The Real Housewives of Orange County (RHOC) alum Vicki Gunvalson suffered a medical emergency last week and was given a 10 to 20 percent chance of survival.
The original RHOC cast member spoke about what happened for the first time in an emotional interview alongside her boyfriend, Michael Smith, on Monday.
The 62-year-old revealed how she was rushed to hospital and was later told she had pneumonia that turned into sepsis. The businesswoman suffered stroke-like symptoms and was initially sent home before the seriousness of the situation was discovered.
Speaking candidly on her podcast, My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast, in a 24-minute long recording titled "The Importance of Speaking Up: Vicki's Near-Death Medical Experience," Gunvalson went into the scary details of what had happened to her.
She recalled speaking to her neurologist, "I said, 'Did I hear this right that I had a 10 to 20 percent [chance of] survival?'"
Gunvalson said that they replied: "'Yes, the sepsis that went to your body is deadly and you survived it. You're going to be okay.'"
After being diagnosed with a sinus infection earlier this month and then going on a European vacation, it was last Thursday when her health started to decline.
Following a hair appointment, Gunvalson returned to work and her colleague Olivia, Smith's daughter, was there.
"I had a client coming in and she said I was talking gibberish, and I wrote an email out and the email didn't make sense," she continued.
The client happened to be a retired ER physician who suspected she could be having a stroke, but tearfully Gunvalson admitted she "doesn't remember anything".
Olivia urged her father to come home and upon his return discovered Gunvalson in the bath.
"I walk in and she's pretty much passed out. That was scary, and I grabbed her, pulled her out of the water, put her in bed," Smith said.
After a 14-hour sleep, Gunvalson took 15 seconds to recall who he was and "couldn't walk" so he rushed her back to hospital.
Smith, who is thought to have been dating the reality star since early 2022 and also had sepsis, added: "She had a massive infection...it was actually sepsis, but it was pneumonia."
Gunvalson said that she's still "lethargic" and that she doesn't "have energy."
She shot to fame in Bravo's RHOC, featuring in 16 of the 18 seasons that originally launched in 2006.
She announced she was leaving the show in early 2020 via Instagram, writing: "I will always be the OG of the OC, but it's time to say goodbye...I love all my fans, and I want to thank Bravo and Evolution for this incredible experience which my family and I have will never forget."
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