Brandi Glanville finally has answers after three years of searching. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum revealed this week that she has been diagnosed with several serious conditions affecting her face and body, and her friend Gina Rodriguez has since launched a GoFundMe to help her cover the cost of treatment.
What Brandi Was Diagnosed With
Glanville, 53, shared the news on Instagram, saying she has highly resistant ESBL Klebsiella and Enterobacter with biofilm, Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley fever, Demodex dermatitis, and mononucleosis. She also has a fungal ball in her face that doctors say needs to be surgically removed. Her treatment plan additionally calls for the removal of old metal dental work and her breast implants.
“I’m finally ready to tell you what I’ve actually been fighting,” she wrote, according to Fox News Digital. Glanville posted a video montage documenting different stages of her illness alongside the caption.
Years of Searching for Answers
This diagnosis caps off a long and difficult road for Glanville. Her health issues first surfaced in mid-2023 as extreme facial swelling, initially chalked up to stress-induced angioedema. She went public with her struggle in 2024 while trying to pin down a cause. In February, she said she had seen 21 doctors and believed a ruptured breast implant, more than 20 years old, was a major factor. As the year went on, she also revealed a benign facial lymph node tumor and returning symptoms that led to daily IV treatment.
The Treatment Ahead
Glanville is now facing four to six months of daily IV medication through a PICC line, with the possibility of it running even longer depending on how her body responds. She says the treatment so far has been grueling and has produced very little improvement. Between the IV sessions, upcoming surgeries, and dental work, the medical bills are stacking up fast.
A Friend Steps In to Help
Rodriguez started a GoFundMe with a $28,000 goal to help offset the cost. The page states that even with insurance, Glanville’s treatment runs between $3,300 and $6,000 every month, not counting the additional surgeries and procedures still ahead. Right now, Glanville can only focus on her podcast. This has worsened her financial strain just as her expenses have increased.
“I want my health back. I want my life back. I want to feel like me again,” Glanville wrote on Instagram, describing what she hopes treatment will restore.
As of this writing, the GoFundMe has raised just over $1,100 toward its $28,000 goal.
Choosing to Be Open About It
What stands out here is how much Glanville is choosing to show. The fundraiser shares videos of her toughest moments. She appears without makeup and isn’t using a polished camera. She does this so people can see what being this sick really looks like. For a reality star whose career has largely run on image and appearance, that is a notably vulnerable decision. Asking for financial help is hard for her, the GoFundMe description shows. This fundraiser feels less like a publicity stunt and more like a real plea for help.
Sarah covers Sister Wives, Teen Mom 2, Real Housewives, and Big Brother. She specializes in cast updates and recaps, with a steady eye for the details longtime fans notice first. Sarah has written about reality TV and entertainment for four years.
