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Mean Baby Thesis

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Mean Baby Madisen Castro DPT 670 March 21, 2023 Summary (thesis) (1-2 paragraphs) In her book, Selma Blair shares her life story and how it has been affected by her recent diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. The book, titled "Mean Baby", is more than just a memoir about illness. Rather, it is a vivid autobiography that takes readers through the ups and downs of Blair's life, with phantoms of MS lurking in the background. Blair starts off by sharing an interesting anecdote about how she got her name. Apparently, she was born into the world with a grimace and a snarl, which earned her the moniker of "Mean Baby". However, her mother decided to name her Blair a few days after her birth, and later added "Selma" to the mix. This fun fact …show more content…

Blair describes the frustration of self-medicating and not receiving the support she needed from others who dismissed her pain as "normal". She talks about how she suffered in silence and felt alone. This resonated with me and reminded me of my own struggles with invisible illnesses. Like Blair, I've been told by others that my pain is "all in my head" and it's been a struggle to get the support I need. Blair's story also highlights the stigma that can come with a diagnosis. When Blair was finally diagnosed with MS in her 40s, she was told to keep it quiet so it wouldn't affect her career prospects. This made me think about the ways in which a diagnosis can change how others see us, and how we see ourselves. It can be hard to reconcile our past experiences with our new identity as someone with a diagnosis. Blair's decision to share her diagnosis with the world was a brave one, and it was heartening to read about the support she received from her coworkers, friends, and even the paparazzi. It made me realize that we all need support and validation, no matter what our struggles are. It's important to remember that just because we can't see someone's pain or illness, it doesn't mean it's not

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