You've probably heard the old expression "you don't get MS until you get MS". Meaning that you really can't understand what life is like with the disease until you experience it firsthand. I know that once I was diagnosed, I became interested in making contact with other people who lived with MS. I think that's one reason that folks get excited when a celebrity comes out as having MS, it's one more person who you know "gets it". You're not excited that they have the disease but you are certainly excited to know someone else understands.
I have a handful of good friends that I've met (mostly virtually) because of my disease, people I wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. So do you know many people that you talk to regularly who have MS? Let's hear about it!