You might remember her as pretty party-girl Meadow Soprano, from the hit HBO series, the Sopranos. The character was played by the beautiful and successful actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler. However, in real-life, she suffers from a devastating condition. At the age of 20, the young actress was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Sigler was terrified by her shocking diagnosis.
At the time, Jamie-Lynn faced her terrifying diagnosis alone, hiding it from co-stars and friends for a long time.
When she first got her diagnosis, Jamie-Lynn was terrified. The news was a shock to her, almost out of left-field. She didn't know anyone who had this disease, and there was nobody in her family who had anything like it. At the time, she didn't know very much …show more content…
As a young actress, she refused to let her disease stop her from achieving her dreams. She didn't slow down for multiple sclerosis, continuing her role in the Sopranos and doing several Broadway shows as well.
A time of stress changed the course of her illness.
Around the age of 24, she went through a divorce. The emotional stress caused her multiple sclerosis to flare. She was getting more and more symptoms and her disease began to manifest. That's when she began to notice some limitations from her disease. It started with some weakness on the right side of her body, that worsened to the point that she can't enjoy an evening jog. For the past 10 years, she hasn't been able to go for a run to exercise. High-heels are also difficult to wear, which is hard for any woman, especially an actress.
Jamie-Lynn began to take control over her condition.
Many people, especially women are diagnosed in the 20s and 30s. It is a disease that can be very controllable if you are loyal to your treatments. Slowly, over the years she has built her support team. Her doctor was one of the most important people that she first began to build trust with. During the time she had her son, her doctor was always there for her to discuss her symptoms and side effects with open dialogue. This trusting relationship helped her stay on her medications and understand her disease better. With time, she was eventually able …show more content…
As a celebrity who is openly sharing her story, she has launched a campaign to help others living with this disease.
Multiple sclerosis has been challenging yet empowering for Jamie-Lynn. It allowed her a new platform and sense of responsibility for the multiple sclerosis community. She teamed up with Biogen and created a campaign called "Reimagine Myself". They've designed an online resource and community for people living and suffering from relapsing multiple sclerosis.
On this website, Jamie has videos that she shares describing a-day-in-a-life of how she personally handles parenting, career, sex, and marriage living with her disease. She shares her own tips for how she takes care of herself, including meditation, eating well, taking pills, loyalty to treatment, taking breaks for herself.
She knows that living with chronic illness can make anyone feel very isolated and alone. It's easy to feel like people don't understand. Because of this, she writes a series of very honest and real blog posts to share her experience.
"I get it. I feel you, I hear you, I go through what you go through. And I understand." she said in an interview with Fox
Sigler was terrified by her shocking diagnosis.
At the time, Jamie-Lynn faced her terrifying diagnosis alone, hiding it from co-stars and friends for a long time.
When she first got her diagnosis, Jamie-Lynn was terrified. The news was a shock to her, almost out of left-field. She didn't know anyone who had this disease, and there was nobody in her family who had anything like it. At the time, she didn't know very much …show more content…
As a young actress, she refused to let her disease stop her from achieving her dreams. She didn't slow down for multiple sclerosis, continuing her role in the Sopranos and doing several Broadway shows as well.
A time of stress changed the course of her illness.
Around the age of 24, she went through a divorce. The emotional stress caused her multiple sclerosis to flare. She was getting more and more symptoms and her disease began to manifest. That's when she began to notice some limitations from her disease. It started with some weakness on the right side of her body, that worsened to the point that she can't enjoy an evening jog. For the past 10 years, she hasn't been able to go for a run to exercise. High-heels are also difficult to wear, which is hard for any woman, especially an actress.
Jamie-Lynn began to take control over her condition.
Many people, especially women are diagnosed in the 20s and 30s. It is a disease that can be very controllable if you are loyal to your treatments. Slowly, over the years she has built her support team. Her doctor was one of the most important people that she first began to build trust with. During the time she had her son, her doctor was always there for her to discuss her symptoms and side effects with open dialogue. This trusting relationship helped her stay on her medications and understand her disease better. With time, she was eventually able …show more content…
As a celebrity who is openly sharing her story, she has launched a campaign to help others living with this disease.
Multiple sclerosis has been challenging yet empowering for Jamie-Lynn. It allowed her a new platform and sense of responsibility for the multiple sclerosis community. She teamed up with Biogen and created a campaign called "Reimagine Myself". They've designed an online resource and community for people living and suffering from relapsing multiple sclerosis.
On this website, Jamie has videos that she shares describing a-day-in-a-life of how she personally handles parenting, career, sex, and marriage living with her disease. She shares her own tips for how she takes care of herself, including meditation, eating well, taking pills, loyalty to treatment, taking breaks for herself.
She knows that living with chronic illness can make anyone feel very isolated and alone. It's easy to feel like people don't understand. Because of this, she writes a series of very honest and real blog posts to share her experience.
"I get it. I feel you, I hear you, I go through what you go through. And I understand." she said in an interview with Fox