CNN's John King on Coping with Multiple Sclerosis: 'It Impacts Every Hour of My Life'

It’s been 13 years sinceJohn Kingwas diagnosed withMultiple Sclerosis, but his memory from that day is still crystal clear.

“I remember like it was yesterday,” King says in the latest issue of PEOPLE. “The first look at the MRI and the lesions that look like little dried flowers running up the spinal cord and nerves,” he says. “I was petrified.”

Until last month the CNNInside Politicshost, 58, kept his diagnosis a secret from friends and colleagues. But in anunplanned momenton his live show on Oct. 19, King revealed his private struggle with MS while making a point about the importance of COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates to help protect the immunocompromised.

Courtesy CNN

Sometimes it’s really hard to explain to people you know and love, in part because you’re hesitant to let them see it — you don’t want pity — and in part because it’s manageable, so you don’t want them to be worried," he says. “I’ve probably waited too long, but if I can help stir a respectful conversation about common sense things that can help other people, I’m happy to be in that space.”

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He adds, “I’m a really lucky person who has a relatively moderate — in terms of the symptoms manifesting themselves — relationship with this disease.”

For more on John King, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday.

source: people.com