Tanea Brooks, a.k.a. Rebel, offered a health update Monday.
Brooks revealed in November that she was diagnosed with primary pulmonary lymphoma, a form of cancer in the lungs. She also developed functional neurological disorder, which affects her speech and ability to walk.
The 47-year-old posted an emotional video on Instagram revealing she checked into an inpatient rehab hospital. Brooks revealed she is doing speech therapy not only for her speech but also to make chewing and swallowing easier. She also revealed she is undergoing occupational therapy to help her ability to raise her hands. She showed in the video that her hands were clawing, which makes it difficult for her to open a ziplock bag, cook, brush her teeth, put on deodorant and wipe herself.
It feels like I have 40-pound weights hanging off my wrists to try to lift them. Everything is like a workout.
She added that she also is doing physical therapy to help with her walking and her gait. Brooks noted that, while she uses a walker, she can walk. However, she is at risk of falling, and her doctors wanted her to take precautions.
Brooks admitted that talking about her condition was triggering, but while fighting emotions, she thanked fans for their support. Brooks still maintained a positive attitude even as she described her condition.
Being in this inpatient rehab has made me feel more grateful for what I do have because when I was sitting at home, I was deep in my self-pity. Being here, I’ve seen a lot of other patients have it a lot worse than I do, and I’m very grateful that I do have the things that I do have. I am able to walk with a walker and even without a walker, and some people don’t get that privelege.
Brooks said she hopes the rehab will help her become stronger and “regain independence.” Multiple wrestlers expressed their support for Brooks in the comments on her video.
