‘Dance Moms’ Star & Cancer Survivor Abby Lee Miller, 58, Sends Powerful Prayers to Wendy Williams, 59, as She Battles Dementia – You Won’t Believe Her Touching Message!
‘Dance Moms’ Star & Cancer Survivor Abby Lee Miller, 58, Sends Powerful Prayers to Wendy Williams, 59, as She Battles Dementia – You Won’t Believe Her Touching Message!
How Building Support Strengthens Your Cancer Journey
“Dance Mom” star and cancer survivor Abby Lee Miller, 58, expressed her support for her dear friend Wendy Williams, 59, who is coping with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. Miller’s support for her friend is precious, especially during these early stages of a diagnosis where emotions can run wild.
Patients are encouraged to seek a support group, talk to a mental health professional, and keep their support team connected with their care team. One of the benefits of having supporters includes helping alleviate stress and anxiety following your diagnosis. Supporters can also help advocate for you during treatment.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) says frontotemporal disorders (frontotemporal dementia) are the “result of damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain” and tend to get worse over time.
In addition to trouble communicating, the NIA adds frontotemporal disorders that may also cause emotional problems and difficulty with working and walking. Although no cure exists for frontotemporal disorders, the symptoms can be managed.
Miller was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2018. Complications from surgery left the dancing actress wheelchair-bound for several years. Her experiences drove her to be an advocate for people living with disabilities.
Popular talk show and radio host Wendy Williams, 59, is getting tons of support as she copes with publicizing her frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. FTD is a rare form of dementia that can affect behavior, personality, language, and movement. Among notable celebrities supporting Williams is Abby Lee Miller, 58, of “Dance Moms” fame. Miller’s history with lymphoma helps her empathize because she knows what it is like to cope with a diagnosis.
Williams was a New York-based radio DJ during the 1980s and 1990s. Her superstardom accelerated when she launched her popular daytime talk show, “The Wendy Williams Show,” where she discussed all the latest celebrity gossip. However, at the peak of her popularity, signs of her health took center stage. In 2017, she famously fainted during one of her live television tapings. Her show concluded in 2022 due to her emerging health issues, which included frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, which is a condition that affects language and communication.
In a press release recently, Williams’ care team updated her fans on her health.
“In 2023, after undergoing a battery of medical tests, Wendy was officially diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD),” the press release said.
“Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life,” her care team continued.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 10: TV personality Wendy Williams attends the 2019 NYWIFT Muse Awards at the New York Hilton Midtown on December 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Lars Niki/Getty Images for New York Women in Film & Television)
“As Wendy’s fans are aware, in the past, she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves’ Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health. Over the past few years, questions have been raised about Wendy’s ability to process information, and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions.”
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) says frontotemporal disorders (frontotemporal dementia) are the “result of damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain” and tend to get worse over time.
In addition to trouble communicating, the NIA adds frontotemporal disorders may also cause emotional problems and difficulty with working and walking. Although no cure exists for frontotemporal disorders, the symptoms can be managed.
Williams’ Army of Supporters and How to Build a Support Group
In an Instagram post dedicated to Williams, Abby Lee Miller wrote, “So fun, so energetic, kind generous, thoughtful, Wendy Williams always made me feel better about myself! She didn’t invite me on her television talk show to attack me, but rather to enjoy our time together! Wendy, I love you, and I’m praying for you.”
Other fans of Williams chimed in, offering prayers and words of encouragement.
Wendy Williams is seen walking in 2020 (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
“My daughters and I have been binging Dance Moms, and before this news broke about Wendy, all I could think about was how much she seemed to love you and say what a gorgeous woman you were, as I was a huge Wendy Show fan. So, I’m so happy to see this post because it has been on my mind. We are all praying for her,” Instagram user Kerri Kozianowski commented.
Following a significant diagnosis, SurvivorNet experts like New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik say it’s during the early stages of coping that support groups are most valuable.
Support groups to help you through your health journey may be close family and friends or a virtual support group with a similar diagnosis. Mental health professionals are also great additions to help you emotionally cope with your diagnosis.
“Some people don’t need to go outside their family and friends circle. They feel like they have enough support there,” Dr. Plutchik tells SurvivorNet.
“But for people who feel like they need a little bit more, it is important to reach out to a mental health professional,” she added.
One of the benefits of having supporters includes helping alleviate stress and anxiety following your diagnosis. Supporters can also help advocate for you during treatment.
Dr. Plutchki recommends cancer patients consider the following three steps to get the help they need after a diagnosis:
Step #1: Seek additional support if you need it (this could mean speaking to a mental health professional or seeking out a support group)
Step #2: Look for a mental health professional with experience helping people in your situation.
Step #3: Keep your care team connected. This may include your friends and loved ones, your therapist, and the doctors who are treating your cancer.
Miller’s Cancer Battle
Miller was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in April 2018. Burkitt is a rare condition that only makes up 1% to 2% of all lymphomas. It typically starts in the abdomen, where it forms a large tumor. It can spread quickly toward the brain and spinal fluid.
Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the two most common types of this disease—the distinction between the two lies in the presence or absence of Reed-Sternberg cells. If doctors find these cells, the lymphoma is classified as Hodgkin lymphoma.
Treatment for lymphoma is dependent upon the type of lymphoma. This disease is typically treated with chemotherapy, medication, radiation, and, sometimes, stem-cell transplant.
WATCH: Understanding lymphomas.
According to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, this aggressive cancer may affect the jaw, kidneys, ovaries, central nervous system, bowel, or other organs.
Before Miller’s diagnosis, she began experiencing intense pain. She went to see an urgent care clinic where she underwent tests but was ultimately sent home undiagnosed. Since she was experiencing pain in her jaw, she went to a dentist who “did an ice cube check on every tooth and said there’s nothing wrong with your teeth,” she previously told SurvivorNet. However, the pain continued.
Miller wound up at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was discharged after three days in “worse pain than I went in with.” Her medical team suggested she go to a pain management clinic.
Several days later, Miller returned to the hospital, barely able to move her arms, legs, or jaw, and underwent emergency surgery. Her doctor “went to my spinal cord and meticulously pulled a slime, a tar-like substance, away from the spinal cord,” she described.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: Abby Lee Miller attends The Television Academy’s 26th Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Saban Media Center on November 16, 2022 in North Hollywood, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Due to complications she suffered during surgery, she found herself wheelchair-bound for a while.
In May 2019, it was determined that Miller was cancer-free and began making good progress in her recovery. As of April 2021, she still has PET scans every three months to check for any recurrence. She attended regular physical therapy sessions to rebuild her strength.
A second spinal surgery she had in October 2020 caused two vertebrae fractures. She then went through a third spinal surgery in November 2020 to rectify it. After the spinal surgeries, she saw progress in her ability to walk.
“I can walk a couple of steps with the walker, but I’m not where I was before,” the actress said.
