NEED TO KNOW
- Bravo star Michelle Saniei is opening up about the death of her mother, who passed away in November 2024, a year after receiving a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer
- Saniei, 36, shared in a conversation with her costar Lala Kent on the Tuesday, June 10 episode of The Valley, that her mom initially thought she had food poisoning
- She shared that her mom’s death had been particularly hard on her they were “best friends”
Michelle Saniei is sharing how her late mom was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer after initially visiting her doctor with what she thought was food poisoning.
The Bravo star, 36, opened up about her mom’s diagnosis on the Tuesday, June 10, episode of The Valley during a conversation with her costar Lala Kent.
“I actually don’t talk about it a lot,” Saniei told Kent, 34, before sharing in a confessional that her mom had received her diagnosis the year before her death.
“My mom got sick about a year ago when I was going through everything with Jesse [Lally, her ex],” Saniei said. “She thought she had food poisoning and had to go to the doctor, and she was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.”
Saniei continued to Kent, “She did her first treatment of chemo and it did not work. So then now she’s in her second treatment but the problem is it’s kind of everywhere now. She’s just like by day, it’s killing her from the inside out. I don’t think I have much longer with her.”
“It’s been very hard for me because my mom is my best friend and the one who supports me the most,” Saniei added in her confessional as she began breaking down.
According to the Mayo Clinic, colon cancer is “a growth of cells that begins in a part of the large intestine called the colon.” Symptoms include a change in bowel habits, weakness or tiredness and losing weight without trying.
In an Instagram post shared on June 10, Saniei opened up about sharing her mom’s diagnosis during the episode, which was filmed last summer. Her mom died on Nov. 5, 2024.
“Sharing my heart with you tonight. This was the first time I spoke on camera about my mom’s battle with cancer. She’s no longer with us, but her love and strength are with me everyday. I miss her deeply, and I’m grateful to share a little piece of her with you,” Saniei wrote. “Tonight is for you, Mom. I miss you every day 🪽@bravotv.”
The words were accompanied by a series of photos of her mom, including throwback pictures from her childhood and more recent snaps alongside her daughter Isabella, 5, whom Saniei shares with Lally.
The reality TV star announced her mom’s death in a post on Instagram on Nov. 6, 2024.
“Mom, your love was the greatest gift I ever received. Without you, the world feels incomplete,” Saniei wrote. “You were my best friend since I was a little girl. I will love and miss you forever ♾️ 11-05-2024.”
Saniei is in the midst of a divorce from Lally, with whom she tied the knot with in October 2018, according to Bravo.
Last month, the former couple, who separated in October 2023, gave an update on their ongoing split during an interview with Bravo’s The Daily Dish.
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“We’re so close to finalizing the settlement,” Lally said, with Saniei adding that if they can’t agree on the settlement, they will have to go to court.
“I’m really trying to avoid that because that’s just so much more money and time, so I’m just doing my best to like, get it done,” Saniei said. “My goal is to get divorced this year, because I truly believe, like, once we’re divorced, we can be in a much better place.”
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