Fox News Meteorologist Janice Dean Breaks Down in Tears: “It Was the Shock of a Lifetime”
New York City, August 2024 — Photographed by Michael Lewis for People Magazine
By the autumn of 2005, everything in Janice Dean’s world seemed to be falling beautifully into place. At 35 years old, she had just secured her dream role as a senior meteorologist at Fox News, and her relationship with her new boyfriend felt full of promise. “It was like life had finally aligned in all the right ways,” Dean recalls. “I had this amazing job, a great partner… everything was coming together. It felt surreal.”
But that sense of fulfillment was quickly overshadowed by a mysterious, crushing fatigue that began to drain her energy. At first, she attributed the exhaustion to her demanding schedule and the pressures of her fast-paced career. “I figured I was just burning the candle at both ends,” she says.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
Everything changed during a visit home to Ottawa that October, where she planned to introduce her boyfriend to her family. One morning, Dean woke up feeling like her body had suddenly betrayed her. “It was like I was pinned to the bed by this invisible weight. I couldn’t feel the bottoms of my feet, and my thighs were numb. It was terrifying.”
After undergoing extensive testing — including an MRI and a spinal tap — doctors gave her a diagnosis that would alter the course of her life: multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the central nervous system by damaging the protective covering of nerve fibers.
“It was the shock of a lifetime,” Dean says through tears. “My mind instantly jumped to worst-case scenarios: I’ll lose my job, my boyfriend will leave, and I’ll end up in a wheelchair. All of my dreams felt like they were suddenly slipping away.”
The Journey Forward
Fast forward nearly 20 years, and Janice Dean has defied the odds. She’s now celebrating two decades with Fox News, where she also contributes to Fox Weather. She married that same boyfriend — New York City firefighter Sean Newman — in 2007, and together they’ve built a life filled with love and resilience, raising two sons, Matthew and Theodore.
“I’m still standing,” Dean says proudly. “Actually, I’m thriving. I sometimes feel like I’ve become a stronger person because of the diagnosis. It put everything into perspective — health, family, and the support systems we build.”
Today at 54, Dean is not only a familiar face on national television, but a passionate advocate in the MS community. She shares her personal journey openly, offering support to others facing the same daunting diagnosis. Her neurologist, Dr. Tracy DeAngelis, describes her as “a warrior” who refuses to let MS define her.
Facing the Stigma, Finding Support
In the early days, however, Dean was advised by some to keep her diagnosis quiet. “There were people who warned me that going public would ruin my career,” she remembers. But she found strength and reassurance in fellow Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto, who had been living with MS since 1997.
“I called Neil and he said, ‘Come into my office,’” Dean recalls. “He shut everything down, handed me tissues, and told me, ‘You’re going to be okay — and I’ll be here every step of the way.’ That meant the world to me. He even joked, ‘If we need his-and-hers wheelchair ramps at Fox, we’ll build them.’”
Motherhood and MS
Becoming a mother added a new dimension to Dean’s life and her journey with MS. Interestingly, pregnancy is known to suppress MS flare-ups. “During both pregnancies, it was like my body pressed pause on the disease,” she says. Her sons were born in 2009 and 2011, offering her periods of rare calm.
Explaining her illness to her children was a delicate task. But a moment of unexpected serendipity helped. One day, her son Matthew came home from school after hearing his teacher — who also had MS — speak openly about her condition.
“She told the class about her wheelchair and how it doesn’t stop her from living her life,” Dean recalls. “I had tears in my eyes. I told Matthew, ‘I have the same thing as Mrs. Klein.’ His first question was, ‘Are you going to need a wheelchair?’ And I said, ‘Maybe — but would that change anything?’ He just said, ‘No, we’d just ride on it with you.’”
Daily Battles and Silent Victories
Dean lives with relapsing-remitting MS, the most common form, characterized by flare-ups followed by remission. Her current treatment includes IV infusions every six months, which help manage the condition. But the unpredictability of MS means every day is a gift. “I could wake up tomorrow unable to walk,” she says. “That’s the reality. So I don’t take a single day for granted.”
She’s also made critical lifestyle changes to avoid potential triggers. “Sleep is non-negotiable. I stay away from sugar and bread, and I can’t tolerate the heat at all. It’s like kryptonite,” she explains. Even during beach vacations, she remains indoors while her children play in the sun.
A Beacon for Others
Being so open about her condition has made Dean a guiding light for many newly diagnosed patients. Through social media, she connects with others facing similar fears and uncertainty. “I try to be the voice I needed back then — the one that says, ‘You’re not alone. And you’re going to be okay.’”
Every message she receives fuels her purpose. “I’ve had people say, ‘Seeing you smiling on TV gives me hope.’ And that’s everything. Sometimes all someone needs is that glimmer of sunshine through the clouds to keep going.”
Living in the Now
As she continues her career and advocacy, Dean embraces life one day at a time. “My doctor says I’m doing great — today. But none of us know what tomorrow brings. I’ve learned not to waste energy on fear.”
For Janice Dean, the greatest victory is refusing to let MS control her story. “If I can help someone believe in themselves again, then I’ve done something good,” she says. “We can face this together. We’re stronger than we think.”