The heroism of Selma Blair: Actress pulled out of 'DWTS' but she never let MS get the better of her
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A vibrant participant in the 'Dancing With The Stars' show is backing out and it is Selma Blair. The actress revealed on Monday, October 17, that she had to give up due to her medical condition after she performed one last time on the grand stage. Back in 2018, the actress revealed that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and her doctors have now advised her not to continue further. She broke the news to her pro partner in a pre-taped package.
The 50-year-old actress has bravely fought with the condition and has been vocal about her journey as well. Selma told her pro partner Sasha Farber, 38, in a pre-recorded footage, "You know I've been monitored and in touch with my doctors this whole process. I had these MRIs and when the results came back, it just all adds up to I can't. I can't. I can't go on with the competition. I pushed as far as I could. With a chronic illness, you do have special considerations and my body is definitely taking a hit. It's way too much for the safety of my bones. There's just intensive bone trauma and inflammation among rips and tears so I could do extensive damage that of course, I do not want." The 'Legally Blonde' star previously revealed that she had suffered from the condition for five years before getting her diagnosis which was a huge relief.
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During the 'Most Memorable Year' themed episode, participants were expected to share the details of their most memorable year, and for Selma, it was 2018 when she was diagnosed with MS. Selma reflected on the years of struggle saying, "I was sick for so many years. I was searching and searching for how to help myself. I started living again in 2018." Selma's final performance left the judges visibly emotional as she danced to 'What the World Needs Now is Love.' Head judge Len Goodman, 78, said, "This competition is tough for everyone. But if the others had climbed hills, you have climbed mountains."
Back in 2018, Selma announced her medical condition in a detailed Instagram post that shed light on her struggle with the problem. She wrote, "I have #multiplesclerosis," she wrote. She continued, "I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and will power and the understanding producers at Netflix, I have a job. A wonderful job. I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps. But we are doing it." She explained how she never took this condition seriously until her friend, Elizabeth Berkley, took her to see her brother Jason Berkley who is a neurologist. She continued writing, "I have had symptoms for years but was never taken seriously until I fell down in front of [Jason Berkley] trying to sort out what I thought was a pinched nerve."
In 2019, the actress revealed in a since-deleted Instagram post that she was undergoing chemotherapy and a revolutionary stem cell transplant treatment. However, the process caused her to lose her hair and forced her to be away from her home state of California—and her son—for two months. While sitting at the Time 100 Health Summit, she revealed that she was undergoing more chemo sessions than a cancer patient. The same year, she provided an update on her battle with the disease and how the chemo and high doses of prednisone had left with her visionary issues. She wrote, "Since chemotherapy and high doses of prednisone I have lost any ability to focus with my eyes. (I find it difficult to be on phone so I am not on social media or communicating w friends through writing very much). Panic sets in."
By 2020, Selma had adapted to the condition and agreed to live like this and never slowed down. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote, "I am a mess with MS. I was told I would be jumping in a year when I was first diagnosed. I believed and have had shame I haven’t pulled through for the rest of us. I will always have MS, I now see. Always. But I am going to learn how to use this body, brain and emotions." By 2021, the actress was in remission. While appearing virtually at the discovery+ TCA panel Monday in support of her upcoming documentary 'Introducing Selma Blair', People reported, "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. I was reluctant to talk about it because I felt this need to be more healed and more fixed."
In her May 2022 memoir, 'Mean Baby', the actress reflected on her addiction with addiction and the diagnosis writing in one excerpt, "Now finally here it was, my diagnosis was the validation I’d been searching for… that I was human and that it was ok." The actress was appreciated by her Hollywood clan in September 2022 during the Emmy Awards when she attended the event with a cane. The following day, the actress took to her Instagram writing, "I never imagined I would walk across that stage and be given the truest gift for me. Love. Applause. Standing along with me. I have never been on this stage before. I haven’t had awards like this in my career, but my God, to be recognized by these brilliant talents. And loves. And icons." The actress joined 'Dancing With The Stars' in September but had to opt out of the show in October due to her condition.