How Christina Applegate’s MS Diagnosis Has “Broken” Daughter Sadie

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Christina Applegate knows her loved ones are navigating a difficult chapter.

In the midst of the actress from Dead to Me facing her persistent struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, she disclosed how her 14-year-old daughter, Sadie LeNoble, is managing in this situation along with her husband, Maryn LeNoble.

Christina clarified to her friend Jamie-Lynn Sigler during their August 26th podcast episode that Sadie had only known her as a healthy individual, an avid runner, Peloton user, and dancer. She further explained, “So when this happened in 2021, she reacted with stoicism.

Although Sadie’s teenager doesn’t openly show signs of struggling with her mother being unwell, the 53-year-old perceives a shift in Sadie’s behavior instead.

As a lifestyle expert, I might rephrase it like this: “I found myself caught in her gaze when I was lying in bed, and the urge to pay her a goodnight visit in her room was strong. However, on that particular day, for some unknown reason, my legs seemed unwilling to cooperate, preventing me from making my way down the hallway.

Indeed, Christina explained that her illness has “broken” her daughter. 

The former star of ‘Married…With Children’ went on to say that she hadn’t known about this situation. It felt like losing the mother she was accustomed to, and replacing her with this expletive thing. As she’s grown older, I believe it has only added to her pain.

Jamie-Lynn, mother of Beau (12) and Jack (6), shared how her sons have been affected by her multiple sclerosis. Christina agreed that it’s a heavy burden for any child to carry, especially in the post-COVID period.

In 2021, Christina was diagnosed. This was a time when everyone had been dealing with the pandemic, schools were closed, and many other challenges. Now, Christina observed, her mother is not as capable as she once was, and it shows in her eyes.

Even though she’s aware of the distress her child is experiencing, Christina emphasized that witnessing how she manages it has also been a profoundly beautiful experience for her.

Outside, she often notices that I struggle due to my high anxiety levels. Regardless, she’s always there for me, providing comfort by keeping a supportive hand on my arm. She’s consistently been there to lend a helping hand.”

In this paraphrase, I aimed to maintain the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language.

For more on Christina’s battle with MS, keep reading… 

Christina Applegate shared she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021.

Hello everyone! A few months back, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I decided to share this news on my social media channels last August. This journey has been unusual, but the support I’ve received from friends who also have this condition has been invaluable. It’s been a difficult path, but as we all know, life goes on. However, let’s hope no one puts any obstacles in our way.

She playfully mentioned during her Hollywood Walk of Fame induction in November 2022, her first public outing since being diagnosed with a disease, “Oh, by the way, guess what I have?” She humorously implied this by saying, “I bet you didn’t notice. I’m not even wearing shoes.

Christina believes her MS journey actually began “six or seven years” before her 2021 diagnosis.

During an interview on Good Morning America in March 2024, Christina shared an insight about her experience working on Dead to Me. She mentioned that while shooting, especially during the first season, she often felt her leg giving out. Initially, she attributed it to various reasons like fatigue, dehydration, or the weather. However, for several months afterwards, nothing seemed amiss, and she paid little heed to it.

By the time she was filming the third and last season of the Netflix series, the actress mentioned that she was being transported to the set in a wheelchair.

“I couldn’t move that far,” she recalled, “so I had to tell everybody because I needed help.”

In this rephrased version, the actress shared a picture of her canes, saying, “I’ve incorporated walking sticks into my everyday life as I navigate through my multiple sclerosis journey.

As I stood alongside my dear daughter, Sadie Grace LeNoble, at the 2023 SAG Awards, I couldn’t help but express my feelings in a straightforward manner about multiple sclerosis. With a bold stance, I declared, “MS, you’re not welcome here.

Following a hearty standing ovation at the 2023 Emmys, the former star of “Married…With Children” humorously remarked, “You’re making me feel inadequate with your ability to stand, given my disability.

In a heart-to-heart chat on the Armchair Expert podcast in March 2024, I confessed that humor is my lifeline. If I don’t joke about my condition, it feels like I’m drowning. So, I keep making light of it, because for me, it’s a must – I simply can’t afford to stop.

She shared during the podcast that she has 30 areas of damage in her brain. The largest one is located behind her right eye, causing significant discomfort in that eye.

According to the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, legions (lesions) occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective myelin sheath that surrounds nerve fibers.

Christina hasn’t held back when it comes to sharing her journey. 

The “Anchorman” actress shared her daily challenges with Multiple Sclerosis during a conversation with Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night talk show, stating, “It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I won’t sugarcoat it. Not many people diagnosed with MS would say this is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to them.

In March 2024, Christina shared with Good Morning America that she described her daily life with the disease as being “a bit like living in a nightmare.

She mentioned that there could be times when she operates more effectively, saying, “However, I might find myself in a situation where I perform slightly better.” Currently, she is secluding herself as a coping mechanism, explaining, “I’m staying away from social gatherings and it’s my way of dealing with things because I just don’t feel up to it. It’s tough.

Christina acknowledged that her “Sweetest Thing” co-star, Selma Blair (who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018), played a significant role in encouraging her to undergo testing for the same condition.

During her GMA interview, Christina remembered that she was reminded by someone to undergo an examination for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). If not for that reminder, things might have turned out much more severe.

Christina expressed to Vanity Fair in May 2023 that it’s highly probable that “Dead to Me” will be her final on-screen role. She shared, “I find it hard to picture myself going to the set these days.

She expressed that it’s unlikely she’ll appear on-camera again, but she’s extremely grateful for having worked alongside Linda Cardellini, who is undoubtedly the most exceptional actress she has ever collaborated with throughout her career, and if not, one of the most remarkable individuals she’s ever encountered.

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2025-08-28 17:47