Jay Leno Says His Wife Relives Difficult Memories Amid Dementia Battle

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Jay Leno is sharing the more difficult parts of wife Mavis Leno’s health struggles.

The former host of The Tonight Show recently shared a heartbreaking detail about his wife’s advanced dementia: she frequently re-experiences painful memories from the past, repeating them over and over.

Jay explained to Hoda Kotb on Today that the most difficult part for his wife was repeatedly receiving news of her mother’s death. He said it felt like she was told her mother had passed away every single day for about three years.

And each time it was as if Mavis, 79, was “learning for the first time.” 

“That was really tricky,” the 75-year-old admitted. “That makes it hard.”

The comedian is trying to stay positive despite his mother Mavis’s battle with dementia. He explained, “I know what’s happening, so I don’t fault her for it.”

He reassured himself that she hadn’t forgotten him, and that was important. He noticed she seemed very comfortable, genuinely happy, and at peace, and he was okay with that. In fact, he was glad and found joy in caring for her.

Jay shared that, even with her diagnosis, their daily life together remains largely the same.

He remembered that before this situation, he’d always go home after appearing on The Tonight Show, make dinner, and they’d watch television together. Now, he explained, there are just many subjects they can’t discuss.

Knowing how much Mavis loved to travel and experience new places – she was a dedicated activist and philanthropist, even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for her work with women in Afghanistan – Jay tries his best to bring the world to her at home.

Jay said he was disappointed that she wasn’t able to participate in certain activities. However, they enjoy watching videos together, like travel programs and shows about animals, on YouTube.

Jay and Mavis got married in 1980. In January 2024, Jay asked a court to give him control over Mavis’s finances, and the court approved this arrangement in April, according to reports from TopMob News.

And despite the difficulties, he knows she’s well taken care of when he “can see the smile.”

He explained that he always knows when she’s feeling joyful. He added that her smiles and words of love completely overwhelm him with happiness.

For a look at more stars who have had their own difficult health journeys, keep reading. 

Nikki Bella, known from Total Bellas, shared that one of her breast implants moved after being hit in the chest during a wrestling match with Piper Niven in July 2025.

She reassured her sister, Bella Garcia, that they would get the issue resolved eventually. She explained to the doctor that as soon as she finished her current commitment, she’d return to address the problem and make everything look perfect, because she planned to use them again and they needed to be in good condition.

I was so shocked to learn that Lupita Nyong’o was diagnosed with uterine fibroids back in 2014 – those are non-cancerous growths that happen in or around the uterus. It was the very same year she rightfully won her Oscar for 12 Years a Slave, which made the news even more impactful to me. It really put things in perspective.

Looking back, it’s so important to share what’s really going on. It took me over a decade to finally open up, and I shared my diagnosis on Instagram in 2025. For years, I’d been keeping it to myself, really suffering in silence, but finally talking about it felt like a huge weight lifted.

Ugh, it’s just… growing up, everyone always told me periods were supposed to hurt! Like, pain was just part of being a girl, and you were supposed to deal with it. It’s so frustrating because it feels like we’re all going through this thing, this huge part of our lives, and we’re all suffering in silence! It’s like nobody talks about how much it can actually suck, and we’re just expected to power through. It’s awful, honestly. It feels so isolating.

 

In July 2025, the actress from Daisy Jones & The Six revealed she was hospitalized for a hernia. This happened because she’d been wearing pants that were too tight, causing a gap in her abdominal muscles.

Someone messaged Suki on X (formerly Twitter) asking why she hadn’t tweeted in a while. Her reply was a surprising confession: she revealed she’d been afraid to tell anyone that a pair of very tight pants she wore six months ago caused a hernia.

The former star of Beverly Hills, 90210 shared in April 2025 that he was recovering from surgery to fix a nearly burst appendix.

Brian shared in an Instagram video that he recently experienced stomach pain which led him to the emergency room. He explained he had a perforated appendix – it hadn’t fully burst, but was very close to doing so.

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

A Racing Louisville soccer player fell to the ground shortly after the start of her team’s game against Seattle Reign on September 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle.

According to Reuters, the U.S. Women’s National Team player was seen slowly sitting down on the field with a teammate supporting her, just before collapsing. Trainers were immediately called to assess her condition.

Savannah received immediate medical attention on the field and was taken to a nearby hospital for more tests, according to a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League posted on X. They reported that she is currently in stable condition and is alert.

Adam Devine revealed that he still feels the effects of injuries he suffered as a child when he was hit by a cement truck at age 11.

“It’s been incredibly difficult,” Devine shared on the In Depth With Graham Bensinger podcast in 2025. “I’ve been experiencing spasms all over my body, and doctors recently told me I was facing a life-threatening situation—within the last year, actually.”

He explained that his pain is intermittent, saying, “My body has a few quirks and isn’t quite perfect.”

A former contestant on The Bachelor had to be hospitalized after experiencing severe back pain. He described having to crawl to get help, and said the pain worsened during a road trip with a friend.

He described a lingering tingling sensation in his knees and toes during a March 2025 episode of his podcast, Trading Secrets. He explained that just a few weeks or a month prior, he was able to squat 295 pounds, but now he can’t even do a squat or stand on one leg without falling. He compared the feeling to having had a stroke.

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

Gina Kirschenheiter, from The Real Housewives of Orange County, revealed that her ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, had a heart attack in March 2025, but he is recovering well.

In March 2025, the actor from 30 Rock experienced a medical issue at a New York Knicks game and had to be helped out of Madison Square Garden.

The comedian later posted on social media to explain that he hadn’t been feeling well due to food poisoning, but he was starting to feel better.

In February 2025, the former Even Stevens star revealed she was shot in the face during a birthday celebration for her husband, Brendan Rooney. They were on a clay pigeon shooting trip when the incident occurred.

In an Instagram post, she explained that she was accidentally shot in the face by someone at a party who fired a weapon unsafely. Brendan Rooney quickly helped her, evaluated her injuries, and drove her to the hospital. She was hit five times, and one bullet narrowly missed her right eye, coming within less than an inch of a direct hit.

The Kim Possible actress explained that a small piece of something got stuck behind her eye. Doctors have advised against removing it with surgery right now, but they will continue to check on her vision, which is currently normal.

The actress expressed immense gratitude for surviving a frightening experience. She shared her deep love for her daughters, husband, family, and friends, emphasizing how quickly life can change. She urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and hug them whenever possible, as life is precious and unpredictable.

Amy Schumer is grateful for the internet, even though it can be harsh, because it helped her discover a health issue. After noticing she looked “puffier,” Schumer was surprised to see doctors commenting on her appearance online. They suggested she might have Cushing syndrome, potentially caused by steroid injections. This prompted her to realize she had been receiving steroid injections after a breast reduction and C-section. Without the online comments, she wouldn’t have connected the injections to her condition. Schumer recently shared that she has a form of Cushing syndrome that will resolve on its own, and she’s incredibly relieved to be healthy.

As a parent myself, I was deeply moved by a recent story. Back in December, an AHL player – and the son of New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald – suffered a pretty serious skate cut during a game. He needed 25 stitches! Thankfully, he made a full recovery, and Mr. Fitzgerald shared with ESPN just how grateful they were. He said, and I completely understand, that it’s a terrifying experience no parent ever wants to go through. It really puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

In March 2022, Hailey Bieber experienced a frightening health scare while having breakfast with her husband, Justin Bieber. She suddenly began to have stroke-like symptoms, unable to speak and experiencing drooping on the right side of her face. Though these symptoms eventually passed, she went to the hospital for testing. Doctors discovered she had a small blood clot in her brain, which they identified as a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), often called a mini-stroke. Further investigation at UCLA revealed Hailey had a hole in her heart, known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). This hole allowed the blood clot to travel to her brain, causing the TIA. Hailey has since undergone a successful procedure to close the PFO and is now doing well.

The same year Hailey faced a health issue, Justin also experienced one. In June 2022, he revealed he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that temporarily paralyzed part of his face. This forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

In a video posted to Instagram, Justin explained that the virus affected nerves in his ear and face, causing paralysis. He showed fans he couldn’t blink, smile, or move his nostril on one side of his face, and that eating had become increasingly difficult. Fortunately, the paralysis eventually went away.

Hailey shared on Good Morning America that Justin was recovering well and feeling much better. She described the situation as scary and unexpected, but reassured everyone that he would be completely fine and that she was grateful he was on the mend.

Jamie Foxx initially kept his health issues private, but he later shared details about his frightening experience. He explained that while in Atlanta in April 2023, he suffered a severe headache and asked for aspirin. Before he could take it, he lost consciousness and doesn’t remember the next 20 days.

Initially, a doctor gave him a cortisone shot and sent him home. However, his sister, Deidra Dixon, was worried and took him to the hospital, where doctors discovered he had a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

After surgery, Jamie woke up in a wheelchair on May 4th, unable to walk. He then traveled to Chicago for extensive rehabilitation and therapy.

Jamie expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received, saying, “I appreciate every prayer, because I needed every prayer.”

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! She actually said she died while running the first challenge on the show! Like, completely stopped breathing while doing a mile! I nearly fainted just hearing her say it – it’s so dramatic, but that’s why I love her! Seriously, ‘died’?! I’m obsessed!

She shared on the show Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser that her memory of the event was fragmented. She recalled hearing a helicopter, feeling like she was floating, and then seeing her grandfather before everything went dark. After that, she saw light, which led her to realize she had died that day.

She explained that her organs were failing. She hadn’t known she had rhabdomyolysis, a condition where the body essentially starts to shut down.

Emilia Clarke, known for her role in Game of Thrones, revealed a harrowing health battle in a 2019 essay for The New Yorker. While filming the show, she experienced a sudden, severe headache at the gym, followed by intense pain and vomiting. She quickly realized something was seriously wrong, suspecting brain damage.

A hospital scan revealed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a life-threatening stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She underwent immediate surgery to repair it, but the pain was excruciating. During her recovery, she temporarily lost her ability to speak, often muttering incoherently.

Though she was discharged after a month, a 2013 scan revealed the aneurysm had grown and required a second surgery. This procedure failed, leading to a massive bleed and a precarious situation. Doctors had to perform a more invasive surgery, accessing her brain directly through her skull.

Fortunately, Emilia Clarke is now fully recovered and says she is “at a hundred per cent.”

Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s daughter, recently shared how much she appreciates her family’s support. In January 2024, she suffered a stroke and immediately reached out to her loved ones, sending a text and a picture. She told TopMob News that everyone quickly came to her aid.

Cori ended up staying in the hospital longer than expected due to other health issues. While she could have gone home after the stroke, she was also dealing with lupus and kidney problems.

Thankfully, Cori is now recovering well. She says she’s doing great and is regaining her motor skills, and is otherwise feeling fine.

Shailene Woodley struggled with significant health issues throughout her early twenties. In a September 2024 podcast interview, she explained that she experienced hearing loss, extreme fatigue – unable to walk for more than five minutes without needing to rest for hours – and persistent stomach pain. She faced confusion due to conflicting diagnoses from different doctors.

Determined to find answers, Woodley, who has a background in herbalism, sought help from both traditional doctors and alternative healers. This search for well-being lasted for a decade.

She described how the physical discomfort led to anxieties around food and eventually contributed to body dysmorphia and questions about her identity and self-worth.

Fortunately, after years of addressing both her physical and mental health, Shailene is now feeling much better and considers herself very healthy. She expressed gratitude for her recovery.

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2025-11-20 23:20