Hailey Bieber opened up about how her perspective on her health changed after suffering a stroke and undergoing heart surgery.
“I just am so fascinated with the body and medicine and doctors,” Bieber, 29, noted during the Wednesday, February 18, episode of Jake Shane’s “Therapuss” podcast. “And I love it.”
Hailey, who shares 17-month-old son Jack Blues with husband Justin Bieber, recalled how a health scare shaped the way she viewed the medical field. “A couple of years ago, I had a crazy medical situation. I had a mini stroke,” she explained. “Then I found that I had this heart defect that I was born with, so I had to get surgery for it, which sounds really crazy, but they went through my groin and I was in and out of the hospital the same day.”
After undergoing heart surgery, Hailey reevaluated how vigilant she has been about her health.
“That situation made me a little bit extra hyper-aware of my body and a little bit more nervous about things and staying on top of them,” she admitted. “But I’ve just always been really focused and fascinated on health.”
She concluded: “It was also kind of what led me to want to [start my beauty company], Rhode. My obsession with skincare also comes from my obsession with medicine.”
Hailey was hospitalized in March 2022 for a mini stroke. She then revealed in April 2022 that she underwent patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure procedure to close a hole in her heart, which went “very smoothly.”
The following year, Hailey reflected on the challenges she has faced in her personal life.
“I like to make jokes about how I feel because sometimes it’s easier than admitting I’m having a hard time,” Hailey wrote via her Instagram Story in April 2023. “But truthfully since 2023 started I have had some of the saddest, hardest moments I’ve ever had in my adult life and my mind and emotions have been fragile to say the least. And I know so many other people feel the same way I feel, so just know you’re not alone 🫶.”
In a second post, Hailey issued a message to anyone going through similar struggles. “That being said, let’s keep being there for one another. Let’s be there for loved ones and friends and family and strangers,” she added. “Let’s just be there for people.. let’s keep showing up for each other even when it’s hard. We’re better together 🤍.”
Hailey’s husband, Justin, 31, also faced a personal setback when he took a break from touring in 2022 after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which caused partial facial paralysis.
“This is pretty serious as you can see,” Justin said in an Instagram video that June. “I wish this wasn’t the case. But obviously, my body is telling me I need to slow down.”
A source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that Justin was “working with a top team of specialists” and was “following their advice” about next steps. His recovery involved “facial exercises and “getting as much rest and relaxation” as possible while also leaning on his faith.
“[He] has every faith this will resolve itself eventually, but of course, it’s a stressful situation to be dealing with and a tough time for both [him and Hailey] right now,” the insider shared. “The last thing he wanted was to postpone the concerts.”
