90 Day Fiancé star Nikki Exotika is recovering after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery.
“She underwent a serious operation yesterday,” Nikki’s mom, Myrna, said in a Tuesday, May 19, Instagram video while sitting next to her daughter’s hospital bed. “ It was seven hours and it was supposed to be a triple bypass and it ended up being a quadruple bypass.”
Myrna shared that she and Nikki’s loved ones were “very worried” about her during the procedure. She revealed that 25 staff members worked on Nikki’s operation. Myrna shared that Nikki, 50, was placed on a breathing machine post-operation.
To help Nikki (real name Nicole Sanders) get back on her feet, Myrna created a GoFundMe to help with her daughter’s living expenses.
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“She’s gonna be out for a while and she needs help,” Myrna said in the clip while fighting back tears.
According to the fundraiser page’s description, Nikki had been “experiencing chest pain, heartburn, shortness of breath and difficulty while walking and exercising.” Nikki went to multiple doctors and underwent an “EKG, echocardiogram and stress test” and was allegedly told “her heart was healthy and given a clean bill of health.”
Nikki, who is also a performer, was getting ready for the upcoming summer and felt the symptoms again. During one performance, she “nearly collapsed on stage.” Nikki decided to go back to her cardiologist but “suffered a mild heart attack” before making it to the doctor’s office. She was immediately rushed to the hospital.
“Doctors performed an angiogram and discovered that her arteries were severely calcified and blocked,” the page read. “Unfortunately, they were unable to perform an angioplasty or place stents because the blockages were too extensive.”
Myrna shared that she flew from her home in Florida to be by Nikki’s side for the “life-changing surgery” and the recovery process.
The fundraiser will not be going toward Nikki’s medical bills because the reality star has “good health insurance.” Instead, it is raising funds to help cover Nikki’s rent, monthly bills, living expenses and recovery needs while she is unable to work at this time.
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“Nicole has received so much love and support from friends, fans, and followers all over the world, and our family is incredibly grateful,” Myrna wrote in the post. “Any contribution — big or small—would mean the world to us during this difficult time.”
The fundraiser has a goal of $22,000 and has raised more than $12,000 at the time of publication.
Nikki was best known for appearing on 90 Day Fiancé season 10, where she traveled to Moldova to meet now-ex Justin Shutencov. On the show, Nikki opened up about her experience as a trans woman. After filming the show, Justin broke up with Nikki via text message.
