Earlier this year, Angela “Big Ang” Raiola faced one of the scariest moments of her life when she found out she had a massive tumor in her throat that blocked her airway. Despite getting the tumor removed, Ang’s life was changed forever after receiving the shocking news.
In an interview with People Magazine, Ang revealed that her tumor actually turned her life around. “Things happen for a reason,” Big Ang said. “I’d smoked for 40 years. No one could tell me what to do.”
She added, “[The tumor] was blocking my airway. I quit smoking the day I found out.”
Ang is okay now, but she was told that she should feel very lucky to have come out of this diagnosis alright. “The doctors are saying that I’m a very lucky person,” she said. “I caught this at stage 2.”
Even though she has improved, Big Ang is still recovering from the surgery. “I’m learning how to swallow again,” she explained. “I have a phobia of choking. I’m just doing the best I can, taking it day by day.”
Big Ang and husband Neil Murphy will soon appear on season six of VH1’s “Couples Therapy.” Despite having marital issues, Ang’s health scare brought her and Neil closer together. “He slept in the hospital on the chair every night,” Ang said of Neil during her surgery. “He’s very supportive.”
Not only has this surgery been hard for Ang physically, it has also been hard mentally as she continues to fight her smoking addiction. “It’s hard to just put down the cigarette and never look back. I enjoyed smoking. I miss it so much. But it’s over,” Ang explained. “Now I do the e-cigarette. It helps me, just to hold it in my hand.”
We hope Ang’s health continues to improve!
What are your thoughts on what Big Ang had to say?
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