“Tina Turner: The Silent Health Battle and Her Husband’s Extraordinary Act of Salvation”
Tina Turner’s passing on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83, sent shockwaves of grief across the globe. The Queen of Rock & Roll left behind a monumental musical legacy and an enduring image of strength and resilience. However, behind the dazzling stage lights lay a silent battle with illness, largely unknown to the public, and a story of profound sacrificial love that saved her life.
Official reports simply stated that Tina passed away peacefully at her home in Switzerland after “a long illness.” But what did that “long illness” truly entail? Were there details about her health struggles and an extraordinary act of love that remain untold?
A Heartbreaking Health Battle and a Shocking Contemplation
In her final years, Tina Turner faced a series of severe health issues. She survived a stroke in 2013, just three weeks after marrying her long-time partner, Erwin Bach. This event significantly affected her mobility, forcing her to re-learn how to walk.
However, Tina’s most persistent and arduous struggle was with kidney disease. She had lived with high blood pressure for decades, undiagnosed and untreated, leading to severe kidney damage. In her 2018 memoir, “My Love Story,” Tina revealed the painful details. In 2016, she was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure, with her kidney function dropping to around 20%.
The situation became so critical that Tina, a woman of extraordinary strength, even contemplated ending her own life through assisted suicide. She had even registered as a member of Exit, an organization in Switzerland that supports humane dying. “It was a wonderful option,” she wrote in her memoir, “but it was also terrifying.” The physical pain and immense pressure pushed her to the brink of despair.
Erwin Bach’s Extraordinary Act: Love That Saved a Life
Amidst Tina’s despair and near surrender, an extraordinary act of love changed everything. When doctors informed her that her kidney condition was terminal and a transplant was the only solution, Erwin Bach, her husband 16 years her junior, made a decision that moved the world: he donated one of his kidneys to her.
“I never thought he would do that,” Tina wrote emotionally. “He said that he didn’t want another woman, or any woman, and he didn’t need more than two kidneys.” These simple words, brimming with love and sacrifice, deeply moved Tina. The kidney transplant surgery took place in April 2017.
This act not only saved Tina’s life but also solidified the profound and unconditional love between the two. The surgery was successful, but Tina still faced post-transplant challenges, including mild kidney rejection episodes and side effects from immunosuppressant drugs, which weakened her immune system and made her more susceptible to illness. Nevertheless, she was eternally grateful for her husband’s immense sacrifice.