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Jack Osbourne Diagnosed With Multiple Sclerosis, At Age 26
Jack Osbourne, the son of rocker Ozzy Osbourne and TV personality Sharon Osbourne, announced that he has multiple sclerosis, the autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. The 26-year-old, who welcomed a baby girl a few weeks ago with his fiancee, told People, "I was just angry and frustrated and kept thinking, 'Why now?' I've got a family and that's what's supposed to be the most important thing." Jack and his family become even more famous after they appeared in the MTV reality show The Osbournes. Sharon Osbourne told Hello, "I keep thinking: 'What did I do wrong? What did I eat or drink when I was pregnant? I feel like it's somehow my fault," and Ozzy said, "If it was me, you'd think: 'Ozzy had a reputation and it caught up with him', but Jack is such a good guy."
Jack Osbourne revealed, "While I was waiting for the final results, I got really, really angry. Then I got really sad for about two days, and after that I realised: 'Being angry and upset is not going to do anything at this point, if anything it's only going to make it worse… 'adapt and overcome' is my new motto".
According to the NIH, MS "is most commonly diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, but can be seen at any age. MS is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. When this nerve covering is damaged, nerve signals slow down or stop. The nerve damage is caused by inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the body's own immune cells attack the nervous system. This can occur along any area of the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord. It is unknown what exactly causes this to happen. The most common thought is that a virus or gene defect, or both, are to blame. Environmental factors may play a role." Symptoms include spasms, loss of balance, issues with eyesight, problems walking and slurred speech.
Montel Williams has been battling MS for decades; he has a foundation to further the study and understanding of MS. Williams has also lobbied for the legalization of medical marijuana, which he uses to manage his pain.
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