Heather Dubrow Reflects on Terry Dubrow's Health Scare at the RHOC Reunion: "Still in Shock"
The RHOC cast member shared new information about the incident during the Season 17 reunion.
Dr. Terry Dubrow is opening up about a health scare he recently experienced, as well as the role his wife, Heather Dubrow, played in essentially saving his life.
Terry Dubrow's Health Scare
In August, the Botched doctor told TMZ that on the evening of Aug. 3, he and Heather were out to eat with their son when all of a sudden, he began slurring his speech.
Terry wasn’t afflicted for very long — less than a minute, in fact — but he said Heather wasn’t taking any chances, so The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member had their son call 911. Terry was admittedly “embarrassed” by the spectacle when paramedics arrived on the scene to take his vitals, and even more so when they said he was fine, only for Heather to insist they take him to the hospital. So he apparently hopped into an Uber and headed home.
However, while Terry was doing that, he said Heather was busy calling a few of his doctor friends. And when they relayed just how serious the situation had the potential to be, he was finally convinced to go to the hospital.
Upon his arrival, Terry said he was subjected to a series of tests, during which doctors discovered he had experienced a “transient ischemic attack” (TIA). This apparently causes stroke-like symptoms.
What’s more, according to Terry, doctors also discovered that he had a patent foramen ovale (PFO), “which is a hole in the heart that didn’t close the way it should after birth.” A blood clot had apparently passed through the PFO before traveling to his brain and causing the TIA.
Thankfully, doctors fixed Terry’s PFO that same day, and he’s now fine. In fact, he said he’s already been cleared to perform surgery and do high-intensity workouts, not to mention be grateful for his diligent wife!
Heather Dubrow's Response to Terry Dubrow's Health Scare
Shortly after, Heather opened up about the incident in a post on Instagram, writing, “I love this man with my whole heart. I’m beyond grateful that Terry’s ok, this could have gone very differently. If you see someone having stroke-like symptoms get them to the Hospital. You have [five] hours to get them treatment. I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to the doctors, nurses and techs at Hoag Hospital and everyone involved who helped us during this very scary time. Thank you for your kind messages, Terry and I are overwhelmed by your love and support.”
For his part, in a separate post, Terry added, “Listen to your partner. What you perceive may be different than what they are observing. Seconds may mean the difference between life and death. I love you [Heather].”
Later in August, Terry also made a virtual appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen when Heather was a guest. There, he got emotional while recalling his health scare. "I'm gonna try to say this without crying, but the only reason I'm standing here today and not six feet under is because of my best friend and beloved wife's insistence that I go to the emergency room and get checked out," Terry said, tearing up. "She saved my life. That's just the way it goes. So, what can I say? I love my wife and she saved my life."
Heather also got emotional, but joked that she had "a breakdown" scheduled for a later date.
Heather Dubrow's Reflections on Terry Dubrow's Health Scare at the RHOC Season 17 Reunion
Further expanding upon what happened during Part 1 of the RHOC Season 17 reunion on Oct. 4, Heather told the group, "[Terry] had a stroke in front of me and then didn't realize it happened. [We had] a huge fight — he was, like, crazy belligerent afterwards and not himself. And I chased him around Beverly Hills for an hour. Literally, chased him."
"We finally got him to go to the hospital," she continued, "and the doctor comes out and they wheeled in the monitor and [Terry] read it and he goes, 'I had a f-cking stroke.' I go, 'I know. I was there.'"
"I think I'm still in shock and I haven't processed it," Heather concluded.
Any health-related information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, or before embarking on any diet, exercise, or wellness program.
Originally published Aug 10, 2023.
