Natalie Cole wields the pen

http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/liz-smith-mariah-carey-lenny-kravitz-lee-daniels-push-precious-hot-foursome-266781?page=0%2C1

April 14, 2009

The Liz Smith Column

Natalie Cole wields the pen

Natalie Cole shows herself as a writer in her article for Jason Binn’s magazine, Los Angeles Confidential — this issue is Binn’s début as editorial director.

Natalie, a ten-time Grammy winner, writes movingly of her bouts with addiction and illness: “Whatever horror stories you have heard about chemo are true. It is absolutely one of the most debilitating and difficult experiences that could ever happen to a human being … Trying to perform was a real challenge. Just picture an IV hanging from a wardrobe rack in my dressing room in Japan as I tried to prepare for two shows in a night!”

The singer has no qualms discussing “my younger, hell-raising days. I was an active drug user and heroin was my drug of choice.” (Doctors feel that needle use brought on hepatitis C and Natalie’s recent kidney failure.)

Natalie Cole shows herself as a writer in Jason Binn's magazine

COLE HAD CHEMOTHERAPY IN CONCERT DRESSING ROOM

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/category?blogid=7&cat=1953#container

APRIL 14, 2009

COLE HAD CHEMOTHERAPY IN CONCERT DRESSING ROOM

Natalie Cole refuses to let illness stop her performing and underwent grueling chemotherapy treatment in her dressing room backstage at concerts.
The singer underwent a bout of the aggressive therapy in a bid to beat hepatitis C.
The treatment coincided with a world tour, but instead of checking into a hospital and taking time off from her busy schedule, Cole carried on performing.
The 59-year-old says in Los Angeles Confidential magazine, "Whatever horror stories you have heard about chemo is true. It is absolutely one of the most debilitating and difficult experiences that could ever happen to a human being. Trying to perform was a real challenge. Just picture an IV (intravenous) hanging from a wardrobe rack in my dressing room in Japan as I tried to prepare for two shows in a night."
Sadly for Cole, who blames her hepatitis on her past addictions to cocaine and heroin, the chemotherapy caused her kidneys to fail, and she's now hoping for a life-saving transplant.

Courtesy of FGPR

Natalie Cole

Jason Binn invites Cole to pen an exclusive article

http://micahjesse.com/celebrity-news/natalie-cole-inspires/

April 8, 2009

Natalie Cole Inspires

Hopefully singer Natalie Cole can be an inspiration for Farrah Fawcett and others struggling with health issues in the world.

In the May issue of Los Angeles Confidential magazine new Editorial Director Jason Binn invites Cole to pen an exclusive article where she opens up about her self-proclaimed “younger hell-raising days” of shooting heroin to her battle against hepatitis C and kidney failure and shares how she’s learned to make lemonade from her lemons.

Hopefully Fawcett will stay just as positive as Cole in her battle against cancer—

The 10 time Grammy winner says: “Whatever horror stories you have heard about chemo is true. It is absolutely one of the most debilitating and difficult experiences that could ever happen to a human being”

She continues to say that although “Trying to perform was a real challenge” she continues to think positively. Cole says:

“I’ve learned that it takes a few more things to get through the trials and tribulations of this life: Unwavering Faith, Good Friends, a Divine sense of humor and perseverance… but not necessarily in that order! I tell myself “… it could be worse…” and I realize “Life is not for Sissies”. So I’ll look at things as they say, “When Life gives you lemons, you just learn how to make some really great Lemonade!”

Cole writes in her article, “I am hoping for a kidney transplant but at the moment, where it is coming from, Heaven only knows” but perhaps her positive thinking has paid off.

As reported earlier this week, some fans have offered her their kidneys.

Courtesy of FGPR

Natalie Cole opens up to LA Confidential

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/04/natalie-cole-opens-up-about-past-drug-use-and-hepatitis-c.html

April 16, 2009

Natalie Cole opens up about heroin use and hepatitis C

Ten-time Grammy winner Natalie Cole writes her harrowing personal story in the May issue of Los Angeles Confidential magazine.
The singer speaks frankly about past drug use, contracting hepatitis C, interferon treatment, chemotherapy, her ongoing battle with kidney failure and waiting for an organ donor.
“In my younger, hell-raising days, I was an active drug user and heroin was my drug choice. There are several ways to use it: Some inhale or ‘snort’ it, some give themselves a shot, and some inject it directly into their veins. … I did the latter.”
It’s needle use that her doctors believe led her to contracting hepatitis C. Anyone who has ever used contaminated needles for drug use, gotten a tattoo, or received a blood transfusion could easily contract this disease,
She recently underwent treatment to eradicate the HCV virus. “It is absolutely one of the most debilitating and difficult experiences that could ever happen to a human being.”
She was left feeling like a “very fragile old lady” but still went on tour despite then being diagnosed with kidney failure. She is hooked up to a dialysis machine three days a week, three hours a day, and waits for a kidney donor. Her son offered his kidney a short time ago, but he was not a match.
“I am hoping for a kidney transplant, but at the moment, where it is coming from, heaven only knows. And yet I don’t believe God has brought me this far to leave me.”
We feel the same way, Natalie. Hang in there.
Prayers and love from The Dish Rag.

Courtesy of FGPR

NATALIE COLE DISCUSSES CHEMO

BILAL ALI PRODUCTIONS

http://www.bilalaliproductions.com/celebrity-news/natalie-cole-discusses-chemo/

April 17, 2009

NATALIE COLE DISCUSSES CHEMO

Natalie Cole got candid with veteran columnist Liz Smith recently about the chemotherapy treatment she endured while simultaneously touring in support of her latest album.
“Whatever horror stories you have heard about chemo is true,” she reveals in Los Angeles Confidential magazine. “It is absolutely one of the most debilitating and difficult experiences that could ever happen to a human being.”
Cole underwent a bout of the aggressive therapy in a bid to beat hepatitis C, which the singer says she contracted through her past drug use. Instead of putting her career on hold for the treatments, Cole decided to remain on tour.
“Trying to perform was a real challenge. Just picture an IV (intravenous) hanging from a wardrobe rack in my dressing room in Japan as I tried to prepare for two shows in a night,” she said.
The chemotherapy eventually caused her kidneys to fail, and she’s now hoping for a life-saving transplant.

Forest Pump

2/25/2007

Forest Pump

THE Los Angeles Confidential magazine party for Forest Whitaker at the Mondrian looked more pre-Grammy's than pre-Oscar. Naomi Campbell and Terrence Howard showed up hand-in-hand. Also hanging out with the guest-of-honor were Alice Cooper, Mary J. Blige, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Bow Wow, Deborah Gibson, Natalie Cole, Vanessa Williams and Russell Simmons. "My husband is bringing sexy back," Whitaker's wife, Keisha, announced. "He's hot, hot, hot!" Everyone else was on his or her best behavior, including Isaiah Washington, who chatted with Whitaker about, "doing the right thing."

Courtesy of FGPR