I Had a Hole in My Heart

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Love Is Blind U.K. host Emma Willis isn’t turning a blind eye to her health.

A popular British TV host, known for presenting shows like Big Brother U.K. and The Voice U.K., revealed that she recently had minimally invasive heart surgery following medical investigations which finally unveiled a diagnosis long overdue by several decades.

It seems she discovered, after 48 years, that she had an unknown hole in her heart, which she shared in a post on Instagram on April 23, accompanied by photos and videos from her hospital stay. Isn’t it amazing the hidden things our bodies can contain that we’re completely unaware of?

The medical treatment entails creating tiny cuts on the chest and is less intrusive than traditional open-heart surgery, typically resulting in reduced pain and quicker healing, as stated by the Mayo Clinic. However, Emma, who co-hosts a dating series on Netflix with her husband Matt Willis, couldn’t help but admire her doctors’ dedication.

What continues to astound me is the miracles of contemporary medicine, as well as the incredible individuals who care for and heal us daily,” she added. “It’s hard not to be in awe when considering the power behind those hands that can perform such life-changing work. Truly, they are the true heroes.

Besides expressing gratitude for Matt’s constant companionship throughout her treatment, Emma also extended heartfelt thanks to her medical team, specifically Dr. Ee Ling Heng, whom she had been advised to see due to being described as “exceptionally skilled.

Emma couldn’t help but exclaim, ‘Wow, she’s not just this, but so much more!’ She exudes an effortless charm and friendliness that immediately put me at ease, while maintaining top-notch professionalism and knowledge. I bombarded her with countless questions, yet she answered each one with the calm demeanor of a saintly figure. From our first encounter, I knew she was the person I wanted delving into my innermost feelings.

For more stars who have spoken about their health scares, keep reading.

In an announcement made in April 2025, the former star of “Beverly Hills, 90210” shared that he was undergoing recovery following a surgery due to his appendix being close to rupturing.

A week ago, Brian shared in an Instagram post that he began experiencing abdominal discomfort. This led him to visit the emergency room where it was found that his appendix was about to rupture, but hadn’t quite yet.

He added, “I’m on the road to recovery. It’s not an easy process. This is my first major surgery.”

Adam Devine revealed that the injuries he suffered at age 11, following an accident with a cement truck, continue to impact his health up until now.

In the 2025 installment of the “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” podcast, Devine expressed that it’s been an incredibly difficult ordeal for him. He’s experiencing spasms throughout his body, and not too long ago, he was informed by doctors that he was close to death – specifically within the last year.

He mentioned that pain occasionally appears and disappears, expressing, “There seem to be several issues with my body, some of them not quite right.

The former contestant from Bachelor Nation revealed that he had to visit the hospital, crawling on his hands and knees, because of intense back pain that worsened during a camping trip in an RV with a companion.

Currently, from the soles of my feet to my knees, it’s quite numb, which is surprising,” he explained during his March 2025 podcast episode of Trading Secrets. “To clarify, just over two weeks ago, or a month at most, I was likely squatting around 295 pounds. Now, I’m unable to do a squat even on one foot. In fact, I can’t manage a one-legged squat; if I try, I lose balance. It feels like I’ve had a stroke or something similar.

But with the help of a back specialist and some steroids, he added, “We’re on the mend.”

In a game played in December 2024, an AHL player was injured when another player’s skate accidentally sliced him open. He required 25 stitches to close the wound. Later, when his father, the New Jersey Devils general manager, Tom Fitzgerald, spoke to ESPN after his son had fully recovered, he expressed gratitude, stating, “We feel incredibly fortunate. I wouldn’t wish such an experience on any parent.

2025 found me reeling as my beloved Gina Kirschenheiter of the Real Housewives of Orange County revealed her ex-spouse, Matt Kirschenheiter, had endured a heart attack. Yet, in the face of such adversity, I’m overjoyed to share that he miraculously survived this harrowing experience.

30 Rock’s leading actor had a sudden health issue during a New York Knicks match at Madison Square Garden in March 2025, causing him to be transported from the venue on a stretcher.

Yesterday, the comedian took to social media to share some news with his followers. He mentioned that he had fallen ill due to food poisoning but assured us all that he was on the road to recovery.

In February 2025, the former star of Even Stevens revealed that she had been accidentally shot in the face during a trip to go clay pigeon shooting, which was arranged as part of her husband Brendan Rooney’s birthday celebrations.

She posted on Instagram that there was another group with us who mistakenly fired their gun in the wrong direction, striking me in the face. Right away, @thebrendanrooney took charge, evaluated my injuries, and rushed me to the hospital. I was hit in five spots; one was just shy of hitting me directly in my right eye.

The former star of “Kim Possible” stated, “Regrettably, a piece became stuck near my eye, and it’s not safe to operate on it surgically right now. My doctors will keep a close watch on me, but for now, I can see just fine.

The actress expressed her gratitude for still being alive. She shared that she adores her daughters, husband, family, and friends deeply. She recounted a moment where she felt like she was glimpsing her entire life at once, and now she emphasizes the importance of hugging those close to you whenever possible. Life, she warned, can take unexpected turns in the blink of an eye.

Amy Schumer expresses gratitude for the internet’s role in helping her uncover the cause of a health concern. In an episode of Call Her Daddy from January 2025, she recalled how her face appeared “puffier” and drew comments from viewers who were doctors, suggesting she might have Cushing syndrome. Upon further investigation, Amy realized she had been receiving steroid injections for her scars which caused this condition, a fact she may not have discovered without the internet’s scrutiny. Now, Amy is relieved that she’s healthy and that the type of Cushing she has will eventually resolve itself.

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber, the Rhode skincare entrepreneur, encountered a truly alarming incident during breakfast with her husband Justin Bieber. She began experiencing symptoms similar to a stroke, leaving her unable to respond or speak coherently. As she recounted later on YouTube, her face drooped and speech failed her.

Justin asked if she was alright, but she couldn’t respond. When he inquired again, she tried to speak but could not. The right side of her face started drooping, and she struggled to form a sentence.

Although the facial drooping ceased, and her speech returned, Hailey decided to visit the hospital for a check-up. Medical scans revealed she had experienced a small blood clot in her brain, known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).

Further investigation at the University of California, Los Angeles, uncovered that Hailey had a hole in her heart called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The blood clot had traveled into her heart through this hole, escaped, and made its way to her brain, resulting in the TIA.

Hailey underwent a successful PFO closure procedure and reported feeling wonderful since then.

In the same year that Hailey underwent a health crisis, Justin Bieber also faced a health challenge of his own. Specifically, in June 2022, the “Baby” singer disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition which temporarily paralyzed parts of his face and compelled him to postpone the rest of his Justice World Tour. In an Instagram video at the time, Justin explained that this illness affected the nerve in his ear and his facial nerves, leading to full paralysis on one side of his face. As he showed, his eye didn’t blink, he couldn’t smile on that side, and his nostril wouldn’t move. He also mentioned it had become increasingly difficult for him to eat. However, the paralysis eventually subsided. Hailey shared on a June 2022 episode of Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well and feeling better, despite the suddenness and randomness of the situation. She expressed her relief that he would fully recover.

Initially, Jamie Foxx was tight-lipped about his April 2023 hospitalization. However, in his 2024 Netflix special titled “What Had Happened Was…”, he revealed the ordeal he experienced. In Atlanta one day, he complained of a severe headache and asked for an aspirin. Before he could get it, he collapsed and lost consciousness for approximately 20 days.

A doctor initially administered him a cortisone shot and sent him home, but his sister, Deidra Dixon, became concerned and drove him to another hospital. There, they discovered that Foxx had suffered a brain bleed leading to a stroke. Following the operation on April 24, he woke up May 4 in a wheelchair and was unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for rehabilitation and therapy.

“I am grateful for every prayer,” he said, “because I needed every one of them.

Actress Emilia Clarke, famously known for her role in ‘Game of Thrones’, penned an essay titled “A Battle for My Life” in 2019. In the piece, she described an incident at the gym where she was struck with severe headaches, vomiting, and intensifying pain that she recognized as damage to her brain.

Rushed to the hospital, she was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a potentially fatal type of stroke caused by bleeding in the area surrounding the brain. She underwent immediate surgery to seal the aneurysm, describing the pain as excruciating. During her recovery, she experienced aphasia and spoke nonsensical words.

A week later, the aphasia disappeared, and she was discharged from the hospital after a month-long stay. However, in a 2013 brain scan, it was revealed that the growth had doubled in size, necessitating another surgery.

She recalled waking up after the second operation in agony. The doctors informed her that her chances of survival were slim if they didn’t operate again. This time, they needed to access her brain through her skull. Fortunately, she is now reportedly fully recovered and in good health.

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, expressed her gratitude towards her family after experiencing a severe stroke in January 2024. The incident prompted her loved ones to swiftly rush to her aid. In an interview with Will Marfuggi from TopMob News in December 2024, she shared that she informed them about the stroke via text and sent a picture. Everyone immediately stepped in to help her.

Due to other health issues, Cori’s hospital stay extended beyond what she had initially anticipated. She explained that although she could have left the hospital after her stroke, her lupus wasn’t doing well at the time, and her kidneys were failing. This led to multiple complications.

Currently, Cori is recovering well. She stated, “I’m doing great.” Although she needed to regain some motor skills, overall, she was in good condition.

In her twenties, the well-being of actress Shailene Woodley was not ideal. She recounted in a 2024 episode of the SHE MD Podcast that her health struggles included losing hearing, extreme fatigue, and stomach pain from eating almost anything. Her condition was complex with various doctors offering conflicting diagnoses.

Determined to find answers, Shailene—who has a background in holistic medicine and herbalism—decided to work with both conventional medical professionals and independent healers. This decade-long journey also led her to grapple with physical discomfort that manifested in fears about food, body dysmorphia, confusion about identity, and feelings of insecurity within herself.

After addressing both her physical and mental health challenges, Shailene is now feeling much better. She shared that her condition eventually improved, leaving her healthy today.

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2025-04-25 01:19