Yolanda Foster Gets Family Support at Lyme Disease Benefit, Reveals Bella and Anwar Also Have Illness
Yolanda Foster with Gigi, Anwar, and Bella Hadid on Oct. 8 (Getty Images)
With famous daughters Gigi and Bella Hadid by her side, Yolanda Foster made her first red carpet appearance in nearly a year to shine a spotlight on an illness that has been debilitating to her and her family.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 51, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, attended the Global Lyme Alliance’s inaugural gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in Manhattan on Thursday night. While accepting the “Power of One” award at the event, the former model revealed that two of her children, Bella and her son Anwar, also have the disease.
Gigi introducing her mom. (Getty Images)
Yolanda was introduced at the event by her catwalk queen daughter Gigi, who revealed that her mom lost her ability to write at one point and would cry herself to sleep because she was in so much pain.
“I remember when she was going into the first season of filming, she said to me, ‘I don’t know why this show was brought to my life, but for some reason, I think it will lead to something bigger,’” Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner’s BFF told the crowd. “She realized that she could use this platform of this world-famous television show to spread awareness. She was honest, unapologetic, and raw in how she portrayed Lyme disease on social media and on the show from the second she announced to the world she had been diagnosed.”
Yolanda — who was also accompanied by her husband, David Foster — talked about the “darkness” and “unknown hell” she has lived in for the past four years.
“I am so sorry for all the important things I have missed in your life these past four years. I used to be a pretty cool, smart, multi-tasking, kickass mom. But all three of you, all three of my children really got short-changed with a dumb blonde in the white robe, that mostly lives her life in bed.”
No, this isn’t their latest ad campaign. Gigi and Bella posed together. (Getty Images)
But the reveal revelation was when Yolanda — who recently had a 20-year-old leaky silicone implant removed with the hopes it’ll help alleviate her Lyme symptoms — said Bella and Anwar also have Lyme disease, receiving their diagnoses the same year she did. She dedicated the award to them.
“This is my token and my promise to you that I will not allow you to live a life of pain and suffering,” said Yolanda, who had her RHOBH pals Kyle Richards, Kathryn Edwards, and Erika Jayne in the audience for support. “I will walk to the end of the earth to find a cure so that you can live a healthy life that you deserve. No child should suffer the way that you do.”
G.I. Joe in the house. (Getty Images)
There was no doubt that Yolanda was the star of the show, but it didn’t go unnoticed that Gigi made her red carpet debut with her boyfriend Joe Jonas.
The pair, who started dating in late May, looked happy together but tried to deflect the attention from themselves. Jonas wouldn’t do interviews, saying he was there to support Yolanda. He appeared chummy with the whole Hadid/Foster clan though, warmly greeting Anwar and David.
