Early Multiple Sclerosis warning signs to know as Alan Osmond dies aged 76
Alan Osmond, the eldest member of the family music group The Osmonds, has passed away at the age of 76.
He stepped away from performing around 40 years ago after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, according to reports.
Speaking about his condition, he once shared his first symptoms — offering a stark reminder of how devastating this disease can be and the toll it takes on the body.
A chameleon-like ability
Alan, who was born in Ogden, Utah, died on Monday, April 20, surrounded by his wife, Suzanne Pinegar Osmond, and their eight sons.
Brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, and later Donny came together to form The Osmonds in the 1970s, eventually rising to major fame. They grew up in Utah with their parents, George Virl Osmond and Olive May, alongside siblings Virl, Jimmy, Tom, and their sister Marie Osmond.
Alan took on a leadership role in the group at just eight years old, earning the nickname “No. 1” from his brothers, according to People. With Alan as the leader, The ever-smiling Osmonds quickly adapted to changing trends in both music and fashion, showing a chameleon-like ability to evolve while continuing to stay creative and ahead of the curve.
His brother, Merrill, later shared an emotional message on Facebook, writing: “My dear friends, Two days before my brother, Alan, passed, I was blessed to sit quietly with him. We talked as brothers do, heart to heart.”
“He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle… and then he smiled. In a tender moment I will never forget, he leaned close and whispered something into my ear. He said, ‘Merrill, you and I worked side by side,’ ” he continued. “ ‘We created, we produced, we directed… we gave our hearts to The Plan with Wayne. Please… do something with it. Let people know what we were trying to say.’ I want you to know, his request will be honored.”
As mentioned, Alan played a key role in the group as a songwriter and composer, contributing to several of The Osmonds’ biggest hits, including One Bad Apple and the well-known Crazy Horses. Donny Osmond eventually branched out to pursue a solo career, where he reached even greater fame.
In the 1980s, the original members reunited for a tour, but in 1987 Alan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
The condition is a long-term autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, and can severely limit mobility.
Speaking about when his symptoms first appeared, Alan recalled: “I was on stage and couldn’t raise my right hand. I trusted my Heavenly Father. You have to have opposition in life – this was my test.”
Throughout his battle with the illness, he also drew strength from his mother’s words: “I may have MS, but MS does not have me!”
Osmond credited his faith and belief in the preexistence of the soul with giving him hope and optimism for the future while living with his condition. He also continued to tour with The Osmonds, and was grateful that his singing voice was not affected by the illness. However, he eventually retired in 2007.
“I used to be an old rock and roller. I’m just an old grandpa now,” Alan said in 2013. “I’m having the time of my life.”
“MS is debilitating. I’ve never heard him complain about it. He’ll joke about it sometimes, but he doesn’t complain about it,” one of his friends said.
Suzanne Osmond, his wife, also spoke about the way he managed the illness he lived with for nearly three decades.
“He doesn’t ever use it as an excuse,” Suzanne Osmond said.
Early signs of MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the central nervous system, and early symptoms can vary widely from person to person.
In many cases, signs develop over a short period of hours or days, last longer than 24 hours, and may gradually worsen before improving.
According to Cleveland Clinic, one of the early warning signs can be vision problems, such as painful vision loss or blurred vision in one eye, often described as looking through dirty or smudged glasses. Another common symptom is persistent numbness, tingling, or weakness in a limb that doesn’t go away after a short time, unlike the temporary “pins and needles” many people experience.
Some people may also experience facial weakness or drooping, where one side of the face feels temporarily paralyzed. Severe dizziness or balance issues that last for days can also occur, making it difficult to walk or stay steady.
Doctors point out that these symptoms can have many different causes, but if they are unusual, persistent, or last more than a day or two, they should be medically checked to rule out serious conditions like MS.
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