In the film, Cassandra Webb is portrayed by Dakota Johnson as an elderly woman with a wheelchair due to muscle weakness and an eye disorder. She has been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and damage to tissues and organs. The plot of the film reveals that Cassandra gained her powers to predict the future after a car accident in her youth where she died momentarily. She uses these powers to help a group of girls escape from Ezekiel, who desires Spider-Man’s powers.
Autoimmune diseases are conditions that occur when the immune system attacks the body’s own cells, causing inflammation and damage to tissues and organs. Women are twice as likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases as men, with over 100 different autoimmune diseases characterized today. Israel has a high incidence of autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
The decision to depict a character with myasthenia gravis in the film may have been influenced by linking her accident as a trigger for the disease. Symptoms of myasthenia gravis can be challenging to diagnose, leading to delays in treatment. However, there has been an increase in awareness and recognition of autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis globally and in Israel. Celebrities like Christina Applegate have raised awareness about autoimmune diseases by sharing their experiences publicly. This increased awareness has led to advancements in treatments and support for patients with autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis in Israel.
In conclusion, Dakota Johnson’s portrayal of Cassandra Webb in the film brings attention to rare autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis while also highlighting the importance of raising awareness about such conditions globally and locally. The increase in awareness has led to advancements in treatments and support for patients with these diseases.
