Tionne Watkins, known to the world as T-Boz from the multi-platinum selling R&B group TLC, had many battles to fight outside of music. The entertainer was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia early in life, an incurable blood disorder that leaves people exhausted and in constant pain. Due to her chronic illness, doctors told her she wouldn’t live past 30-years-old.
“Doctors, they didn’t give me a happy ending,” T-Boz told CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta. “You won’t live past 30, you’ll be disabled your whole life. You’ll never have kids. I was looking around the room like, ‘I don’t know who he’s talking to cause that’s not my story.'”
T-Boz didn’t let the news of a possible life shortcoming thwart her from garnering success with friends Rozanda ‘Chilli’ Thomas and the late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes. She found strength in her surroundings, especially from her mother.
“I think it had to do a lot with my mother, too, because she never made me feel different,” she says of her faith in life.
Following TLC’s chart topping success, T-Boz went on to fight an even tougher battle after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
“I started having headaches, but they were so frequent, something was wrong,” She says. “My doctor called, but his voice sounded funny. And I said, ‘You’re gonna say something like I have a brain tumor, right?’ He got quiet.”
T-Boz was able to find a doctor to remove the tumor but now must deal with the side effect of poor balance.
“I go for it,” she says about taking on life’s challenges adding, “cause I believe words are powerful and I think everythingâ¦every last thing in life happens for a reason.”
The good news is T-Boz is back in the studio working on a solo album, which will revolve around the tribulations of life.
Quotes via CNN
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