Busy Philipps has opened up about a frightening health battle after undergoing two brain surgeries. The actress shared photos from her hospital stay and recovery with her followers. She also explained why she kept the experience, private for months. Philipps said she wanted to make sure she could handle the situation before speaking publicly.
Busy Philipps shares candid hospital photos after undergoing two brain surgeries
Philipps shared the photos on her Instagram Stories Wednesday. “It was f–king crazy you guys, to have a whole craniotomy brain surgery,” she wrote. One photo showed her in a hospital bed with a head dressing. Another one depicted her in a hospital gown.
The 47-year-old actress also shared a video of a friend helping her wash her hair at home. She needed to keep her incision dry after the procedure. Philipps recalled “panicking” as doctors took her into surgery. She said an anesthesiologist gave her medicine to help her relax before she woke up five hours later.
Philipps revealed her doctors found a Grade 2 oligodendroglioma after a Prenuvo full-body MRI on Feb. 12. The rare, slow-growing tumor measured 2.6 centimeters. It was removed during a five-hour surgical procedure on March 2. Later, Philipps had to have another surgery because the surgical site became infected with staph.
The second surgery became a difficult setback for Philipps. “I just felt like I was back to square one,” she said. She also shared the reason why she waited to tell her story. Philipps wanted to protect her daughters, Birdie, 18, and Cricket, 13, who she shares with ex-husband Marc Silverstein.
Philipps returned to work just four and a half weeks after her surgeries. She started filming the CBS legal drama “Cupertino” during her recovery. “I had brain surgery and I just have to f–king lock in and just get through it,” she said. Philipps said it was “really insane.”
In her PEOPLE cover story, Philipps called the past six months the “weirdest” of her life. She said she feels “grateful that I’m alive.” Now the actress states that her “brain is not broken anymore.” Doctors will continue to monitor her with regular scans after the early detection and removal of the tumor.
Originally reported by Ayusi Adhikari on Mandatory
