Joe Amabile, the 40-year-old Bachelor in Paradise alum, has provided an update on his recovery following brain surgery, revealing ongoing challenges with speech that emerged after the procedure.
During a Friday, August 28 appearance on Good Morning America, Amabile discussed the impact of surgery to remove what he characterized as a blueberry-sized lesion from his brain. Medical professionals located the growth in a region governing speech, motor skills, and memory, he explained on the program.
"I would think of what to say but I would have a hard time vocalizing it," Amabile said on Good Morning America. "And I would say I'm about 90 per cent back but I still struggle a little bit."
Physicians had cautioned Amabile prior to the operation that speech difficulties might arise following the procedure. The reality television personality confirmed those warnings proved accurate during his recovery period.
"According to my doctors, I probably wouldn't know about this [lesion] until I eventually had a seizure," Amabile said on Good Morning America.
The Good Morning America segment reported that Amabile currently takes daily medication following the surgery. His physician noted the medication carries limited side effects.
Amabile first disclosed the medical situation through Instagram on July 13, announcing that an MRI scan had revealed the blueberry-sized lesion that appeared to be a tumor. At that time, he indicated plans to undergo surgery within two weeks to have the growth removed and tested.
"I definitely wasn't expecting this," Amabile wrote on Instagram in July. "I think it's one of those things where you're like, 'Oh, something like this will never happen to me.' And here I am."
He described the experience as "a wild couple weeks" and characterized the preceding month as filled with ups and downs. Amabile noted he had undergone multiple scans and MRIs that revealed what appeared to be an early-stage brain tumor, prompting the need for a craniotomy.
"I'm doing my best to stay positive during this time and am lucky to have a lot of support from family and friends," Amabile wrote on Instagram in July.
On August 6, Amabile announced via Instagram that the surgery had successfully removed the entire tumor. He shared the news alongside photographs taken at the hospital following the operation.
"They got it all!" Amabile wrote on Instagram.
His wife, Serena Pitt, 28, provided additional details through her own Instagram Stories that same day, confirming surgeons had removed the entire tumor and describing her husband's recovery as progressing well.
"The best update: they were able to remove the entire tumor," Pitt wrote on Instagram. "Joe is recovering really well. We're feeling so grateful."
Amabile gained recognition through appearances on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. His candid discussion of the medical journey has drawn attention to the challenges patients face during recovery from neurological procedures.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
