Brooke Shields cannot refrain from drawing comparisons between the disparate treatment received by men and women at the hands of medical professionals. During her appearance on "Good Morning America" on January 13, the renowned model-actress unveiled the impetus behind her decision to delve into women's experiences within the healthcare system in her latest tome, "Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old." She articulated, "Women endure numerous challenges. We must utter, 'This is unjust.' We must champion ourselves."
Shields recounted a personal anecdote, saying, "Not too long ago, I experienced a seizure. The two male doctors inquired, 'Are you restricting your diet?' I responded, 'No, I'm a 59-year-old woman who looks younger but feels bloated. Hand me some potato chips!' You wouldn't pose such a question to a man."
She further clarified, "My book isn't about gender wars; we cherish the men in our lives. However, it's crucial to explore these issues calmly and without anger. I advise my daughters... we needn't raise our voices. We must be confident in our beliefs and ensure we're heard, for screaming alone will lead us nowhere."
In her book, Shields candidly discusses aging and reclaiming control over her body. She even pens about discovering she underwent a medical procedure without her consent.
Rebecca Jarvis, an ABC News correspondent, inquired during the show if there was anything that frightened Shields at her current stage in life. "No," Shields replied. "I'd be dishonest if I didn't share my truth openly."
Shields initially disclosed her health scare in her cover story for Glamour's 2023 Women of the Year issue. She recounted the seizure occurring prior to a performance of her one-woman show, "Previously Owned by Brooke Shields," at New York City's Café Carlyle, a prestigious venue and restaurant for performing arts.
"I was preparing for the show, consuming vast amounts of water, unaware that I had low sodium levels," she reminisced. "As I waited for an Uber, descending the stairs, I began to act oddly. My companions asked, 'Are you alright?'"
Shields explained that on the night of the seizure, she left her home but kept being asked by her companions if she was fine and needed coffee. She said she walked to a corner outside and felt disoriented before entering the nearby N.Y.C. restaurant L'Artusi.
"I approached the sommelier who had recently watched my rehearsal for an hour... Everything started to darken. Then, my hands fell to my sides, and I crashed headfirst into the wall," the actress recounted.
That was the moment her grand mal seizure began, which she described as "frothing at the mouth, turning completely blue, and trying to swallow my tongue."
"The next memory I have is being loaded into an ambulance with oxygen on. And, by my side, holding my hand, was none other than Bradley Cooper," she shared.
Ultimately, doctors diagnosed the seizure as a result of "low sodium" caused by consuming "excessive water." "I literally drowned myself. And if you lack sufficient sodium in your blood, urine, or body, you can suffer a seizure," Shields concluded.
