Yolanda Foster On Lyme Disease Depression: My Kids ‘Kept Me Alive’

Yolanda Foster
Yolanda Foster (L) with David Foster (C) and daughter Gigi Hadid at the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night on March 23, 2013. The reality star credits her kids with helping her battle Lyme disease. File Photo by Art Foxall/UPI | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, March 2 (UPI) — Yolanda Foster says her children inspire her to continue her battle with chronic Lyme disease.

The 52-year-old reality star, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2012, confessed on Tuesday’s episode of The Dr. Oz Show she nearly gave up.

“My children [are] what kept me alive,” the star shared. “They’re the ones that kept me fighting and wanting to live. There were many days that I really didn’t want to live anymore. But when you look at your children, it’s not a choice anymore. You have to get through.”

Foster is mom to 20-year-old daughter Gigi Hadid, 19-year-old daughter Bella Hadid and 16-year-old Anwar Hadid with her first husband, Mohamed Hadid. Bella and Anwar are also diagnosed with Lyme disease but don’t experience symptoms as severe as their mom’s.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star previously revealed she’s lost the ability to read and write, among other symptoms, due to Lyme disease. She said the side effects caused her to change and took a toll on her marriage to David Foster, who she split from in December.

“The patient suffers, but the caretakers suffer, too. At the end of the day, David never changed, I changed,” she explained. “I’m not the woman I used to be and I probably will never be again. My focus, my energy goes to trying to get well … and David’s life is really traveling, going to concerts, loud music.”

David Foster, who was married to Foster four years, defended the star in December after her Real Housewives co-stars suggested she’s faking her illness. Foster clashed with her co-stars several times on Season 6 over their doubts about her and her children’s diagnoses.

“I feel for her, and I’m not quite sure where [the doubts] are coming from,” co-star Erika Jayne told Entertainment Tonight. “She’s getting better day by day. She definitely has her good days and her bad days. But you know, she’ll be there for the reunion. I know she’s ready.”

Foster is a former model who joined Real Housewives in Season 3. The Bravo series airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

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