Health

Model Mama Cax has died at the age of 30 after surviving cancer and a brief stay in the hospital.

A rep for Cax -- born Cacsmy Brutus -- posted the sad news on her Instagram Friday, saying, "It is with deep regret and immense sadness that we announce the passing of Cacsmy Brutus (Mama Cax). Mama Cax spent the past week in the hospital, and unfortunately, on Monday, December 16, 2019, she left this world."

They continue, "To say Cax was a fighter would be an understatement. As a cancer survivor, she had grown accustomed to taking on life's several challenges head on and successfully. It is with that same grit (fervor) that she fought her last days on Earth."

Pat Sajak's fortunate to be alive after suffering a blocked intestine, but says for a brief drug-induced moment ... his life flashed before his eyes and he thought he was for sure dying.

The "Wheel of Fortune" host turned up on 'GMA' and spoke for the first time about last month's health scare, which he says was intense ... and could have killed him if he didn't go under the knife STAT.

Sajak says one moment he was out for his daily morning walk with his daughter and the next ... he's curled up in the fetal position with "excruciating" pain in his stomach. Within 2 and a half hours, he was having emergency surgery.

The craziest part -- Pat says none of the pain meds he was given were working until all of a sudden one worked REALLY well ... and instead of thinking about pain, he was thinking about his death.

He says it wasn't a morbid thing really, he just felt bad for his wife and daughter and thought about how much their lives would change after he was gone ... but turns out, he was just really high.

Pat clearly didn't lose his sense of humor in surgery.

As we reported ... longtime 'Wheel' hostess, Vanna White, took over Sajak's hosting duties while he was recovering, and he commended her on 'GMA' for being a team player and having fun with it, and doing a great job.

The family of "The Walking Dead" stuntman John Bernecker scored millions in a wrongful death lawsuit but it was significantly short of what they wanted.

A jury on Thursday awarded the estate $8.6 million after 2 days of deliberations ... this according to a report. AMC Networks was found NOT to be negligent, but the show and its production company, Stalwart Films, were found liable. Stalwart was found 40% responsible and the show is 25% responsible.

The jury ruled the victim -- Bernecker -- was 6% liable for his own negligence. There were others found liable as well, but it appears none will have to pay out of pocket. Insurance will cover the judgment.

Terrelle Pryor is showing off more of the aftermath of his stabbing incident with his girlfriend ... and the NFLer needed 30 staples to close his massive stab wound.

Pryor has been on the recovery since the Nov. 30 altercation with Shalaya Briston at their Pittsburgh-area apartment. Officials believe Briston stabbed Pryor during a physical struggle that spilled into their kitchen.

Pryor was so badly wounded, he bled all over the apartment and all over the parking garage before eventually undergoing emergency surgery in the hospital.

Pryor says he almost died twice in the wake of the stabbing but miraculously pulled through. He was hospitalized in the ICU for several days before being discharged.

The good news -- he's been up and walking and getting better each day ... and the wound doesn't look that bad either (props to the surgeons).

As for Briston ... she's facing 2 felony criminal charges -- aggravated assault and attempted homicide -- and serious prison times if convicted. She was granted release on house arrest earlier this week.

Horrible setback for ex-NBA commissioner David Stern -- who is now in critical condition after undergoing emergency brain surgery.

77-year-old Stern has been hospitalized since Thursday when he suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage at a Manhattan restaurant.

It seems things had stabilized ... but now, The Athletic's Shams Charania says Stern suffered ANOTHER brain hemorrhage, requiring emergency surgery.

The NBA has issued a statement on Stern ... saying, "He is receiving great care and surrounded by his loved ones."

"The Stern family and everyone at the NBA appreciate the incredible outpouring of support.  Our thoughts and prayers remain with David and his family."

Stern served as NBA commish from 1984 to 2014. He famously shook LeBron James' hand when he was selected with the #1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Getting a Peloton for Christmas in that controversial ad is the best thing that ever happened to the spot's long-suffering wife, who's turning the negative buzz into soap opera gold!

Sources familiar with the deal tell TMZ ... actress Monica Ruiz was recently offered a guest spot on a forthcoming installment of "The Bold & the Beautiful," which we're told she immediately accepted.

Our sources say Monica's getting paid a flat fee of $2,000 to star in the future episode, which we're told will air sometime in late January. Sounds like it's not gonna be too demanding because sources tell us everything for her shoot is being done in one day ... including rehearsals.

Monica's shooting on Tuesday, and although it's written as a one-off ... we're told if things go well and audiences love her, she could be brought back. There's always a way in soaps!

Snatching up viral stars is just kinda what 'B&B' does -- the Fiji Water girl also landed a guest role after her noteworthy appearance at the 2019 Golden Globes.

Anyway, it seems like the fallout from Peloton has been more positive for Monica than anything. You'll recall, she starred in another ad right afterward for Ryan Reynolds' gin company -- now she's got a shot at a full-blown series.

Monica should frame that saying about all publicity being good publicity. Her Peleton hubby probably disagrees, though.

Great news for Hope Solo ... the soccer superstar announced she's pregnant with twins --more than a year after she almost died during a tragic miscarriage.

"Miniature soccer team on the way," Solo announced while cohosting "BeIN Sports USA" with George D. Metellus ... "One boy and one girl."

Solo is married to ex-NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens.

Earlier this year, Solo revealed her struggled with fertility to Elle Magazine -- explaining how she had become pregnant in early 2018 ... but things did not go as planned.

A week after learning she had miscarried twins, Solo felt sick and in pain -- and was told one was ectopic (which means the pregnancy happens outside the uterus).

Solo says she needed surgery to remove her fallopian tube and was told she was "hours from dying."

38-year-old Hope told Elle she began IVF treatment soon after -- and now she's preggo again!

No word on when the babies are due -- but Solo joked that when they're born, they could be the next big U.S. soccer stars.

Solo is the greatest female goalkeeper in Team USA soccer history -- and famously won the Golden Glove (given to the best goalkeeper) for the 2011 and 2015 World Cup.

THIS IS INSANE!!!

The heavyweight boxing champ of South Africa was injured when the ring ropes SNAPPED during his warm-up and he fell out of the ring ... and the whole thing was caught on video.

Ruann Visser (18-2) -- 6'10", 287 lbs. -- was testing out the ropes before his main event title fight in Cape Town on Monday against undefeated Tian Fick (8-0) ... when something went horribly wrong.

The top rope appeared to snap and 29-year-old Visser went flying backward out of the ring, crashing headfirst on the hard ground.

Visser reportedly suffered injuries in the fall -- and while details on his condition are unclear, doctors on the scene determined he was too hurt to fight and called off the bout.

It's a big bummer for the South African boxing community ... the tilt between Visser and Fick was reportedly set to be the first heavyweight title fight in Cape Town since 2000.

"I believe this fight is not going to go the distance, the person who has the bigger will is going to win this fight," promoter Jack Brice told IOL leading up to the fight.

"It’s good for Cape Town, it’s good for South Africa, and it’s good for boxing."

Unclear if or when the two will reschedule the match ... we're still waiting on word for just how injured Visser was in the fall.

Kumail Nanjiani looks like a new man after months and months of training and a strict nutrition regiment, which he says was no walk in the park ... for him or his wife.

The actor -- most famous for scrawny physique in "Silicon Valley" and "The Big Sick" -- posted two shirtless photos showing his now-ripped torso, and he's clearly been working out. He's got a six pack, a toned chest and super veiny arms now. Perfect for his new role in Marvel's upcoming "Eternals" movie -- in which he plays one of the superheroes.

Kumail writes, "I never thought I’d be one of those people who would post a thirsty shirtless, but I’ve worked way too hard for way too long so here we are." He went on to say he wanted to transform himself after being cast in the "Eternals" flick, adding, "I would not have been able to do this if I didn’t have a full year with the best trainers and nutritionists paid for by the biggest studio in the world." That would be Disney, of course ... also Marvel.

The guy also kept it real about the process, copping to the fact that he gets why he never looked like this before ... it's a ton of work, and requires Mickey-like resources to maintain.

Kumail went on to shout out a bunch of trainers and nutritionists who helped him along his journey ... and also his wife for putting up with his endless bitching about training and dieting.

Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek and a ton of other A-listers have also been announced as cast members for the new hero saga. Looks like it's shaping up well so far.

James "Radio" Kennedy -- the inspiration behind the movie, "Radio," starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. -- has died.

James, who was mentally challenged, was a true inspiration for decades. He was an unofficial 11th grader at T.L. Hanna High School since 1965, where he attended football games and often led the team onto the field

Radio -- he got his nickname because he was rarely seen without his rusty, trusty transistor radio -- got national attention back in 1996 when Sports Illustrated ran a story about Radio and the football coach, Harold Jones. The story highlighted how the town of Anderson, South Carolina accepted him.

The story was the catalyst for the movie, "Radio," which debuted in 2003.

Jones confirmed Radio's death, saying, "He was just a fine man. We all loved him. We will miss him incredibly."

Radio had been ill and had been in the hospital for quite a while. He had been recently moved to a hospice facility.

Radio became an inspiration to the players and the town ... truly spreading joy. A few years ago, the Salvation Army was struggling during the x-mas season and when Radio learned of it, he braved the bitter cold with Jones, stood outside a Sam's Club and got hundreds of people to deposit cash in the kettle.

Radio, who was inducted into T.L. Hanna Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016, struggled with various health issues, including pancreatitis, diabetes and kidney issues.

Five Finger Death Punch's Jason Hook is currently recovering after multiple emergency room visits finally revealed he desperately needed to have his gallbladder removed.

A rep for the heavy metal band tells TMZ ... Jason had been experiencing pain that prompted 2 visits to the emergency room. But, the pain persisted ... and finally, during a third ER visit, doctors determined Jason needed to have his gallbladder removed due to blockage.

We're told Jason went under the knife Thursday night and just hours after the band was forced to postpone a show in Duluth, Minnesota. The band, naturally, was there at the hospital to support Jason.

Seems Jason's gonna recover just fine ... and fans who missed out on the show should not fret. The rep tells us 5FDP will be rescheduling affected shows.

The band's currently near the end of its U.S. tour leg. Just 2 other gigs remain -- at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday and Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday.

Boxing legend Leon Spinks is battling prostate cancer that spread to his bladder -- but the family is hopeful he'll pull through.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... 66-year-old Spinks has been fighting for his life in a Las Vegas hospital.

Now, a family spokesperson is revealing more details about Leon's condition.

"Leon is currently in intensive care of a Las Vegas hospital receiving attentive medical care to suppress prostate cancer which he was diagnosed with earlier this year and has since spread to his bladder."

"The last few months have been an agonizing roller coaster for Leon and his wife, Brenda, with continuous hospital stays."

"Leon is showing small signs of improvement and progress. A miraculous fighter his entire life, we are optimistic and hopeful that he will  move out of ICU soon."

"The power of prayer is real and his family is beyond grateful for all of the tremendous love and support."

Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and will miss the rest of the season to focus on treatment, the team announced.

23-year-old Lindblom is a rising star in the NHL -- he already has 18 points in 30 games this season ... impressive for someone so young.

But, Friday the team announced Lindblom has been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma -- which is described by St. Jude's as "a cancerous tumor that grows in the bones or in the tissue around bones (soft tissue)."

Only about 200 children and young adults are diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma each year in the United States.

The good news ... the cancer is treatable and people diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma have a good chance of beating it, according to WebMD.

The Flyers say Lindblom "will undergo further testing and evaluation next week and begin treatment immediately thereafter."

"He is not expected to return to play for the remainder of the season."

The team added, "The Flyers will do everything possible to support Oskar and assist him in securing the best care available."

Shareef O'Neal is giving an inside look of how far he's come since his serious heart surgery a year ago ... sharing behind-the-scenes videos on the anniversary of his procedure.

As we previously reported ... UCLA doctors found an irregularity with the 19-year-old's heart and he was required to go under the knife to fix the issue.

At the time, Shareef credited the docs with saving his life.

O'Neal is reflecting on his journey one year later ... sharing pics of his parents Shaq and Shaunie helping him walk for the first time post-surgery, and breaking down how he felt in that moment.

"a year ago today i was scared for my life," Shareef says. "a year ago today I was learning how to walk again . A year ago today I was turned into a new kid . A year ago today my life changed."

"I thought I was going through hell while dealing with this process but then i realized it was a blessing that it was found."

"I am very grateful for my health today and I will always be."

Shareef was sidelined for his entire first season ... but has since been able to return to the court to play for the Bruins. He's played in 10 games this season.

"I want to thank my family and friends for everything they did also .. this year has been a big struggle and I’m still finding my way back into things.."

Gruesome night in the OHL on Thursday ... a goalie was cut so severely by a skate -- blood poured onto the ice and the guy needed emergency surgery to save his life.

It all went down in Canada ... where during the 2nd period of the Niagara IceDogs' game against the London Knights, a player slammed into IceDog goalie Tucker Tynan.

The collision wasn't too violent ... but after a few seconds, it became clear something was VERY wrong -- because blood began to profusely pour out of Tynan's leg.

The 17-year-old was tended to by trainers for roughly 10 minutes on the ice before he was rushed into emergency surgery. The game, meanwhile, was immediately canceled.

The IceDogs announced the surgery was serious ... but thankfully, they said Tynan pulled through and is now "stable and safe" in a local hospital.

The scene after Tynan left the ice was pretty gnarly ... you can see in a picture of the aftermath, a portion of the crease was soaked in blood.

Teammates quickly showed their support for Tynan on social media, with stud forward Jonah De Simone writing, "The boys are here for you Tucks, keep strong."

Rip Torn died after a years-long battle with Alzheimer's disease ... according to his death certificate.

The Emmy Award-winning veteran actor and comedian died at his Connecticut home in July, and according to the doc -- obtained by TMZ -- the cause of death is listed "due to (or as a consequence of) Alzheimer's dementia." Translation ... there were complications resulting from Alzheimer's that caused his death.

It says he was diagnosed "years" before he passed. Torn was then buried at a cemetery in Poughkeepsie, NY a few days later ... according to the certificate.

Rip was perhaps best known for his role as Artie on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show," for which he won an Emmy and was nominated 6 more times. He was also an Oscar nominee in 1984 for "Cross Creek."

Torn's career spanned decades after his film debut in the 1956 film, "Baby Doll," and included memorable roles in the 'Men In Black' films and "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" ... along with TV shows like "Will & Grace" and "30 Rock."

He was 88.