Toni Braxton has sold-out shows, performed on international stages, and still had to watch out for signs of the autoimmune disease, systemic lupus erythematosus.
Braxton said that she is doing considerably better a year following a health scare. She also is said to be experiencing both good and bad days according to an article on TheGrio and she is considering an upcoming tour after appearing at Byron Allen’s Comedy and Music Superfest over Memorial Day Weekend this year.
The 56-year-old emphasized that while she can still stand up on stage and act, she is aware of her limitations. “For me, occasionally taking the stage or performing has always been difficult. I won’t argue against it,” she noted.
According to the information available, the Un-break My Heart hit singer said: “I wasn’t going to the doctor and if someone hadn’t pushed me, I might not be in this situation right now if I hadn’t visited the doctor. Going to the doctor and getting that blood test literally saved my life. I’m still here today, because of that,” Braxton added.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, systemic lupus erythematosus disorder can cause organ damage and inflammation, and it doesn’t impact any two people in the same way. The most prevalent type affects around 200,000 adults in the United States.
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“It was never easy for me to sing for just an hour and a half or two hours. I didn’t know why, but I do now,” she remarked.
She said that since being given a lupus diagnosis in 2008, she has figured out how to make accommodations for herself while performing. With a little giggle in her voice, she also acknowledged that while her lupus is the main source of the limitations on her performance, “some of it is because I’m not 20 anymore.”
“But I’m grateful for the things I can accomplish”. I can perform, like I mentioned. I am unable to do two-hour shows. I’ve come to terms with the fact that my body won’t permit me to do that,” the award-winning singer said.
She is also advising others, particularly black women, to make frequent exams a regular component of their treatment.
Black and Hispanic women are more likely than white women to acquire the illness, according to the CDC. While it’s unclear why black women are more likely to develop the condition, Braxton points out that black women in particular struggle to take care of themselves.
Women often tend to prioritize others above themselves, she noted. “We frequently prioritize others before ourselves, placing ourselves second, third, or fifth. However, it’s important to keep in mind that before you can assist someone else, you must first put the safety equipment on yourself. To take care of yourself, it’s okay to offer yourself up for consideration,” the singer concluded.