“The Golden Bachelor” star Jerry Turner's health deteriorated earlier this year.
On Wednesday, Turner told People magazine He announced in March that he was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, which played a major role in his decision to divorce Teresa Nist.
“There's something I've never wanted to talk about,” Turner told the outlet, referring to his breakup with Nist. “I think it's about time, because it's also going to probably solve a lot of the mysteries of what happened in February, March and April.”
'Golden Bachelor' Jerry Turner officially announces divorce from Teresa Nist
Jerry Turner announced that he had been diagnosed with bone cancer before his divorce from Teresa Nist. (John Flinner/Disney via Getty Images)
He continued, “Teresa and I were trying very hard to figure out our lifestyle, where to live, how to get on with life, and unfortunately, we were diagnosed with cancer. Ta.”
According to Starr, Turner's bone marrow cancer has a “very long name.” He was diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. mayo clinic, “It is a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia is considered a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is also called lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.”
“Unfortunately, there is no cure, so it weighs heavily on every decision I make. It felt like 10 tons of concrete had been dropped on me. For a while, I was in a bit of denial, I didn't want to admit it.'' And. ”
“Unfortunately, there is no cure,” Turner told the program. “So it weighs heavily in every decision I make. It felt like 10 tons of concrete was falling on me. And I was in a little bit of denial for a while, so that I didn't want to admit it.”
Jerry Turner and Teresa Nist finalized their divorce less than six months after their televised wedding in January. (Getty Images)
After receiving her diagnosis in mid-March, Turner “decided to tell Nist what I knew and explained the situation to her.”
“It was definitely difficult for me,” Turner said of explaining his health condition to his then-wife. “But the conversation was short and I think [she was] I was a little surprised by the news. It's very understandable. ”
He continued, “I wanted to continue to live as normal a life as possible, and that meant being with my family, my two daughters, my two sons-in-law, my granddaughter.'' ''And while the importance of finding a way with Teresa was still there, it became a lower priority. ”
Turner addressed the “judgment” that was circulating regarding the former couple's breakup, calling the rumors “unfair” to Nist and himself.
Jerry Turner and Teresa Nist were married for three months before filing for divorce. (Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty Images)
“When you receive news like that, after a few days or weeks the shock wears off, you calm down, you realize what's important to you, and then you start moving forward,” he says. “And I hope people can look back now and realize that it had a huge impact on my decision, and probably Teresa's decision as well.”
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Turner added: “I hope they see things a little differently. Maybe it wasn't as hasty and quick a decision as people think. There's something else going on. “I think that might have happened,” he added.
While undergoing his diagnosis, Turner adopted a new way of thinking based on Tim McGraw's song “Live Like You're Dying.”
Jerry Turner was the first “Golden Bachelor.” (Brian Bowen Smith/ABC via Getty Images)
“I'm going to pack as much fun into my life as I can and enjoy every moment. And when I'm gone, I'm going to leave, but I'm not going to have any regrets,” Turner told People magazine.
“I wish her all the luck in the world to find everything she wants,” Turner said of Nist.
“Those glamorous, star-filled, whirlwind moments were truly cherished memories,” Turner recalls. “It was great and I wish it had ended differently, that we had found our way and found solutions to our problems. And most of all, I wish the worst had not happened. I wish I had been better.'' This diagnosis had a huge impact on my decisions and the direction I was going. ”
Turner earned several “bachelor's” grades during his tenure. At 72 years old, he was not only the show's oldest star, but also the first to get engaged and married. “Golden Bachelor” within a few months.
Jerry Turner and Teresa Nist said “I think so” in January. (Disney/John & Joseph Photography)
He got down on one knee and asked Nist to be his. costa rica brideand the couple married during their “Golden Wedding,” another milestone event for the franchise: the first wedding to be broadcast live on television in 10 years.
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turner and nist In a joint interview with Good Morning America in April, the couple revealed that love alone wasn't enough to keep their marriage together.
Jerry Turner said he “still loves” Teresa Nist even after their divorce. (John Fleener/ABC)
“We looked at a house in South Carolina. We looked at New Jersey. And we looked at houses, but we just couldn't make a decision,” Nist said at the time.
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Turner added: “I still love this person. There's no question that I still love her. I'm rooting for her every day.”
Nist agreed: “Yes, I still love him.”
