Joe Amabile is opening up about the person who helped him through one of the scariest moments of his life: Busy Philipps. The reality star and podcast host revealed that Philipps connected him with the NYU neurosurgeon who removed his early-stage brain tumor in July. Philipps had already been through her own brain surgery for a grade 2 oligodendroglioma, so she knew exactly what he was facing.“She’s been wonderful,”Amabile said.“The conversation I had with her really made me feel OK.”
Philipps hasn’t just offered advice, she’s stayed in it. She’s checked in on Amabile throughout his recovery, even commenting on his Instagram posts showing his surgery staples. His wife, Serena Pitt, called her selfless for continuing to show up. Meanwhile, Philipps shared her own good news: a September 8 MRI showed no sign of tumor, six months after her operation. She originally discovered her tumor during a Prenuvo scan, just one day after her former costar James Van Der Beek died.
Amabile is still in the middle of a months-long recovery and says he’s not back to normal yet, which is a reminder that brain surgery isn’t a quick fix. But he’s got a strong support system, and now a genuine friendship with Philipps to show for it. It’s a story about early detection, second opinions, and the power of someone who’s been there saying,“I’ve got you.”
Have you ever had a friend help you through a health scare? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.