5. Montel Williams

Montel Williams, an award-winning talk-show host, had been living with multiple sclerosis symptoms for 20 years before he was diagnosed with the disease. He has since become a spokesperson, raising awareness and helping others live with multiple sclerosis.

Williams was diagnosed with MS in his early 20s right before his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1980. He described the first symptom as a frightening loss of vision in one eye of nearly 80%.

Williams feared that if he came forward with the information about his diagnosis that he would lose his job, so he kept the secret from his parents, children and employers.

He considers himself lucky it took the doctors almost 20 years to diagnose the disease, because, as he says, had they done so in the 1980s with the prognoses they were giving back then, he would probably have given up on himself and never be where he is today.

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Multiple sclerosis can lead to paralysis in the legs and is in some cases fatal.