His faith became an increasingly important source of strength.
The disease progressed over the decades.
Eventually, Alan used a wheelchair and required increasing levels of care. Before his death, he had spent time in intensive care and later returned home under hospice care, according to reporting from The Associated Press.
Despite the physical challenges, Alan continued to speak publicly about hope, faith and perseverance.
His life after the diagnosis became almost as important to his legacy as his musical career.
Four Decades of Living With MS
Alan lived with multiple sclerosis for nearly four decades.
That alone makes his story remarkable.
When he was diagnosed in 1987, treatment options and public understanding of MS were considerably different from what they are today.
The condition gradually affected his ability to move and perform.
But Alan refused to allow the diagnosis to erase his identity.
He was still a husband.
Still a father.
