Montel Williams, Other Celebs Share Pain of Illness with Oprah

Yesterday’s episode of Oprah was an emotional one for me on so many different levels.  Did you see it?  She welcomed former talk show host, Montel Williams, to the set but they also showed short, pre-taped segments of Fran Drescher (The Nanny), Scott Hamilton (figure skater) and Magic Johnson (NBA basketball player).  The topic was “After the Diagnosis” and I was so touched by the strength and honesty with which these stars shared their own story. 

Fran talked about her brave battle with uterine cancer.  She had to fight for years to get a diagnosis but was then heartbroken when she was told she needed a hysterectomy.  She had never had children.

Scott Hamilton was on tour when he started to feel unwell.  He went to the hospital and learned that he had testicular cancer.  Within months, he was also diagnosed with brain cancer.  He said that his wife immediately started praying when he told her the news and he realized that he drew strength from her and from God.

Magic Johnson talked about the shock of learning he had HIV 18 years ago (can you believe it’s been that long!?).  He said that driving home from the doctor’s office to tell his wife was the hardest thing he ever had to do (along with being forced to retire from basketball) but he believes that, because his wife and son were spared from contracting the virus, he will live longer with their love and support. 

Montel Williams discussed his battle with Multiple Sclerosis and it brought tears to my eyes.  He talked about his daily, never-ending pain and how he uses his medication, exercise and psychological tools to cope.  He also recounted a story when he was sitting in his closet with a gun in his mouth contemplating suicide but decided against it because his children were in the house.  He later tried to throw himself under a taxi but, not only did the cab driver break in enough time, he recognized Montel and helped him get up and walk across the street.  He said that it was a life-changing moment since he felt he didn’t have the right to take his own life. 

I suffer with chronic pain and several other health problems and I can relate to having to fight through it every single day.  I’m so glad that they had this episode.  I believe it can help a lot of Oprah’s viewers and it looks like Montel needed to share his story so I hope this was helpful to him as well.

Dr. Oz had some suggestions to “Prepare to Get a Bad Diagnosis”

• Take support to your doctor’s appointment.
• Don’t forget to breathe in order to handle the stress of the situation and remind yourself that you will keep going.
• Find a health advocate who will fight for you tirelessly.
• Get a second opinion but do not tell the second doctor what the first one said.  Let them come to their own conclusions.
• Become an expert on your illness, do your research.

image: Bauer-Griffin