Selma Blair powerfully shared what she learned from isolating after her stem-cell treatment

Olivia Harvey

May 26, 2020 at 1:36 p.m.·5 min read

On Friday, May 22nd, Selma Blair posted a candid picture to Instagram and explained how her time in self-isolation in summer 2019 taught her how to adjust to new and unsettling circumstances—similar to those most of us are now experiencing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Last year, Blair underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in an attempt to slow the progression of her multiple sclerosis (MS), with which she was diagnosed in 2018. Because those who receive HSCT often experience similar side effects to those who undergo chemotherapy, Blair shaved her head in anticipation of hair loss and was forced to self-isolate to protect her weakened immune system.

“When I was in isolation this summer, I imagined peace. In all ways,” she wrote in her May 22nd post. “A reckoning. An understanding. Of time alone. Of the help I was asking for. For my son. I could not be with him. I held this #frownyfacedolls of my son.” The actor has an 8-year-old son named Arthur.

Blair continued, “I acknowledged it’s normal to not always have a smile. But I learned to Smile. For real. And I thank you all for your support. And kindness.”

“I am here,” Blair wrote. “I am adjusting. And I have hope we can all adjust. And give care to all who need in your life.”

View this post on Instagram

#fbf When I was in isolation this summer, I imagined peace. In all ways. A reckoning. An understanding. Of time alone. Of the help I was asking for. For my son. I could not be with him. I held this #frownyfacedolls of my son. I acknowledged it’s normal to not always have a smile. But I learned to Smile. For real. And I thank you all for your support. And kindness. I am here. I am adjusting. And I have hope we can all adjust. And give care to all who need in your life. Thank you to all the nurses at northwestern with #stemcelltransplant team of #drburt @frownyfacedolls ☹️. Ps. My heart is with @amandakloots and @nickcordero1 . They are a light. Praying with all the sincerity and joy I know for strength and healing and miracles for this fight of their lives. #powerofprayer 🙏 @cassblackbird I think you did take this. 🤎
A post shared by Selma Blair (@selmablair) on May 22, 2020 at 11:04am PDT

The finished her post by thanking all of the nurses on Dr. Burt’s stem cell transplant team at Northwestern Medicine, which has since closed its doors.

Blair recently told Miley Cyrus on Cyrus’s Instagram Live talk show “Bright Minded,” that the social-distancing guidelines currently in place around the globe are not so different from the ones she’s lived by for the past two years. In fact, she’s grateful for this time because her son is now home with her all day and they get to spend more time together.

“There’s just nothing that gets me mad for long anymore, and it hasn’t for a couple of years,” she told Cyrus.

View this post on Instagram

As with any medication, there’s a lot to consider. See the Important Safety Info and full Prescribing Info for Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) at @acthar_gel. #sponsored Becoming a mom changed my world in a million different ways. It made me feel grounded, elated, and stronger than ever. Through motherhood, I’ve found a special kind of strength to get me to smile on even the toughest days. Being a mom and living with #MS takes strength, but thanks to the love and support from those around me and working with my doctor to find a treatment for my MS attacks, I’ve been able to stay connected to my life as a mom. After spending the last few weeks inside learning and making art with Arthur, I am more grateful for him than ever. To all the mothers and mother figures out there, Happy Mother's Day. You inspire me. #TakeTheLead and speak up to find a treatment that works for you. . What is Acthar Gel? . Acthar is a prescription treatment for adults with acute relapses or flares of multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies have shown Acthar Gel to be effective in speeding recovery from an MS relapse. However, there is no evidence that Acthar affects the ultimate outcome or natural history of the disease. Acthar is injected beneath the skin or into the muscle. . SELECT IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION . DO NOT take Acthar until you have talked to your doctor if you have any of the following conditions: • A skin condition called scleroderma • Bone density loss or osteoporosis • Any infections, including fungal, bacterial, or viral • Eye infections, such as ocular herpes simplex • Had recent surgery . Tell your doctor about any other health problems that you have. Give your doctor a complete list of medicines you are taking. Include all nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you are taking. . Please see additional Important Safety Information and full Prescribing Information @acthar_gel. . © 2020 Mallinckrodt. US-2000992 05/20
A post shared by Selma Blair (@selmablair) on May 8, 2020 at 8:01am PDT

We can all learn a lot from Blair’s words on self-isolation. It’s okay to not have a smile on your face all the time, but we can try to take everything one day at a time and find gratitude for what we do have in the moment.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, HelloGiggles is committed to providing accurate and helpful coverage to our readers. As such, some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, we encourage you to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments, and visit our coronavirus hub.