Photo: Instagram
She rocked a cane Sunday night at the Oscars.
By Sarah Gangraw — Written on Feb 25, 2019
Selma Blair walked down the red carpet with a cane during her first public appearance since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year.
The cane made a wonderful accessory to her floor-length pink, light blue, black, and mint green gown and bedazzled choker as she attended the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in Beverly Hills on Sunday.
The actress' emotional appearance brought attention to her recently diagnosed disability and she has gained so much support as a result.
So why does Selma Blair have a cane? Here's what we know about Selma Blair and her struggle with multiple sclerosis.
1. She was diagnosed with MS in August.
In October, the Legally Blonde actress revealed she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in August and has been very open about her struggles with the disease.
"I have #multiplesclerosis," Blair announced on Instagram on Oct. 20. "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. And I laugh and I don’t know exactly what I will do precisely but I will do my best."
According to the National MS Society, multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. It causes fatigue, difficulty walking, numbness or tingling, and dizziness and vertigo and has no known cure.
"I have probably had this incurable disease for 15 years at least. And I am relieved to at least know. And share," Blair continued.
2. She faces many daily challenges.
Blair has not been shy about her life with MS. She has shared her experiences, both the ups and the downs, with her followers on Instagram.
"There is a truth with neurodegenerative brain disease," Blair wrote on Instagram in January. "It is uncomfortable. It is a stadium of uncontrollable anxiety at times. Going out, being sociable holds a heavy price. My brain is on fire. I am freezing. We feel alone with it even though the loving support has been a god send and appreciated ... My life is not about suffering."
3. She was first photographed with a cane in December.
Blair posted the first photo of herself with a cane at Kris Jenner's Christmas Eve party in December. She was all smiles as she used it to support herself in the snow.
Since then, she has shown no shame, posing with her cane in many pictures and showing the world her disease doesn't define her.
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4. Her cane was personalized for the Oscars.
Blair made sure her first public appearance since her diagnosis was one for the books. She showed up to the Oscars with a customized cane to go with her beautiful dress.
“This is love,” Blair captioned a photo on Instagram of her cane, complete with her monogram. “@tombachik customizing my cane with my monogram and a real pink #diamond. How did I get so lucky?”
“I wanted a special cane for #vanityfair dinner,” she continued. “So… @lyon_heartedwent out and found patent leather and @bic_owen and he stitched it on. Hours of love put in. And then #tombachick made it especially magical. I burst into tears. These gifts to get me through. #subtle #chic #love. I can’t thank these three enough. There are angels.”
5. She rocked it.
Blair's cane made a wonderful accessory to her gown Sunday and she was very pleased with her look. In a recent post, she said, "When my life flashes before my eyes, I want this portrait by @markseliger to be front and center," referring to a photo of herself Sunday night absolutely killing it with her cane.
Sarah Gangraw writes about all things news, entertainment and crime. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.