Kate Gosselin has a long road ahead after suffering a “life-altering leg injury,” sharing an update with fans about her recovery journey after being discharged from the hospital.
The former reality TV star, 50, reflected on her stay in a new TikTok video posted on Friday, October 3, revealing that she was told by a surgeon on the morning of her procedure that she would need an “Open Reduction Internal Fixation [an ORIF]” which meant a “plate down my shin bone, a huge metal plate, and then there’s three screws … to screw my tibia back together.”
Gosselin was hurt during a freak accident while she and her rumored boyfriend, Steve Neild, were playing fetch with her German shepherd Meika, she revealed in a September 30 TikTok post, causing her to endure a tibial plateau fracture.
In her update, the mom of eight — who shares twins Mady and Cara, 24, as well as sextuplets Alexis, Hannah, Leah, Aaden, Collin and Joel, 21, with ex-husband Jon Gosselin — noted that she had to undergo surgery for the “first time in my life alone.”
“It was very scary,” she continued. After the procedure, Kate was informed that her bones were “soft” for her age which came as a surprise since she takes every vitamin “under the sun” — except for Calcium, noting that she will begin incorporating that more now that she is aware.
Kate said she was told she should’ve had a “decent” injury from that type of collision, but it shouldn’t have been “catastrophic.”
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The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star described the pain and swelling she had been experiencing as “unbelievable,” sharing that she has at least three months ahead of recovery.
Upon her discharge, Kate told fans she was happy to be on the mend, despite needing extra care. The TLC alum noted that it was a bit “overwhelming” due to the instructions she was given, all while learning the medications she must take and the appointments she still has to make.
“I just wanted to give you a quick update that my first night at home was amazing, and it’s all sinking in how helpless I am,” she said in a separate TikTok. “It’s making me think back to over what 21 years ago, when I was on bed rest.”
Kate also reflected on the moment Meika collided into her, noting she saw the dog “running towards me at the speed of light.”
She added, “I remember thinking, ‘I only have a second to get out of the way.’ I went to step and I miscalculated and I stepped the wrong way into her path and she slammed the side of her body full force into my leg.”
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“I will never forget the power of that impact,” Kate continued. “It made a thud sound — not a breaking bone sound, a thud sound. And I just froze and crumpled.”
After going public with her story, she asked critics to be compassionate, noting that she is brushing off the cruel remarks. Kate said, “Whatever, I just know you don’t know what I’m going through and that’s fine too but we should all keep our mean comments to ourselves.”
