Robin Roberts almost died after having surgery and was saved by a nurse. In an interview with WebMD Magazine, Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts revealed that while recovering from a bone marrow transplant she saw her life slipping away and came back thanks to Jenny, a hospital staff member, who kept calling her name.
Robin Roberts almost died post-transplant and is very grateful to Jenny, the nurse who called her back to life.
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts is featured on the cover of the 10th anniversary issue of WebMD Magazine, and inside she spoke about her near-death experience and how the support from people all over the world has helped her.
Roberts is a warrior, who was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder after beating breast cancer, and, therefore, needed a bone marrow transplant. The TV personality told the publication that after the procedure, she almost died, but nurse Jenny was by her side to keep her alive. Roberts shared:
“One night post-transplant I was convinced I was slipping away. And then I heard a voice saying my name over and over again. There was a nurse named Jenny, pleading with me not to slip away. I don’t know what would have happened if she wasn’t there.”
Robin Roberts went on to talk about Dr. Sergio Giralt, who saved her life. She explained:
“I really appreciate that he [Dr. Sergio Giralt, MD, chief of the adult bone marrow transplantation service at Memorial Sloan Kettering] asked me if I would be part of a clinical trial.There’s a reason why, as a black woman, you’re told-which is hard to hear-that you’re less likely to get cancer but more likely to die from it.”
Data confirmed Roberts’ statement; black people die faster from cancer.
“African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the US for most cancers. Although the overall racial disparity in cancer death rates is decreasing, in 2007 the death rate for all cancers combined continued to be 32% higher in African American men and 16% higher in African American women than in white men and women, respectively.
About 168,900 new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed among African Americans in 2011. The most common of these among African American men are prostate (40%), lung (15%), and colon and rectum (9%). Among African American women, the most common cancers are breast (34%), lung (13%), and colorectum (11%).
In 2014, Roberts spoke to Entertainment Tonight about a period in her life when she wanted to die because she could not bear the pain. She shared:
“My throat felt like I had swallowed a blow torch – I couldn’t swallow.”
Robin Roberts said that the fact she almost died has made her appreciate life more. She also revealed that she is very thankful for all the love and support she received from people. She confessed:
“There has not been one single day where someone hasn’t come up to me and said, ‘I’ve prayed for you.’ Not one day. My shoulders almost go down when people say you’re so courageous, because they gave me the strength to want to fight.”
What are your thoughts on Robin Roberts’ close call revelation?
