Natalie Cole's Son to Donate Kidney to MomBY: Actress Archives | Thursday, February 5, 2009
Proving that he's a son that really knows how to step up to the plate for his mom, it's been reported that Natalie Cole's son may give her one of his kidneys. Cole was diagnosed with Hepatitis C about a year ago and now it seems she might need a kidney transplant, which would finally put an end to the dialysis treatments she goes through three times a week.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the Grammy Salute to Jazz on Tuesday (Cole is nominated for three Grammys for her 2008 album "Still Unforgettable") she said, "My son [Robert,] may be a possible match. It's very sweet and kind of strange to have people offer something like that." Cole explained that while does not look forward to the recuperation time she'll need to take after the surgery, "in the end it'll be worth it." Her son Robert is 31 years old.
In September of last year, Natalie Cole spoke openly about her struggle with Hepatitis C, which doctors told her she contracted from sharing needles in the eighties when she was a heroin addict. Shedding light on her new health routine, Cole said, "I give myself a weekly injection of chemotherapy in my thigh. When I started in May, I thought I was dying. I couldn't get out of bed for three weeks - literally. I was nauseous every day. I lost 15 pounds from not eating."
Upon learning about the illness, which remained dormant in her body for twenty-five years, Cole says, "My life crumbled before my eyes." She added, "I've learned a lot of lessons. Yes, I could have handled some things better. But they've also made me who I am today."
Cole's illness didn't stop her from touring the world last year. Said Cole, "I've never been through anything like this. I love what I do so much. I just keep going. Nothing can bring me down."
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