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October 7, 2011

Tionne Watkins, better known as T-Boz, has been living with a secret for the last three years. She has been on a long journey trying to beat the medical odds and get back on stage.

"I'm waking up every day just breathing. That's a great day for me," Watkins told CBS news correspondent Michelle Miller.

For Watkins, having a good day is something to sing about. As T-Boz, she was one of the lead singers in the popular group TLC. Their songs spoke of empowerment and strength, something Watkins was no stranger to.

"I've dealt with being in and out of the hospital my whole life," Watkins added.

Since childhood, she suffered from sickle cell anemia and was told that she wouldn't live past 30. Told that she wouldn't be able to have children and would be disabled, Watkins, 39, has a 9-year-old daughter.

She had seemingly beaten the odds. But three years ago, her doctor delivered news she never imagined: she was told she had a brain tumor.

The tumor was benign, but because of her sickle cell disease, surgery was risky. Watkins could lose everything a performer needs: hearing, balance, facial movement, and speech.

"[I] can't just go have surgery?" she asked. "They were like, 'No, I'm sorry, sickle cell is a factor, that's your reality and you can die."

But Watkins had doubts and wanted to explore the surgery option.

"I'm still going old school surgery and I want to find that person who I have faith in saving my hearing and even trying to just save me, save my face, save my balance, try, just try. Tell me that you're going to try to save my life," she recalled pleading.

Enter Dr. Keith Black from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who is one of the country's best neurosurgeons.

According to Black, the tumor was about the size of a strawberry and a major, complicating factor was preserving the nerves.

In order to remove the tumor, doctors had to tease the tumor away from those nerves, so they wouldn't do any damage to the facial and hearing nerves. This is to avoid coming out of surgery with any facial weakness or hearing loss or even worse, stroke or coma, which can happen.

Black was optimistic he could successfully remove the tumor.

"I have a daughter I have to raise and I need to be here for her. You know what I mean? So it was like I want to live and they made that possible," Watkins said.

Not only was the surgery a success, it made Watkins realize life was a gift to be shared.

"The day I got my speech back, the next day I said, 'Now I'm going to start an album; I'm going to do a solo album,'" she said. "I was tired of this business. I was over it. But I'm like, 'OK, God is blessing me to still be able to sing, hear, talk, maybe I'm supposed to do this."

http://www.cbsnews.com/st...3081.shtml

She's such an inspiration! Can't wait to hear new music from her! TLC is 4EVAAA!

Correction on her age: she's 41.

Glad she is ok. Marsha Warfield posted this on her Facebook and I was like WTF?? I'd forgotten that T-Boz was on Larry King a while back talking about this.

Yeah I heard about this two years ago...

Well whadaya know, discovered CBS talked about it in 2009, so why are they reviving old news???

Whether new or old news, a brain tumor is a serious thing. The most important question is--is it cancerous or not. If the tumor is benign, these days doctors can remove it without much damage. If it is cancerous, the chances of it coming back are high. My uncle had cancerous brain tumors which he had operated on four times with no brain damage. The sad thing is that, in the end, the brain cancer kept coming back and got him last year. If the tumor in the brain is benign, these days ususally it can be removed with no adverse problems, unless it has grown too large or infiltrated a part of the brain where it is dangerous to operate.

she seems like such a down to earth person. plus she is very beautiful. i'm glad the surgery was successful.

purplethunder3121 said:

Whether new or old news, a brain tumor is a serious thing. The most important question is--is it cancerous or not. If the tumor is benign, these days doctors can remove it without much damage. If it is cancerous, the chances of it coming back are high. My uncle had cancerous brain tumors which he had operated on four times with no brain damage. The sad thing is that, in the end, the brain cancer kept coming back and got him last year. If the tumor in the brain is benign, these days ususally it can be removed with no adverse problems, unless it has grown too large or infiltrated a part of the brain where it is dangerous to operate.

A brain tumor ain't NOTHING to play with. I'm shocked that this woman has survived the odds time and time again. Gotta be a God if she's able to survive all she's been through. Let's not forget she's been suffering from sickle cell for years.

Timmy84 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Whether new or old news, a brain tumor is a serious thing. The most important question is--is it cancerous or not. If the tumor is benign, these days doctors can remove it without much damage. If it is cancerous, the chances of it coming back are high. My uncle had cancerous brain tumors which he had operated on four times with no brain damage. The sad thing is that, in the end, the brain cancer kept coming back and got him last year. If the tumor in the brain is benign, these days ususally it can be removed with no adverse problems, unless it has grown too large or infiltrated a part of the brain where it is dangerous to operate.

A brain tumor ain't NOTHING to play with. I'm shocked that this woman has survived the odds time and time again. Gotta be a God if she's able to survive all she's been through. Let's not forget she's been suffering from sickle cell for years.

That's another factor that can't be ignored. Sickle cell can be life-threatening, in and of itself, not to mention a brain tumor. I wish T-Boz all the best.

I am so glad she is okay.. T-Boz looks great! Loved TLC

HohnerCatcher said:

Jessie J could not sing "No Scrubs" during her VMA gig. I want T-Boz to do an album for real. If this news is 2 years old, I understand she's a mom now too but please take some time during the daughter's school day to get in the studio. I'm even a fan of "Touch Myself". I think as long as Debra Killings is on background, she doesn't need to worry about Chilli (or Left Eye) being absent.

The daughter's 11 now.

I know I cried when I first heard about this. I'm glad T made it through. She was always strong.

Yeah when I first heard this news, my heart sunk. Like that shows you survival is a big test in one's life. T-Boz surely is passing it with flying colors. She was told after being diagnosed with sickle cell that she wouldn't live past 25, God made it possible for her to be here in her 41st year of existence.

lord have mercy

when will TLC have had enough???