Toni Braxton Talks Escaping Fatal Massive Heart Attack Shortly After Sister Passed
By Fiyin Olowokandi on April 28, 2023 at 2:00 AM EDT
Toni Braxton feels lucky to be alive!
The R&B superstar rose to fame in the 80s alongside her sisters in the music group, The Braxtons. After going solo, the Severn native became one of the world's greatest female singers, with several accolades supporting that claim.
However, being famous did not guarantee the Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee a life of roses, as she has received her fair share of woes. The 55-year-old recently opened up about narrowly escaping death's clutches in 2022.
Toni Braxton Nearly Dismissed The Signs Of A Deadly Heart Attack Thinking They Were Grief Symptoms
In a recent heart-to-heart discussion with PEOPLE, the "Un-Break My Heart" artist got candid about her health and how it took a turn for the worst last year. The 55-year-old has lived with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since 2008.
Toni's health condition was the most common form of lupus, an autoimmune condition that could cause the inflammation of joints, kidneys, blood cells, and other organs. The health issue occurs when the body's immune system attacked healthy tissues, mistaking them for harmful bacteria and viruses.
As someone who battled living with the autoimmune disease, Toni confessed that she had been hospitalized more times than she wanted to admit. Yet, the seven-time AMA winner failed to follow her regular urine and blood checkups, which doctors used to determine how lupus damaged her organs.
Despite understanding the dangers of missing routine tests, the eldest of the Braxton siblings revealed she skipped them last year. "I kept putting it off thinking, 'Oh, I'm fine. I'll be okay.' But my doctor was persistent, and I went to get tested in the last week of September," the entertainer recalled.
"I did a specialized test, and they looked at my heart and saw some abnormalities. I found out that I needed a coronary stent," the multi-hyphenate star continued. "My left main coronary artery was 80% blocked. The doctors told me I could've had a massive heart attack; I would not have survived."
Reflecting on what could have been a double tragedy in the Braxton family, the "Dancing with the Stars" alum noted that she dismissed her failing health symptoms because she thought her sister Traci Braxton's death caused them.
"It was a traumatic moment for me. I was in shock. I remember that day because my chest was aching often, just hurting," the 55-year-old said. "And I thought I was just sad because, unfortunately, my sister had just passed, and I thought, 'Wow, I'm really aching in my heart for my sister.'"
Two days after doctors discovered her coronary artery was blocked, the nine-time Billboard Music Award honoree underwent emergency surgery to receive a stent in her heart. Following the procedure, the songstress was hospitalized for a few days to monitor her recovery.
Looking back at this harrowing ordeal, the "Another Sad Love Song" artist confessed she had learned a valuable lesson and was grateful the situation did not end in a fatal heart attack. In the 55-year-old's words:
"It was really a scary moment. Had I not gotten that test, my life would've been different. I look at it like it was a blessing in disguise for me because now, putting off tests? Oh no, I will not put off tests."
The Soul Train Music Legend Award Winner Addressed Her Sister's Passing
Last year, The Blast reported that the "He Wasn't Man Enough" singer opened up about her late sister's passing in her first interview after Traci's death. The 50-year-old died after a year-long battle with esophageal cancer on March 12, 2022.
In the emotional interview with talk-show host Tamron Hall, the older sister acknowledged that her sibling was dearly missed. When the TV personality asked about Toni's touching tribute to the deceased, she explained the meaning behind her symbolism.
Part of the message read: "Our angel is now a snowflake," which the Severn native noted was a reference to Traci's love for snow. The singer added that the "Marriage Boot Camp" star died in Virginia while it was snowing.
Shedding light on the other details in her post, the "Long As I Live" artist revealed her otherworldly encounter with her sister's favorite bird. Recalling the unbelievable moment, the multi-hyphenate star said:
"Her favorite bird was a hummingbird, and I saw a hummingbird the other day; it just kinda flew around me and suspended itself, and I was like Traci, and it started bopping and going up and down, and it made me feel better because I felt like she was trying to say hello to me."
