‘Had A 10 To 20 Percent Chance Of Survival’: RHOC Alum Vicki Gunvalson Recalls Fighting ‘Deadly’ Infection

As a lifestyle expert, I cannot help but express my deep admiration for Vicki Gunvalson, a true survivor and inspiration. Her recent harrowing encounter with a potentially life-threatening infection serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of prioritizing health.


Vicki Gunvalson, famously known from The Real Housewives of Orange County, disclosed a life-threatening illness she encountered. She openly discussed the harrowing ordeal she faced.

Entertainment Weekly shared that a reality TV personality had been diagnosed with a severe sinus infection prior to a European vacation with her family in August. Upon returning home, she received antibiotics for treatment. However, the individual subsequently developed symptoms resembling those of a stroke and amnesia. During her second hospital visit, it was found that the infection could be life-threatening.

He recalled the terrifying experience while conversing about it in the new episode of her podcast titled, My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast.

The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member expressed, “I think I misunderstood; was it 10 to 20 percent I had a chance of living?” This was when she discovered that the sepsis coursing through her body was potentially fatal. Despite this grim prognosis, she managed to pull through. She was reassured that she would recover in due time.

The source claims that Gunvalson mentioned going to a hair salon on Thursday, but she was absent for approximately 1-2 hours, and she can’t recall where she spent that time.

Upon reaching her office, she found a client there. The TV personality mentioned that Olivia, daughter of her partner Michael Smith, who also works with her, had commented that she was speaking nonsensically and composing an email lacking clarity. It struck the client, a former ER doctor, that she might be experiencing a stroke.

In this situation, I was accompanied by Olivia to the hospital, and she reached out to my father – who happened to be away at that moment. While we were there, the renowned personality asserted that she had been “mistakenly diagnosed” and underwent treatment for a sinus infection instead.

Following her dismissal, her health deteriorated fatally. Upon reaching her residence, her boyfriend asserted that he had discovered her in a tub of water, unconscious.

According to a recent article, I found it quite unsettling when Gunvalson chose to take a bath unexpectedly while I entered the room. She seemed to have fainted in the tub, surrounded by water. I had to act quickly, grabbing her and pulling her out of the water, placing her on the bed. This was indeed a terrifying moment for me.

The television personality dozed off for nearly 14 hours straight, which led her partner to suspect something amiss. He admitted that he tried waking her up from bed, yet she seemed oblivious to her surroundings.

Smith took her to the hospital, where they found out that she had pneumonia. He shared, “She had a massive infection… it was actually sepsis, but it was pneumonia.”

According to Smith, they explained that when the body is battling a large and potentially harmful infection, the whole body effectively launches an attack against it. The source adds that this infection also affected her cognitive abilities.

Gunvalson was discharged from the hospital following attentive care and treatment with steroids and antibiotics. At present, she is not yet fully healed. In her own words, the reality TV personality struggles with regaining energy, which is significant for her. She also shared that she’s been experiencing fatigue.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it as: “Reflecting on my recent ordeal, I truly feel blessed to have had guardian angels in Olivia and Michael, along with my dear friend Tina, who provided me with the critical care I needed. I couldn’t have survived this experience without them by my side. The trauma from this incident still lingers, and at times, I find myself shedding tears for reasons I can’t quite put into words.”

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2024-08-26 17:41