Christina Applegate Discusses Impact of MS on Her Daughter

Christina Applegate has candidly shared that her battle with multiple sclerosis has deeply affected her 14-year-old daughter, Sadie.

“I can see her watching me when I’m in bed, completely unable to move. Or when I want to say goodnight to her in her room, I often can’t even make it down the hallway because my legs just won’t cooperate that day,” she mentioned on her podcast this past Tuesday.

“Now I can barely make it to the bathroom, which is tough, but that’s just part of it,” Applegate added, reflecting on how this situation has impacted her family emotionally. “It broke her.”

The actress, known for her role in “Married…with Children,” looked back at her life before her MS diagnosis in 2021, recalling how Sadie used to see her as a “healthy, active mom.” Applegate noted that when the diagnosis came, Sadie seemed to cope stoically initially.

However, the changes have taken a toll. “It’s as if she lost the mom she once had due to this ordeal. The more time that passes, the harder it seems for her,” Applegate reflected.

At 53, she emphasized how her condition has altered not just her life but Sadie’s as a teenager. Both faced the challenges during a time when many families were navigating the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’ve both been through so much together—Covid, school challenges, and now, mom isn’t the same,” Applegate remarked, recognizing Sadie’s awareness and concern for her struggles.

Despite the hardships, Applegate expressed gratitude for her daughter’s support. “It’s really touching how she always stays close when we go out. She senses my anxiety and always holds onto my arm,” Applegate shared. “At home, she sometimes asks me to make her food, and it feels like there’s still that connection, even if things have changed.”

Since announcing her diagnosis in August 2021, the “Dead to Me” star has been open about her health challenges, sharing updates with her fans on a podcast co-hosted with Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Recently, Applegate disclosed that she had been hospitalized and experienced severe pain. During an episode recorded from her hospital bed in Los Angeles earlier this month, she mentioned dealing with complications affecting her kidneys.