Vicki Gunvalson Opens Up About Being Away from Daughter Briana Culberson During Her Battle with Lupus

When Vicki Gunvalson's daughter, Briana Culberson, broke the news that she, her husband Ryan Culberson, and their sons Troy, 5, and Owen, 4, would be moving to North Carolina, you could say that the OG of The Real Housewives of Orange County wasn't exactly thrilled with the news. "I might have smashed a couple dishes on the floor," Vicki recently shared with The Daily Dish. "And then I cried and cried and cried. And then they left, and I cried and cried and cried."

Of course, any mother would be devastated to live so far away from her child. But it's especially difficult for Vicki to be away from Briana, considering all of the challenges she's faced with her health over the years and her continued battle with lupus. "Well, you know, she's got lupus, and she's been hospitalized a couple of times since she moved out there. She's got a little bit of heart issues as well, very similar to what Eddie [Judge] has," Vicki said. "But I just have to know that her husband adores and loves her, that she's in good hands. She works at the hospital that she goes to, so she gets excellent care. I just have to put it in God's hands."

But no amount of distance could keep Vicki from being there during her daughter's time of need, either. "If something happens, and they need me, it's gonna take me about nine hours to get there. And I'd be there on the next plane," she said. "So that's the most important thing is that I want them to know that I'm there for her." 

Fortunately, Briana and her family are in a good place in their new home these days. "I'm really proud of Briana. She's working full-time at the University of North Carolina. She's an ER trauma nurse. She's super happy," Vicki shared. "She's doing her lupus treatments. She seems to be doing good." 

Vicki said she is also coping with Briana's absence the best that she can. "I'm like, what part of the rule book did you not understand? You were never supposed to leave the nest [laughs]," Vicki joked. "But, you know, I have to support her, I have to love her. She's a great, great, great daughter, and I'm very blessed to have her. So I have to do this whole new thing of acceptance."

Keep watching this season of RHOC Mondays at 9/8c to see what else is new in Vicki's life. Check out a preview, below.

Next on RHOC: Vicki Gunvalson Is Going to Have Respect