Abby Lee Miller posts hospital selfie following cancer diagnosis and emergency operation
Dance Mom's Abby Lee Miller is in the hospital recovering from her emergency surgery on Tuesday.
The 51-year-old reality star, who was recently released from a Victorville, California prison, has been preliminary diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—cancer of the lymph nodes.
'So much gratitude and love for those who listened, those who looked deeper, and those who leapt into action,' she said on Instagram in reference to her spinal surgery. 'So much more I wish I could say......about how quickly your life can change at the hands of others.'
Scary times: Dance Mom's Abby Lee Miller is in the hospital recovering after an emergency surgery on Tuesday
Following Abby's operation, her doctor, Hooman M. Melamed, spoke with PEOPLE through a rep and confirmed that Miller is 'looking good' but 'she's not out of the woods yet.'
The Pittsburgh native, who was left paralyzed from the neck down on Tuesday, will undoubtedly need another spinal surgery.
'She has a lot more movement in her arms legs and toes, which is a very good sign,' Melamed said.
The nearly five-hour surgery required Dr. Melamed to make an 18-inch incision. The orthopedic surgeon then removed the back part of several vertebrae in order to relieve pressure from Miller's spinal cord.
Life threatening: The 51-year-old reality star, who was recently released from a Victorville, California prison, has been preliminary diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—cancer of the lymph nodes
An oncologist has been brought on Abby's case to determine next steps regarding chemotherapy and radiation.
'Depending on the tumor type, depending on the sensitivity of the tumor— it just depends the type but I feel more than yes, she will undergo chemotherapy or radiation,' Hooman said.
'We don't know where the source is,' he added. 'Any tumor that spreads anywhere is automatically Stage 4, but we have not determined the stage yet.'
It's been a difficult few years for Miller, who was in the custody of Victorville Federal Correctional Institution from July until late last month in connection to her bankruptcy fraud conviction.
She lost 100 pounds during her detainment at the penitentiary.
Last month, she began staying at a Long Beach halfway house, where she's tentatively slated to stay until May 25.
Better times: Miller smiled when she was snapped at the Bad Moms premiere in 2016
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