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Kathie Lee Gifford fights back tears as she makes heartbreaking comment about her mortality after multiple health battles

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Kathie Lee Gifford struggled with intense emotions as she expressed her feelings that her time may be limited, just a few weeks after revealing that she had gone through some incredibly difficult times over the past three years.

At City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Luncheon on Tuesday, the 71-year-old woman discussed the topic of her own mortality and presented an accolade to her longtime colleague from The Today Show, Jill Martin.

Last year, Gifford, who underwent a hip replacement, was assisted onto the stage at New York City’s Plaza Hotel by Martin, aged 49, as directed by her personal therapist.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I found myself compelled to honor a dear friend who has been bravely battling breast cancer for the past two years. Among the multitude of individuals I’ve encountered, she stands out as one of my absolute favorites on this planet. It was only her extraordinary spirit that managed to lure me back from my Tennessee abode and bring me to New York once more.

She noted that over time, our friendship has grown more profound, a development that many fortunate people experience. To be honest, I often think of Jill and smile, even during her challenging times. We’d talk on the phone, pray, laugh, and share moments. I am grateful for the impact she makes in others’ lives.

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As your trusted lifestyle guide, I encourage you all gathered here in this ballroom to stand by one another through life’s ups and downs. Remember, tomorrow could bring a new chapter, so cherish each moment together.

Her voice then trembled and she fought back tears as she addressed her own life.

She declared, “When I express that Jill is my lifelong friend, I’m being sincere.” In other words, she’ll stand by me, and I’ll stand by her.

‘I’ll probably go a lot sooner. In fact, tick-tock, I better get off the stage.’ 

Gifford then laughed as she wrapped up her speech and let Martin take the stage. 

As the entrepreneur accepted the Spirit of Life Award, Gifford was assisted down the stairs.

Over the past few years, the previous presenter of Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee has encountered several health issues.

In June 2024, she experienced a comprehensive and complete hip replacement operation which resulted in intense discomfort.

While undergoing her recuperation process, she experienced a pelvic fracture in two distinct areas following an unexpected fall at home that kept her confined to the hospital for more than a week.

Recently speaking to OK! magazine, she shared her struggles, stating, “The past three years have been incredibly challenging for me as certain parts of my body have simply worn out due to the immense amount of living I’ve done.

As a dedicated enthusiast, I’ve undergone hip and shoulder replacements, the latter being a long-overdue fix for an old injury that had become unbearable. Remarkably, my overall health is impeccable, but it seems my resilience is starting to falter.

Currently, Martin, a lifelong friend, is joyfully living as a ‘cancer survivor,’ having successfully battled stage 2 breast cancer two years ago.

Martin shared in a special conversation with DailyMail.com that he is now cancer-free. He takes two pills he affectionately calls his ‘best friends,’ referring to them as crucial elements in his treatment plan. Each day, he expresses gratitude for these pills.

However, life takes on a distinctly different character – it’s divided into before and after moments. It’s full of breathtaking experiences, enchanting occurrences, self-discoveries, and profound lessons. Yet, there have been instances of heartbreak as well.

Life is split into two parts – before and after significant events. There are amazing, magical moments, insights about myself, and valuable lessons learned. Unfortunately, it also includes periods of pain and sorrow.

Kathie is among those who showed me the ability to experience contrasting emotions simultaneously. Consequently, I am both incredibly joyful and deeply saddened today.

I discovered my beloved husband following his heart attack, an experience that held both sorrow and joy. I was certain he had glimpsed Jesus in his final moments, and this knowledge brought a sense of peace knowing precisely where he now resided.

Instead of focusing on what’s been lost, one could choose to appreciate what remains and celebrate it. These moments of joy are like small beacons in our lives.

Gifford’s former spouse, Frank Gifford, passed away in August 2015 at his home in Connecticut. He was 84 years old. His family revealed later on that he had been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that causes progressive and degenerative brain damage.

Martin expressed her aspiration to potentially save someone’s life today by encouraging people to undergo their routine check-ups, and she shared that approximately one in 400 individuals within the general population test positive for the BRCA mutation, which significantly increases their likelihood of developing breast cancer (ranging from 60% to 90%).

On Tuesday, the lunch gathering was also joined by other prominent figures such as Beth Stern (Howard Stern’s wife) and Rosanna Scotto, an anchor for Fox 5’s Good Day New York program.

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2025-06-04 17:48

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