Online Reporter
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Muni Long has revealed the devastating health battle that forced her to leave Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine” tour early last year.
Speaking in a recent interview with Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America”, Long shared that what initially seemed like a health setback turned into a life-threatening situation that ultimately required a double lung transplant.
The singer, who joined Brandy and Monica on their highly anticipated “The Boy Is Mine” tour alongside Kelly Rowland, admitted that she probably should not have gone on the road in the first place.“I should have never taken that tour. But there was so much going on in my life where I had to do it,” she said.
Long’s health struggles did not begin with the tour. The “Hrs & Hrs” singer was diagnosed with lupus in 2014 and has been open over the years about the challenges that come with living with the autoimmune disease.She explained that even factors such as cold weather can trigger flare-ups, making life on the road especially demanding.
Muni Long
During the Northeast leg of the tour, Long said her condition worsened after she developed pneumonia. Despite stepping away to focus on her health, she eventually tried to return to the stage.
Looking back, she admitted her body was already warning her that something was seriously wrong.“I went back, and I think, maybe five or six dates in, it was just like … I couldn’t even get out of bed to make my call time for a stage,” she recalled.
It was a turning point that eventually led to her leaving the tour altogether, a decision that may have ultimately saved her life.
After leaving the tour and returning home for Thanksgiving, Long said her condition worsened dramatically. She later woke up in the hospital and was faced with a decision she never expected to make.“I said, ‘How long do I have to live?’ And they go, ‘A week’. My jaw dropped. Literally. I was like, ‘That’s rude.’ But they were kind of like, ‘This is not a joke. You need to make a choice. You can either go to hospice, or you can get these lungs.’”
The prospect of a double lung transplant was especially frightening for someone whose career depends on her voice. Long admitted that she initially worried about what the procedure could mean for her future as a singer.
“The ego and the vanity was just like, ‘But what about my voice? What’s going to happen?’ But then I look at my son, and I think about how much more life that I have to live. Quality of life was first. I can’t sing if I’m not here.”
The singer says she is now doing much better. “I’m doing fabulous. I’m six months post-op. Tomorrow is my last appointment for all the things. No symptoms. Asymptomatic. No infections. None of that.”Long also revealed that she underwent vocal surgery following the transplant and is continuing with follow-up appointments as part of her recovery. Looking back on the experience, the “Made for Me” hitmaker hopes others learn from what she went through.
“Don’t put yourself on the back burner for everyone else. You need to focus on yourself. You need to pour into yourself. Don’t be afraid to say no. Rest if you need to. That is a radical thing — for us to rest.”— IOL
