since the birth of her son in 2011 and initially struggled to get doctors to take notice – but was finally diagnosed following an MRI scan seven years later after 20 MS-related lesions were found on her brain.
During Monday’s panel, the actress credited her 10-year-old son, Arthur, for being a source of strength during her battle as she stated: ‘If there’s an option to halt this, a time to rebalance after being hit so hard after my last flare, it’s absolutely for my son. I have no desire to leave him alone.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
