
During The Clash Season 3's Christmas Special, Asia's Nightingale Lani Misalucha revealed that she and her husband, Noli, are both survivors of bacterial meningitis.
The couple contracted the disease in October of 2020 and spent almost a month in the hospital recovering from the life-threatening disease.
Lani reportedly spent 18 days fighting the disease in the hospital, while her husband fought it for 20 grueling days.
Fast-forward to a few months after their horrifying bout with bacterial meningitis, Lani and her husband are doing way better now.
Lani Misalucha during her Tunay na Buhay interview / Source: Tunay na Buhay
In her recent guest appearance of Tunay na Buhay, the Asia's Nightingale recounted to host Pia Arcangel what was going through her mind while battling the disease.
Lani said, “Parang totoo ba 'to? Totoo ba 'tong nangyayari sa akin, sa aming mag-asawa?
“Ito talaga 'yung binigay na parang…'yung disability mo na hindi makarinig. E, ito 'yung pinakaimportante 'di ba? 'yung pandinig mo sa pagkanta, 'di ba? Parang nangyayari ba talaga 'to?
She also admitted that she had a lot of questions in her mind at that time and even feared that she might not be able to sing again.
“Makakakanta pa kaya ako uli? Or talaga bang kinukuha na ba 'yung pagkanta sa akin?”
Lani and her husband weren't able to pinpoint exactly where they caught the disease but said it was most probably from contaminated food.
“Parehong kind of bacteria ang nakita sa blood namin, na nagsa-suggest na nakakain kami ng bad meat.
“Kasi pangalan ng bacteria was Streptococcus suis, suis meaning swine. Maaaring na-contaminate 'yung ibang meat, could be the chicken, ganun.
Last December, Lani revealed that she and her husband suffered from vestibular dysfunction and needed assistance so they can move around.
But probably the most devastating long-term effect of bacterial meningitis was the loss of hearing in Lani's right ear.
Lani confessed, “Hindi ko ide-deny na talagang I went through that phase ng parang nakaka-depress..."
Throwback clip of Lani Mislaucha and husband Noli when they were recovering from bacterial meningitis / Source: Tunay na Buhay
But she said she has learned how to shift her mindset into a more positive one.
“Nangyari na, e, 'di ba? So, talagang 'yun na lang 'yung mindset, kailangan lang i-change. “
Lani also detailed the treatment options that they had gone through and what still needs to be done.
“Maraming options na nilatag sa amin, ano? So, antibiotic 'yon na naka-ano sa swero and then nagkaroon na kami ng treatment ng steroids para sa inflammation ng mga nerves. We will look into hearing aid.”
Lani Misalucha's husband and manager, Noli / Soucre: Tunay na Buhay
The Asia's Nightingale's husband, Noli, who also happens to be her manager, shared how the whole experience has brought them closer together.
“Nung nagkasakit kami nang sabay, wala 'yung anak namin. Mga apo namin nasa Las Vegas. Naging mas matatag, especially ngayon, meron kaming disability, no?
“Sa lahat ng aspeto, in all aspects of life, na kaming dalawa lagi. Hindi ko maimagine kung wala ang isa, e. So, dapat talagang pair, isa kami sa lahat ng bagay.”
During her Tunay na Buhay guest appearance, Lani also sang a few lines of 'Timeless,' which she says is a song she dedicates for her grandchildren.
“Ito 'yung song ko para sa aking mga grandchildren. Actually, ang interpretation ko sa song na 'to is actually parang my love for them is eternal. Sana malaman nilang mga apo ko 'yon.”
You can watch Lani Misalucha's interview in the Tunay na Buhay video below.
For more celebrity features like this, watch Tunay na Buhay every Wednesday, 11:30 P.M. on GMA-7's Power Block.
And for more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.
You might also want to learn more about other celebrities' rare medical conditions in the gallery below.