“90 Day Fiancé” star Nikki Exotica has been hospitalized after undergoing emergency quadruple bypass surgery.
Nikki’s mother, Myrna, updated her daughter on Tuesday in an Instagram video. In the disturbing video, 50-year-old Nikki was seen sleeping in a hospital bed with both arms bandaged. Myrna said the surgery lasted seven hours and involved a team of 25 people working on the reality star.
Nicki (real name Nicole Sanders) was originally scheduled to undergo triple bypass surgery, but ended up having quadruple bypass surgery.
An emotional Myrna told fans that Nicki had to be put on a ventilator after surgery and that she had set up a GoFundMe to help cover Nicki’s living expenses.
“She’s going to be out for a while and she needs help,” Myrna said, fighting back tears.
Myrna said on GoFundMe that her daughter experienced chest pain, heartburn, shortness of breath and difficulty walking and exercising, and visited multiple doctors to find out what was wrong.
Although singer Nicky received a medical certificate, she almost collapsed on stage during her performance.
Myrna said Nikki had a mild heart attack a few days ago and was hospitalized.
“Doctors performed an angiogram and found that her artery was severely calcified and blocked,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, the blockage was too wide to perform angioplasty or place a stent.”
They added, “Thankfully, Nicole has health insurance to cover this surgery, so we are not asking for help with her medical costs! We are raising money to cover rent, monthly living expenses, living expenses, and the funds needed for Nicole’s recovery while she is unable to work and get back on her feet.”
Just two weeks before her surgery, Nicki appeared on the podcast Undressed with Pol’ and Patrik and talked about her past near-death experience related to cosmetic surgery.
“It changes you to see what’s really important in life,” she said. “When you’re about to die, everything becomes real.”
Nikki also said she believes some online trolls are “waiting” for her to die.
“I think there were people waiting for me to cry,” she said.
Nikki appeared on season 10 of “90 Day Fiancé,” which featured her traveling to Moldova with her ex-fiancé, Igor. The two met on a website in 2006.
During the season, Igor brutally confessed that he was not physically attracted to Nikki and that he struggled with her being a trans woman. After filming, he broke up with her via text message in February 2024.
However, Nicki said in a recent podcast appearance that she still has feelings for Igor, saying: “I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else. He was my true love and I’m still heartbroken over that.”
