Christina Applegate Walks Latest Red Carpet With a Cane

Recently, I came across a photograph of Christina Applegate.  The actress —well-known for her roles in “Married with Children,” “Anchorman,” and “Dead to Me” — looked stunning and radiant in black. I didn’t even realize she was using a cane until I read the caption that accompanied the photo.

Ms. Applegate has been very honest and brave about her battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). She has also battled breast cancer and had a double mastectomy in the past. She is a relatively young woman, younger than I am by several years. I have to applaud her for being so open about her health battles and the fact that she is using a cane to walk. This touched me because I also walk with a cane.

It’s true that I am not a famous Hollywood actress and I am certainly not known for my devastating beauty. I don’t wear designer clothes or jewelry whenever I go out. I’m just a regular gal from New York who likes to wear comfy tee-shirts and what my husband likes to call, “nerd sneakers.” I am nowhere near as well known as Ms. Applegate is and yet people are always staring at me. A lot. I know it is because I walk with a cane. I can see the judgment in people’s eyes when they look at me. I know they are judging me because I get the prolonged stares and then I see them whispering to someone else without taking their eyes off of me. I once overheard an elderly woman in a not so soft whisper say that I probably didn’t need the cane and was just using it to get attention.

People can have disabilities that are not easily recognizable. For me, I use a cane because of back, hip, and knee issues. I have had five herniated discs in my back and had a spinal fusion to correct them. The surgery did not help me and left me weaker. My back issues have affected my hip and I had a meniscus injury that has not completely healed. On top of having lupus, fibromyalgia, and other issues, I use a cane to walk because it has helped me to become more mobile. It has been a plus in my life. Still, I sometimes feel embarrassed by the way people stare at me. I know that the problem lies with them and not with me. I truly feel sorry for the ignorance of other people.  They don’t understand nor do they try to. Still, it can get under my skin.

While I don’t write messages on my cane the way Ms. Applegate does, I applaud her for her courage. She is a woman in a career where women are judged by their looks and usefulness. I think she is more beautiful now than she has ever been. I recently heard that she is trying to go in a different direction with her career and I wish her all the best. Many famous people have tried to hide their illnesses over the years and I am so thankful that she has the strength to be so open about her health. She is not only beautiful but brave as well.

If you’re like me and Ms. Applegate and use a cane to assist you, or if you’re in a wheelchair or whatever your
situation may be, please remember that you have value. Always keep your chin up and ignore the judgments. Keep fighting and hold your head up high. Remember, you are fighting a battle that not everyone has the strength to fight.