Janice Dean Is a ‘Better Person’ After Living with Multiple Sclerosis for 20 Years
In 2005, Janice Dean had just started her dream job at Fox News, was in a happy relationship, and felt like life was finally coming together. So when she began feeling unusually tired, she assumed it was from overwork and neglecting her health.
But during a trip home to Ottawa that October, the fatigue became extreme. “I couldn’t get out of bed,” she said. “It felt like a weighted blanket was on me. I couldn’t feel the bottoms of my feet, and my thighs were numb. I thought, ‘What is happening to me?’”
After an MRI and spinal tap, doctors gave her a life-altering diagnosis: multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting nearly a million Americans. Janice told ‘People‘ few months ago explaining her journey.
“It was the shock of a lifetime,” Dean said. “I feared my boyfriend would leave, I’d end up in a wheelchair, and lose my job at Fox. It felt like all my dreams were crashing down.”
Finding strength in the storm
Nearly twenty years later, Janice Dean looks back with gratitude that her worst fears never came true. The boyfriend she once worried would leave her—New York City firefighter Sean Newman—became her husband in 2007.
She’s now marking her 20th year at Fox, where she also contributes to Fox Weather. Thanks to new treatments, her multiple sclerosis flare-ups have remained mostly manageable.
“I’m still standing,” Dean says. “Actually, better than standing. In some ways, I think I’m a better person because of the diagnosis. It helped me focus on what really matters—your health, your family, and your support system.”
Now 54, Dean has become a strong advocate in the MS community, using her story to connect with others facing the disease. Multiple sclerosis, which causes the immune system to attack the protective myelin around nerves, leads to scar tissue that disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
She is battling invisible illness
Janice Dean describes multiple sclerosis as the “invisible illness,” often misunderstood because those living with it might appear perfectly fine on the outside.
“It’s the ‘My, you look so well’ disease,” she explained, pointing out that while someone might seem put together—hair done, makeup on—the reality beneath the surface is far different.
The disease, she said, is relentlessly attacking the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain, spine, and the rest of the body.
“Even though we look okay on the surface—I’ve got my hair and makeup done, I’m smiling on Fox & Friends—inside can be quite a challenge.”
Still, Dean expressed gratitude and solidarity with others fighting the same battle. “Sometimes it’s tough to put on that smiling face, but we have to do it. And I wanted to, on this World MS Day, say thank you to all my fellow MS warriors who continue to move despite the challenges every day.”
Janice Dean and Sean Newman: A Resilient Love Story & her bold confession after a decade of marriage
Not much is known about Janice’s private life, but her husband, Sean Newman, is a dedicated New York City firefighter who has served since 1996 and currently holds the position of battalion chief.
The couple’s relationship began in the early 2000s, culminating in marriage in 2007. Their union has been marked by mutual support, especially during challenging times. In 2005, Dean was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and Newman stood by her side, providing unwavering support.
After a decade of marriage in 2017, Janice had said
“Looking back, I can honestly say that marrying Sean was the greatest blessing of my life. For years, I wondered if I’d ever find someone to truly share my life with. But when I reflect on the journey—every job I took, every city I lived in, every twist and turn—it all led me to him. Sean is the best man I know.“
“We still enjoy each other’s company, we laugh together easily, we share the same values, and we’re incredibly grateful for our two beautiful boys. I truly can’t imagine life without him.”
“Sean, I hope you still have that handkerchief ready—I might shed a few happy tears. I’m so excited to continue this journey with you. As husband and wife, once again. Amen.”
Together, they have two sons, Matthew and Theodore. Their enduring partnership exemplifies resilience and commitment, both in their personal lives and in their shared dedication to public service.
