Christina Applegate has opened up about the emotional toll her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis has taken on her 14-year-old daughter, Sadie. In a recent episode of her podcast MeSsy with Jamie Lynn Sigler, the actress reflected on how difficult it has been for her daughter to watch her health decline.
Applegate was diagnosed with MS in 2021, a condition that has significantly impacted her mobility and day-to-day life. “In my situation, Sadie only knew me as healthy, and a runner, and a Pelotoner and a dancer, and she only knew that,” Applegate told Sigler. “So then when this came about, 2021, she was like stoic about it.”
Applegate described how her daughter now sees the effects of the illness daily. “And now, I see her look at me when I’m in bed and can’t quite move, or I wanna go say goodnight to her in her room, but I can’t quite get down the hallway for whatever reason that my legs aren’t working that day. Right now I can barely get to the bathroom, it’s the worst, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s broken her.”
She admitted the shift in her health felt like a loss to her daughter. “She didn’t know this. It was like losing the mom she had to this f**king thing. And the more she’s gotten older now, I think the more it’s hurting her,” Applegate said.
Despite the challenges, the Emmy-winning star praised her daughter’s compassion and support throughout her ongoing battle with MS. “But you know what’s really beautiful? When we’re out, she knows I’m having such a hard time because I have such anxiety about being out. And she’s always got my arm. She’s always trying to help me through and help me with my cane and all this stuff.”
Applegate has been open about her health since her diagnosis, sharing both the physical struggles and the emotional weight it carries. Her candid comments highlight the way chronic illness not only affects patients but also their families, particularly children who must adjust to new realities.
For Sadie, the transition from knowing her mother as active and energetic to seeing her rely on mobility aids has been a painful shift. Still, her continued care and support reflect the deep bond between mother and daughter. Applegate’s honesty about her journey offers a raw perspective on living with MS, showing both the hardships and the resilience of family love in the face of life-changing illness.