Christina Applegate's only child, Sadie, spoke out about her POTS diagnosis and how it helps her understand her mom's MS symptoms.
When it comes to her health struggles, Christina Applegate has an ally in her daughter, Sadie.
During an appearance on the MeSsy podcast Christina co-hosts with Jamie Lynn Sigler, the actress' only child with husband Martyn LeNoble and her "favorite guest that we could possibly ever have," Sadie Grace LeNoble, 13, shared her point of view of her mom's multiple sclerosis diagnosis and how her own health battle has given her a new perspective on Christina's struggles.
The teenager shared that she was recently diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, also known as POTS, after experiencing dizziness upon standing up, leg weakness, and fainting. Before her diagnosis, Sadie recalled, school staff attributed her symptoms to anxiety or thought she was lying. She said people dismissing her sickness hurt her physically and emotionally as her feelings were disregarded and she was told to run laps in gym class.
During their conversation, Christina compared Sadie's experience to what she and Jamie endure when the stresses of the world bring out their MS symptoms much worse than if they were home.
While they both have to manage difficult conditions, Sadie's diagnosis has helped her relate to her mom's daily experience.
"When my mom's like, 'Oh, I'm kind of in pain right now. Oh, like, I'm having tremors.' If I didn't have this, I probably would be like, 'I don't really care. I don't know what you're talking about.' But I actually have tremors from POTS," Sadie said. "It's definitely a lot easier to understand what she's going through when I have something I'm going through as well."
However, that does not detract from the challenges both mother and daughter have had to face since Christina's MS battle began.
“When she got diagnosed, it kind of just felt like -- not like everything was over, but it was hard seeing my mom lose a lot of the abilities she used to have in my childhood," Sadie said, recalling how they used to be able to dance together for hours.
While Sadie said it's been really difficult to see her mom go through this, the teen noted it is nice being able to help and support her with her diagnosis.
Meanwhile, for Christina, guilt emerges on her bad MS days. "I don't ever want you to feel that I'm not capable to be your protector, your mother, you know, I love you," the Dead to Me star said. "I want to make you food. I want to bring it to you. I want to do all the things and I do when I can. And I feel incredibly guilty when I can't."
Christina's love for her daughter has taken center stage on multiple occasions in recent years, including during her speech at her Walk of Fame ceremony in 2022. "The most important person in this world is my daughter. You are so much more -- you are so much more than even you know," she said. "You are so beautiful and kind and loving and smart and interesting and I am blessed every day that I get to wake up and take you to your school... You are my everything. Thank you for standing beside me through all of this."
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