A timeline of Tina Turner's health issues, from strokes and cancer to her husband giving her his kidney
Tina Turner was diagnosed with hypertension in 1978, which led to kidney failure.
She later suffered strokes and was diagnosed with intestinal cancer.
Her husband, Erwin Bach, donated a kidney to her in 2017.
Legendary singer Tina Turner has died at the age of 83, according to a statement released by her family.
She "died peacefully" at her home near Zürich, Switzerland on Wednesday after a "long illness," according to Rolling Stone.
Turner faced many health issues throughout her life, including kidney failure, intestinal cancer, and strokes.
1978: Turner was diagnosed with hypertension
In 1978, Turner was diagnosed with hypertension, which means high blood pressure. Not getting treated led to kidney failure for the star.
In an interview with the European Health Kidney Alliance she said: "I can't remember ever getting an explanation about what high blood pressure means or how it affects the body. I considered high blood pressure my normal. Hence, I didn't really try to control it."
2009: Turner suffered a stroke due to kidney failure
She suffered a stroke in 2009 because of her "poorly controlled hypertension" and found out her kidneys had lost 35% of their function, she said.
Turner reluctantly took medication for years afterwards but, convinced the pills made her feel worse, she decided to take a break and try a homeopathic approach. This backfired though, and Turner's renal disease worsened, she said.
She suffered with fatigue, nausea, and irritability, she said.
2013: Turner suffered another stroke
After learning her kidneys were failing, Turner started dialysis which became her whole life for nine months, she said.
Turner had another stroke in 2013, just three weeks after marrying her husband, Erwin Bach.
"That's when I discovered I couldn't stand on my own," Turner said in her memoir "My Love Story, released in 2018"
"I was too embarrassed to call for help. Legs for days and muscles of steel from dancing, but I didn't have the strength to get up," Turner wrote, adding that she was terrified of being paralyzed and unable to dance again.
Fortunately she learned to walk again.
2016: Turner was diagnosed with intestinal cancer
In 2016, Turner was faced with a new health challenge when she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer.
In her memoir, she wrote that Bach's positivity helped keep her calm.
However, Turner was also facing total kidney failure.
2017: Turner had a kidney transplant
Bach offered to donate one of his kidneys to Turner.
"When the doctors said, 'Both kidneys are out,' I said, 'I guess it's my time to go,'" Tina told Oprah Winfrey in 2018.
"I was in my 70s. In my thinking, I'd lived long enough, and I didn't want to be on a machine for the rest of my life. My mother and sister were both gone. But then Erwin chimed in, very emotional, and said, 'I don't want another partner.' He was 150% ready to give me his kidney."
2017: Turner struggled with unpleasant side effects post-transplant
The transplant was mostly successful but it wasn't all smooth sailing.
"The months after the transplantation were marked by a never ending up and down," Turner wrote in "My Love Story." "From time to time my body tried to reject the donor kidney as it frequently happens after a transplantation."
She was in and out of hospital, feeling nauseous, dizzy, scared, and forgetful, and her problems persisted, she said. Turner continued to take multiple prescriptions.
2020: Turner was "in good health" but shielding from coronavirus
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Turner told Variety it was "a challenge" for her.
"My age and health require that I stay close to home," she said.
In her 2020 book, "Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good," Turner wrote that she was feeling healthy and happy.
"I'm happy to say that, thanks to my beloved husband, Erwin, giving me one of his kidneys, the gift of life, I'm in good health and loving life every day," she said.
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